AMC Theatres Launches Indie Label Leawood Films
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- AMC Theatres is launching Leawood Films, a new distribution venture focused on indie films fully financed or completed by filmmakers, leveraging AMC’s expertise to expand movie offerings in theaters across the U.S. and internationally.
- The venture is advised by industry veterans Toby Emmerich, Ricky Strauss, and Kyle Davies, with Davies leaving his role at Bleecker Street to lead Leawood full-time.
- Leawood aims to complement, not compete with, AMC’s existing studio relationships and will likely participate in film festival circuits to acquire titles.
- AMC CEO Adam Aron emphasized that Leawood’s goal is to increase the number of movies shown in theaters, addressing excess capacity in the industry and benefiting exhibitors globally.
- AMC has prior experience in distribution with concert film successes like “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and Beyoncé’s “Renaissance,” signaling confidence in this new indie-focused initiative.
