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EXCLUSIVE: In the wake of scoring a Golden Globe win for Demi Moore in its first big theatrical release The Substance, Mubi has hired former IFC Films president Arianna Bocco as its new SVP of Global Distribution.
Bocco will report directly to Jason Ropell, Mubi’s Chief Content Officer. U.S. Distribution will continue to be led by Mark Boxer; Bocco and Boxer had a long run together at IFC. Bocco will be at Sundance on behalf of Mubi where Amalia Ulman’s Magic Farm will receive its world premiere. Boxer will lead U.S. distribution under Bocco.
On deck for Mubi in the near future are such titles as Kelly Reichart’s The Mastermind and Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother.
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The role is a new post, based in New York, that will enable the streaming and theatrical company to take a greater footing handling the foreign distribution of its titles. The Substance has grossed close to $80 million worldwide. Mubi acquired North American rights on the body-swap horror movie from Universal for $12M before Cannes, also taking rights in the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Benelux, Turkey and India. The Match Factory sold all remaining territories.
“Mubi is an exciting company with a unique vision, perfectly positioned to expand independent film distribution on a global scale,” said Bocco. “I’m thrilled to bring my experience to their team and look forward to collaborating with Efe, Jason, and everyone at Mubi to help shape the future of its growth and impact in the world of cinema.”
Bocco has two decades as an exec in the indie feature film world, and exited IFC Films in 2023 after 16 years. There she acquired hundreds of independent films and worked with renowned filmmakers. She has worked across all disciplines of independent film from acquisitions and distribution to marketing, and oversaw a slate of 50 movies annually across three distribution labels at IFC.
Some of her notable releases at IFC included Armando Ianucci’s In the Loop and Death of Stalin; Andrew Haigh’s Weekend and 45 Years; Steve McQueen’s first film Hunger; Reichardt’s Certain Women; Michael Winterbottom’s Trip series; Olivier Assayas’ Summer Hours and Carlos; Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha; The Babadook; The Dry; The Rental; Benedetta; Relic; Watcher; Happening; and Corsage.
Prior to IFC, Bocco created and led the independent feature packaging division of Gersh in New York. Before that, she worked at Miramax Films as SVP Acquisitions, also out of NYC. She began her career at New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features in Los Angeles where she was VP Acquisitions and Co-Productions and held various related roles there during her six-year tenure.
Bocco is a member of the executive branch of AMPAS as well as BAFTA, previously having served as chair of BAFTA’s New York board.