Saban Films’ President Bill Bromiley announced this week that executives Jonathan Saba and Ness Saban have been promoted to Senior Vice President of Distribution, Sales & Marketing, and Vice President of Business Development, respectively, at the Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company. Saban Films has released 23 films since its launch in May 2014, with another 22 acquired and slated to be released through 2018. With their combined efforts, Saba and Saban have led the company to ongoing double-digit growth in both revenue and profitability. Both have been with Saban Films since its inception and will continue reporting to Bromiley.
“Both Jonathan and Ness have been instrumental to the establishment and growth of Saban Films, bolstering our slate with market savvy strategies and inspiring leadership,” said President Bill Bromiley. “In today’s rapidly changing media landscape, both continue to rise with their extraordinary instincts, tenacity, and expertise. We’re proud to recognize their ongoing success at Saban Films with these well-deserved promotions.”
Saban Films is a competitive force in the acquisition and distribution of high-end independent films, acquiring commercial, talent-driven films to be released theatrically as well as across various digital platforms. The 2017 Saban Films slate includes: John Michael McDonagh’s War on Everyone starring Michael Peña, Alexander Skarsgård, Theo James, and Tessa Thompson; Colm McCarthy’s critically acclaimed apocalyptic thriller The Girl with All the Gifts starring Glenn Close, Gemma Arterton and Paddy Considine; Walter Hill’s The Assignment starting Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia; and Jonathan Mostow’s The Hunter’s Prayer starring Sam Worthington and Odeya Rush.
Prior to being named Senior Vice President, Saba served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Distribution, a post he held since the company’s launch. Saba has supervised the release strategy and marketing campaigns for the company’s entire slate, including Rob Zombie’s 31, one of the highest grossing pre-theatrical VOD movies of all-time. He has also lead Saban Films’ sales and distribution efforts, including negotiating output and license deals with Amazon, Netflix, Starz, Showtime and HBO, and spearheading the company’s entry into Canada by partnering with premiere distributors to bring Saban’s films to audiences across the continent. Prior to Saban Films, Saba held executive positions in acquisitions, distribution and marketing at Anchor Bay Films, Image Entertainment, Criterion Collection, and Rilean Pictures.
Saban began his career at the film acquisition and distribution company, where he has been serving as Director of Business Development. He has spearheaded the acquisition of almost 50 films in less than 3 years, including Tommy Lee Jones’ acclaimed Western The Homesman, Ethan Hawke’s upcoming action/thriller 24 Hours to Live and the much-anticipated thriller Small Town Crime.
The company has been and continues to be a very active buyer at festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, Toronto and Sundance. Its successes have run the gamut from critically acclaimed theatrical films such asThe Homesman starring Hilary Swank, to premiere VOD titles including I Am Wrath starring John Travolta, to one of the biggest Fathom events in 2016 with Rob Zombie’s horror thriller 31.
Most recent titles include Simon West’s Gun Shy starring Antonio Banderas and Olga Kurylenko and John Travolta’s Speed Kills. Upcoming titles for release include: Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Lake Bell; Sean Penn’s The Last Face starring Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem; John Stockwell’s Armed Response starring Wesley Snipes and Anne Heche; Alexandros Avranas’ True Crime starring Jim Carrey; and FilmNation’s sci-fi film Kill Switch starring Dan Stevens and Bérénice Marlohe.
