Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley are retiring – Deadline

A seismic shift here in the independent film world leading up to Oscar Sunday: Longtime Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley (65) and Steve Gilula (70) have announced their retirement after more than two decades with the classic label that Disney bought from Fox.

Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longstanding production heads, have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn.

The news comes just before Oscar Sunday when Searchlight’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand is expected to win Best Picture and Best Director for filmmaker Chloe Zhao. Should Zhao win the best director, she will be the second woman to do so at the Oscars and the first person of color. To date, Nomadland has won the PGA, DGA, Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture Drama and Director and has six Oscar nominations. Searchlight has reported no crude results on the film during its theatrical run in the pandemic; the photo is also available on Hulu.

During Utley and Gilula’s tenure, Searchlight has won Oscar’s Best Picture in four of the last eight ceremonies: Slumdog Millionaire ($ 378 million WW), Slave for 12 years ($ 188 million WW), Birdman ($ 103 million), and The shape of water ($ 195 million). The duo have served as joint president of Searchlight since 2009; their first collaboration Boys do not Cry was released in 1999. The two were formerly COOs, Utley oversaw marketing and Gilula led distribution before being appointed presidents in 2009, filling the vacancy left by former Searchlight chief Peter Rice. Gilula and Utley were both appointed chairmen in 2018. Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum were named President of Production at Searchlight Pictures.

Utley and Gilula’s departure also comes at a time when Executive Chairman Bob Iger is retiring, along with 33-year-old Disney vet Jayne Parker.

“Thanks to the stewardship and perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has established itself as one of the greatest movie studios in history, and we commend and thank them for their incredible leadership, especially during Searchlight’s integration into Disney, “Said Bergman and Horn.” They are leaving the studio in the talented hands of Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who have been a pivotal part of Searchlight’s success for many years and we are confident they will continue to pursue a course that Searchlight continues to pursue. top of the industry. “

“Our time at Searchlight was the kind of career highlight you can only dream of in this industry,” said Utley and Gilula. “Over the past 21 years we have had the privilege of building and leading an incredible team, collaborating with brilliant artists, taking creative risks, promoting stories we are passionate about, and becoming iconic films along the way. to make it will stand the test of time. We are so proud of how this studio has grown and evolved over the years, and we are ready to pass on the torch to continue the Searchlight legacy. “

“First and foremost, we would like to thank Nancy and Steve for years of leading the world’s most dynamic specialty film company,” said Greenbaum and Greenfield. “While their track record speaks for itself, Steve and Nancy’s passion, intelligence and vision are second to none. The extremely loyal team they have built reflects the honesty, transparency and integrity with which they have led and strive to move forward. With the foundations laid by them and the continued support of Alan Bergman, Alan Horn and everyone at Disney, Searchlight is ready for the next exciting chapter. “

Also today, it was announced that Rebecca Kearey will be Head of Business Operations and International Marketing for Searchlight. Creative executives Katie Goodson-Thomas and DanTram Nguyen will continue their film development and production roles. All three will report to Greenbaum and Greenfield alongside marketing heads Michelle Hooper and Larry Baldauf, acquisitions lead Chan Phung, and Searchlight Television lead Gina Kwon and Jennifer Gonsky. The expanded Searchlight leadership team also includes Corporate Director Paul S. Hoffman, Head of Physical Production Elizabeth Sayre, Head of Music Danielle Diego, Finance Head Marnie Duda, Cast Lead Yesi Ramirez and Media, and Strategy Head Rob Wilkinson. Frank Rodriguez will continue to lead Searchlight Pictures distribution as part of DMED’s Platform Distribution division.

Since its 1994 launch by Tom Rothman (Sony’s current Motion Pictures Entertainment chairman), Searchlight’s films have earned more than $ 5 billion in WW, with 28 Golden Globe Awards, 49 BAFTA awards and 40 Oscars, including four Best Picture winners. Upcoming feature releases include Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s award-winningSummer Of Soul (… or, when the revolution couldn’t be televised), From David BrucknerThe Night HouseFrom Michael ShowalterTammy Faye’s eyesFrom Scott CooperAntlers, Guillermo del Toro’sNightmare Alley, From Wes AndersonFrench shipping, and Taika Waititi’sNext goal wins.