1-2 Special
1-2 Special is a New York-based boutique distributor launched in early 2025, rapidly building a prestige theatrical slate sourced from Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, and Locarno.
Each signal is one documented data point captured by our continuous pipeline: a trade-press mention, festival market activity, executive statement, or acquisition activity update. Higher signal volume means 1-2 Special is generating more public market activity right now.
Founded by former Sideshow executive Jason Hellerstein, 1-2 Special opened its doors in February 2025 and is already staking out a lane as the go-to North American home for internationally acclaimed festival cinema.
1-2 Special launched in February 2025 under founder Jason Hellerstein, a former Sideshow executive, and has moved with notable speed to establish itself as a serious theatrical distributor for prestige international cinema in North America. The company's first theatrical release, Urchin, opened in Los Angeles and New York and posted the best opening weekend for a narrative film at the IFC Center this year, a meaningful early signal for a company still assembling its infrastructure. With a growing slate that includes Radu Jude's Berlinale Silver Bear-winning Kontinental '25 and Christian Petzold's Miroirs No. 3, the company is positioning itself squarely in the specialty theatrical lane occupied by established boutique players.
Across its first year of operation, 1-2 Special has concentrated acquisitions on internationally acclaimed festival titles sourced from Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Locarno, and fall festivals. Confirmed acquisitions include all North American rights to Radu Jude's Dracula (theatrical October 29), Ildikó Enyedi's Silent Friend, Simón Mesa Soto's A Poet, Pete Ohs' Erupcja, and Mark Jenkin's Rose of Nevada. The pattern is consistent: auteur-driven, festival-credentialed films with strong critical profiles and a natural audience in urban specialty markets. Budget tiers are not publicly disclosed, but the filmmaker roster signals a focus on mid-to-low-budget international and independent productions.
Access to 1-2 Special is primarily driven by festival relationships and representation. The company hired Amanda Trokan as SVP Acquisitions to lead its buying strategy, and Jonathan DeMaio as VP Distribution to oversee theatrical sales. Material is most likely to reach the acquisitions team through established sales agents and reps active at the major international festivals. Unsolicited submissions from unrepresented writers or producers are not part of the company's current public-facing intake process; the clearest path in is through a sales agent with a completed film or a strong festival attachment.
Dracula
Silent Friend
Founded by former Sideshow executive Jason Hellerstein, 1-2 Special opened its doors in February 2025 and is already staking out a lane as the go-to North American home for internationally acclaimed festival cinema.
Aligns with boutique distributor trend of acquiring Cannes Critics' Week winners and prestige international cinema
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Does 1-2 Special accept unsolicited scripts or film submissions?
1-2 Special does not have a public open-submissions policy. As a boutique theatrical distributor, the company acquires completed films rather than scripts, and its buying activity is concentrated at major international festivals including Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, and Locarno. Filmmakers and producers seeking consideration are best positioned to approach the company through a sales agent or established industry representative with a finished or near-finished film.
What budget range does 1-2 Special typically work with?
Deal terms and budgets are not publicly disclosed, but the filmmaker roster offers a clear signal. Titles like Radu Jude's Kontinental '25, Christian Petzold's Miroirs No. 3, and Pete Ohs' Erupcja are mid-to-low-budget international and American independent productions. 1-2 Special is not acquiring studio-scale films; its lane is prestige specialty cinema with strong festival credentials and urban theatrical audiences.
What festivals does 1-2 Special source films from?
1-2 Special actively sources from the major international festival circuit: Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Locarno, and fall festivals. Its confirmed slate reflects this directly. Radu Jude's Kontinental '25 won the Berlinale Silver Bear; other acquisitions include titles from Cannes and fall festival programs. The company's acquisitions strategy is built around festival-credentialed auteur cinema with proven critical traction before North American release.
How do I get my film in front of 1-2 Special?
The most direct path is through a sales agent active on the international festival circuit. SVP Acquisitions Amanda Trokan leads the buying strategy, and the company's acquisition pattern suggests it engages primarily through festival markets and established sales relationships. Filmmakers with completed films that have secured or are targeting a major festival premiere are the most natural fit. Cold outreach from unrepresented producers is unlikely to be the primary intake channel.
What genres is 1-2 Special currently acquiring?
1-2 Special's slate skews toward auteur-driven international drama and American independent cinema with strong critical profiles. Confirmed titles include works by Radu Jude, Christian Petzold, Ildikó Enyedi, Simón Mesa Soto, and Mark Jenkin, a roster that signals a preference for formally distinctive, director-led projects over genre fare. The company is not publicly acquiring horror, action, or broad commercial titles; its focus is specialty theatrical with urban art-house audiences.
Is 1-2 Special currently active in the market?
Yes. Founded in February 2025 by former Sideshow executive Jason Hellerstein, 1-2 Special is one of the more actively expanding boutique distributors in the current market. The company has already released Urchin theatrically, with a robust upcoming slate including Dracula (October 29), Kontinental '25, Silent Friend, and several others. It has made multiple senior hires across acquisitions, distribution, and publicity, indicating a deliberate and ongoing build-out.
Profile compiled from publicly-available sources: trade press (Deadline, Variety, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Daily), festival market reports (Cannes Marche, AFM, EFM, TIFF Industry), executive public statements, and acquisition announcements. Activity counters reflect signal volume from continuous pipeline indexing.
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