EXCLUSIVE: Mubi has tapped Amazon MGM Studios and IFC distribution vet Mark Boxer as their U.S. Head of Distribution. Boxer will be on the Croisette during the run of this year’s Cannes Film Festival scoping out product for Mubi. In the new job, Boxer will be based in the New York office, and he’ll report to Mubi Chief Content Officer Jason Ropell.
The two decades-plus theatrical distribution vet, who first cut his teeth at Savoy Pictures, is known for building out distribution ops and tailoring myriad distribution plans for an array of movies. With Boxer, Mubi gets an internal distribution executive who’ll champion their slate to the fullest, giving their pics the best possible exposure across theaters coast to coast. The hire puts Mubi on a new level of distribution stateside as they make larger investments in features and expand their executive ranks.
Mubi’s upcoming slate, which Boxer will oversee, includes Coralie Fargeat’s Cannes Film Festival title The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, which the distrib snapped up ahead of the fest; its biggest US acquisition to date after a bidding war. Mubi also has on deck Christopher Andrews’ Bring Them Down starring Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan; Mati Diop’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Dahomey, and Levan Akin’s Berlinale sensation Crossing.
Boxer recently spent six years at Amazon Studios as Head of Theatrical Distribution, where he worked on award-winning campaigns for films including Cold War, Sound of Metal, Being the Ricardos, Saltburn, The Boys in the Boat and American Fiction. He launched and oversaw Amazon’s Theatrical Distribution Division, playing an instrumental role in the company’s theatrical exhibition strategy. Prior to his arrival at the streamer, they previously worked with external distribution partners such as Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and STX. Boxer also oversaw Amazon international theatrical releases. He also launched and supervised Amazon’s The Culver Theatre in Culver City, CA.
Prior to Amazon, Boxer served as IFC Films’ EVP of Sales and Distribution, where he oversaw theatrical, non-theatrical, and Canadian distribution of all IFC Films and Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight titles for nearly fifteen years. He assisted in strategizing juggernaut campaigns including The Trip series and the Oscar-winning Boyhood. In addition, he helped launch the IFC Center in New York. Boxer was also integral in implementing IFC’s theatrical day-and-date PVOD strategy, making them one of the first arthouse distributors to execute a dynamic film business model which many major motion picture studios adapted during the pandemic. Boxer also executed a similar day-and-date distribution practice at Amazon with their movies hitting theaters and Prime Video.
Across his whole career, Boxer has been part of distribution campaigns that have received 40 Oscar nominations.
Said Boxer today, “Mubi is one of the most visionary and exciting brands in our industry right now. I’m thrilled to be part of the company’s next leap forward and putting some of the best films in the world in cinemas everywhere in the US.”
Recent Mubi Releases in the US have included Aki Kaurismäki’s two-time Golden Globe nominee Fallen Leaves, Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave and Ira Sachs’ Passages.