After eight successful years at Kino Lorber, Wendy Lidell, the Senior Vice President of Theatrical Acquisitions and Distribution, is set to depart the company at the end of June. This news comes as a significant shift in leadership for the indie distributor, as Lidell has been instrumental in overseeing all theatrical acquisitions and distribution efforts during her tenure.
Following Lidell’s departure, Lisa Schwartz, the company’s Chief Revenue Officer, will step in to oversee theatrical distribution and acquisitions on an interim basis. Schwartz, along with President Ed Carroll, will continue to lead the company through this transition period. Reporting directly to Schwartz will be a team of seasoned professionals 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 time at Kino Lorber, Lidell 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 prestigious accolades, Lidell has overseen the successful theatrical releases of films such as “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Anthropocene: The Human Epoch,” “Tom of Finland,” “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami,” “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World,” and “Obit.”
Prior to her time at Kino Lorber, Lidell was the president of International Film Circuit, where she introduced acclaimed filmmakers such as Alexander Sokurov, Raúl Ruiz, Nanni Moretti, and Hou Hsiao-hsien to the U.S. market. Under her leadership, the company released arthouse classics that garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success. Lidell’s legacy in the film industry is marked by her keen eye for talent and her ability to navigate the complexities of the distribution landscape with finesse.
In a statement, Kino Lorber chair and CEO Richard Lorber praised Lidell’s contributions to the company, highlighting her achievements in film acquisitions, box office successes, and pandemic leadership. He commended her as a “rarest amalgam of smart cinephile and canny business executive” and expressed both sadness at her departure and well wishes for her future endeavors. Lidell, in turn, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside Lorber and reflected on their shared accomplishments over the past eight years.
Wendy Lidell’s departure from Kino Lorber marks the end of an era for the indie distributor. Her impact on the company’s theatrical acquisitions and distribution efforts has been significant, and her legacy of excellence will undoubtedly endure. As the company navigates this transition period, the leadership team led by Lisa Schwartz will continue to uphold the standards of quality and innovation set by Lidell.