After eight successful years at Kino Lorber, Wendy Lidell, the Senior Vice President of Theatrical Acquisitions & Distribution, will be departing the company at the end of June. Her departure marks the end of an era for the indie distributor, as Lidell has been instrumental in overseeing all theatrical acquisitions and distribution efforts during her time at the company.
Transition in Leadership
In the interim, the company’s Chief Revenue Officer, Lisa Schwartz, will be stepping in to oversee theatrical distribution and acquisitions. Schwartz, along with President Ed Carroll, will be responsible for leading the team during this transition period. Reporting to Schwartz will be key members of the theatrical distribution team, including SVP Marketing and Communications Nicholas Kemp, VP Press and Publicity Kate Patterson, VP Theatrical Distribution & Repertory Acquisitions George Schmalz, and Director Theatrical Distribution Maxwell Wolkin.
During her tenure at Kino Lorber, Wendy Lidell has left a lasting legacy of success. She has shepherded three documentaries to Oscar nominations, including Gianfranco Rosi’s “Fire at Sea,” Talal Derki’s “Of Fathers and Sons,” and most recently, Kaouther Ben Hania’s “Four Daughters.” In addition to these accolades, Lidell has been behind numerous successful theatrical releases, such as “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Anthropocene: The Human Epoch,” “Tom of Finland,” and “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami.”
Prior to her time at Kino Lorber, Wendy Lidell was the president of International Film Circuit, an organization she founded in 1987 with support from the Rockefeller and MacArthur Foundations. Under her leadership, the company introduced a number of acclaimed filmmakers to the U.S. market, including Alexander Sokurov, Raúl Ruiz, Nanni Moretti, and Hou Hsiao-hsien. The company was later acquired by Lorber in 1998 and became the theatrical division of Fox Lorber, which eventually evolved into Winstar and Wellspring.
Richard Lorber, the chair and CEO of Kino Lorber, had nothing but praise for Wendy Lidell upon the announcement of her departure. He described her as a “shining light” at the company and commended her for her accomplishments, leadership during the pandemic, and ability to navigate challenging deals with grace. Lidell herself expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Lorber and reflected on the achievements she and the team have made together over the years.
Wendy Lidell’s departure from Kino Lorber marks the end of a successful chapter in her career. Her contributions to the indie distributor have been significant, and her legacy will undoubtedly live on through the films she has shepherded to success. As she embarks on new professional endeavors, we can only wish her continued success and fulfillment in the future.
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