Mubi has reorganized its leadership structure and streamlined into four content businesses, with Chief Content Officer Jason Ropel assuming a senior advisory role and The Match Factory being integrated into the company.
Match Factory will continue to operate as Mubi’s international sales business in regions where Mubi does not sell directly.
Michael Weber, founder and managing director of the Cologne-based sales and production company, will lead production on Mubi, and the company envisions it being a “natural thing” for more Match Factory films to become Mubi films, and vice versa.
It is understood that around 12 staff are leaving and the intention is to replace many of those roles. Mubi currently employs approximately 400 people in 14 countries, including the United States.
Ropel will step back from day-to-day operations and work more closely with Mubi founder and CEO Efe Cacarel. His role will be Senior Advisor, Strategy and Content, Office of the CEO. Mubi said it will not hire a new chief content officer.
Ariana Bochco, a former IFC Films president who was named Mubi’s SVP of global distribution about a year ago, will add oversight of acquisitions to her remit. The expansion of her role was announced internally last week.
The former acquisitions team of Kate Kane and Kevin Chan is on the move. Mr Kane, who has been co-head of global acquisitions since 2020, will join Film4 as senior commissioning executive in January, while Mr Chan is also thought to be leaving the company.
Chiara Maranon and Uriel Kuznicki will lead programming and licensing, while Danny Kasman will continue to lead publishing.
Announcing the move on Friday (December 19), Mubi said it is “bullish about the future and committed to bringing “more independent films and important filmmaking voices” to the world, while industry-wide consolidation remains a challenge for independent filmmaking.”
The company has grown its presence and has definitely become the story of Cannes. It premiered several titles in competition and also won a number of other films in the selection, led by director Lynne Ramsay’s $24 million deal. Die, my love. Jennifer Lawrence is expected to win the Best Actress award.
Mubi faced backlash earlier this year in connection with a $100 million investment from Sequoia Capital after it was revealed that Sequoia Capital had ties to Israeli defense contractor Kela, amid the intense criticism of the Gaza war. “The beliefs of individual investors do not reflect the views of Mubi,” Mubi said. In his August letter, Kakarel said Mubi’s profits were not returned to Kela.
(Tag translation) Distribution
