Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
Black Bear
Black Bear is launching a full U.S. theatrical distribution division, targeting 10 to 12 releases per year across prestige and commercial titles, with its first domestic release already on the calendar.
Current mandate
Black Bear is in active build-out mode. The company is launching a proper U.S. distribution division, backed by substantial investment, with former Lionsgate executive David Spitz installed as head of U.S. theatrical distribution. The division is gearing up for its first U.S. theatrical release with the Sydney Sweeney boxing drama Christy, and has already dated the Jason Statham action thriller Shelter for a wide theatrical release on January 30. Additional titles including Tuner and The Rivals of Amziah King are acquired and awaiting U.S. dates.
Over the past 12 months, Black Bear has assembled a slate that spans festival-proven arthouse titles and genre-driven commercial fare. Tuner, picked up after its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, exemplifies the company's dual appetite: critically positioned films with recognizable cast. The acquisition of Shelter, a Ric Roman Waugh-directed action thriller starring Jason Statham, signals that Black Bear is equally prepared to compete for wide-release commercial titles. The company has also acquired Spa Weekend (Jon Lucas and Scott Moore), The Rivals of Amziah King (Andrew Patterson, starring Kurt Russell and Cole Sprouse), and Wife and Dog (Guy Ritchie). The 12-month record shows 71 tracked activity signals, with 5 unique deals closed in the past 90 days.
Black Bear is actively looking at projects from AFM and Toronto for third-party acquisitions. The company covers domestic (U.S.), UK direct, Canada via Elevation Pictures, and international sales. Filmmakers and producers with completed or near-complete projects should approach through established industry channels; the company's growing decision-maker roster (79 tracked contacts) and stated openness to third-party titles makes it a viable target for festival-circuit and market submissions.
Signature peaks
- 71 Activity signals (12mo) — Total tracked records over the past 12 months
- 5 Deals closed (90d) — Unique acquisitions in the most recent 90-day window
- 79 Decision makers tracked — Executives and contacts active in the Black Bear network
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- comedy, fable, drama
- Territory focus
- Domestic (US), UK (direct), Canada (via Elevation Pictures), international sales
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Black Bear is actively sourcing third-party acquisitions at major markets, specifically AFM and Toronto. Festival world premieres are a confirmed entry point, as demonstrated by the Tuner pickup post-Toronto. The company's 79 tracked decision makers, including distribution head David Spitz (formerly of Lionsgate), represent a growing network accessible through industry representation. Direct cold outreach is not indicated as a preferred channel; producer or sales agent relationships aligned with the company's filmmaker-driven, commercially minded mandate are the most viable access routes.
- Deal structure
- All five recent acquisitions list budget as not disclosed. Black Bear covers U.S. domestic distribution directly, UK directly, Canada via its partnership with Elevation Pictures, and handles international sales. The company is structured to support both wide theatrical releases (Shelter is dated for wide release) and platform or awards-circuit rollouts. Deal terms are not publicly available; the company's stated goal is a marketing, publicity, and distribution rollout that can rival a major studio while operating with more efficient infrastructure.
Recent acquisitions
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Shelter
The division has already set a Jan. 30 wide theatrical release for Shelter, an action thriller starring Jason Statham and directed by Ric Roman Waugh.
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Spa Weekend
Spa Weekend, directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, follows three childhood best friends, Jane, Coco, and Sophie, as they get pampered during a luxury girls' getaway.
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The Rivals of Amziah King
The crime drama The Rivals of Amziah King, set in the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, is directed by Andrew Patterson and also stars Angelina LookingGlass, Cole Sprouse, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori and Kurt Russell.
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Tuner
Roher's Tuner, about a piano tuner drawn into safecracking and a surprise romance, stars Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu and Leo Woodall and was picked up by Black Bear after a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
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Wife & Dog
Ritchie's Wife & Dog has the relentless greed of the Fairbank family and their associates sparking betrayal and murder in a succession battle.
Market context
We saw a bit of a hole in the marketplace, to be able to step in and do what we love to do, which is to work on movies with artistic integrity that are also commercially minded.
Black Bear is in active build-out mode. The company is launching a proper U.S. distribution division, backed by substantial investment, with former Lionsgate executive David Spitz installed as head of U.S. theatrical distribution. The division is gearing up for its first U.S. theatrical release with the Sydney Sweeney boxing drama Christy, and has already dated the Jason Statham action thriller Shelter for a wide theatrical release on January 30. Additional titles including Tuner and The Rivals of Amziah King are acquired and awaiting U.S. dates.
Common questions about Black Bear
Does Black Bear accept unsolicited scripts?
Black Bear has not published a formal unsolicited submissions policy. The company's stated focus is on filmmaker-driven projects with strong material, cast, and producers already attached. Given that its acquisition pipeline is oriented toward completed or near-complete films sourced at markets such as AFM and Toronto, cold script submissions are unlikely to be the primary entry point. Representation or a producer relationship with an existing Black Bear contact is the more reliable path.
What budgets does Black Bear acquire?
Budget figures for Black Bear's recent acquisitions, including Shelter, Tuner, Spa Weekend, The Rivals of Amziah King, and Wife and Dog, are not publicly disclosed. The company's stated ambition to compete with major studio marketing and distribution infrastructure, while maintaining more efficient overhead, suggests it is comfortable across a range of budgets. Its slate spans wide commercial releases and festival-circuit prestige titles, indicating flexibility rather than a fixed budget ceiling or floor.
Does Black Bear acquire films from festivals?
Yes. Tuner, directed by Roher and starring Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, and Leo Woodall, was picked up by Black Bear after its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. The company has also explicitly named Toronto and AFM as markets where it is actively looking for third-party acquisitions. Festival premieres, particularly at Toronto, appear to be a meaningful sourcing channel for the company's distribution slate.
How do I reach Black Bear for a distribution deal?
Black Bear has 79 decision makers tracked in its network, including David Spitz, the former Lionsgate executive hired as head of U.S. theatrical distribution. The company is actively seeking third-party acquisitions and describes itself as open to the most inspiring and filmmaker-driven audience-pleasing films wherever they come from. Market submissions at AFM and Toronto are confirmed acquisition channels. Industry representation that can access the company's growing distribution team is the most direct route.
What genres is Black Bear focused on right now?
Black Bear's current slate reflects a deliberate mix of commercial genre and prestige drama. Recent acquisitions include an action thriller starring Jason Statham (Shelter), a crime drama set in rural Oklahoma with Kurt Russell (The Rivals of Amziah King), a comedy directed by the writers of The Hangover (Spa Weekend), a festival-circuit romantic drama (Tuner), and a Guy Ritchie succession thriller (Wife and Dog). The company is not focused on inherently political work and targets both awards-season and wide-release commercial windows.
Is Black Bear currently active in acquisitions?
Yes. Black Bear recorded 5 unique deals in the past 90 days and 71 activity signals over the past 12 months, with the latest signal dated June 2026. The company has publicly stated it wants to be aggressive in upcoming third-party acquisitions while also releasing its in-house slate. It is actively scouting at AFM and Toronto. The U.S. distribution team is reportedly expected to grow to 40 to 50 staff, signaling continued expansion of acquisition capacity in the near term.
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