Manager, Acquisitions & Co-Productions

Lionsgate•Santa Monica, CA

About The Position

Lionsgate is currently seeking a Manager, Acquisitions & Co-Productions who reports to the two Co-Heads of Acquisitions and Co-Productions. This role involves leading the preparation for top-tier film festivals and markets, identifying and tracking high-priority titles, and evaluating projects with theatrical release potential. The target is to identify 10-12 projects a year and convert at least a third of them to acquisitions or co-productions. The position also requires tracking, sourcing, and evaluating projects between markets/festivals to maximize distribution models, understanding economic models and business affairs parameters, and proactively approaching producers and sales agents. Cultivating an extensive network of industry peers, following audience trends, and encouraging cooperation within the team and cross-functionally are also key aspects of this role. The Manager will act as a brand ambassador for acquisitions at Lionsgate.

Requirements

Four-year college degree B.A./B.S.
Minimum 3 years of experience in an acquisitions, production, or film sales role.
In-depth understanding of the inner workings of the major film festivals and markets.
Has watched a lot of independent movies and is conversant about specific genres, filmmakers, fan bases, etc.
Discerning taste that creatively aligns with theatrical moviegoers.
Has sizable network within the independent film industry of producers, agents, filmmakers, other buyers, and financiers.
Solid understanding of film ultimates, windowing, and the overall film monetization ecosystem.
Has a meaningful understanding of the key commercial terms that need to be negotiated in an acquisition.
Sound analytical judgment and effective communication skills to be able operate with a reasonable degree of autonomy.
Effective communicator who can prioritize what is salient when advocating for a project with different internal and external stakeholders.
Process-oriented to work efficiently and respond in a timely fashion to incoming inquiries.
Having a curious mind that is open to figuring out better ways of working.
Team player who puts the company and the team’s goals first.

Nice To Haves

Feature film producing and/or development experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the preparation for top tier film festivals and markets (Sundance, Berlin/ EFM, SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, TIFF, AFM).
Identify and track high-priority titles in all stages: script package, promos, completed films.
Evaluate high-priority projects as early as possible and alert colleagues in our department and other key company stakeholders (e.g., marketing, international sales) to promising titles.
Focus on film projects with theatrical release potential.
Target is to identify 10-12 projects a year and team up with other execs to convert at least a third of them to acquisitions or co-productions.
Between markets/festivals, continue to track, source, and evaluate projects that maximize our distribution models.
Develop a thorough understanding of our economic models and customary business affairs parameters in order to support colleagues negotiating deals.
Proactively approach producers and sales agents with our content priorities and build strong relationships with a wide external network of suppliers, including directors, writers, and other types of creators.
Cultivate an extensive network of industry peers to have an ear to the ground about projects and what are competitors are up to.
Follow audience trends and formulate insights that are applied to our evaluation process.
Encourage cooperation and proactive communication within the team and cross-functionally across Lionsgate.
Be a brand ambassador for acquisitions at Lionsgate both internally and externally.