Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula Announce Their Retirement

Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula have announced their retirement, leading to Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum being promoted to President of Searchlight.

Photo Credit: Deadline.com

What’s Happening:

Deadline has reported that Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have been promoted to President of Searchlight with the retirement announced for both Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula.
With the promotion, Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Alan Bergman, Disney Studios Content Chairman, and Alan Horn, Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer.
Utley and Gilula have seen Searchlight win the Oscar’s Best Picture award in four of the last eight ceremonies with Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, and The Shape of Water.

What They’re Saying (Quotes via Deadline):

Alan Bergman and Alan Horn on the retirement and promotion: “Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history, and we commend and thank them for their incredible leadership, especially throughout the integration of Searchlight at Disney. They are leaving the studio in the talented hands of Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who have been a critical part of Searchlight’s success over many years and we’re confident they will continue to set a course that keeps Searchlight on the industry’s leading edge.”
Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula on retirement: “Our time at Searchlight has been the kind of career highlight one can only dream of in this business. Over the past 21 years, we’ve had the privilege to build and lead an incredible team, and work with brilliant artists, to take creative risks, champion stories we’re passionate about, and, along the way, make iconic films that will stand the test of time. We’re so proud of how this studio has grown and evolved over the years, and we’re ready to pass the torch to carry on the Searchlight legacy.”
Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum on the promotion: “First and foremost, we want to thank Nancy and Steve for their years of leading the most dynamic specialty film company in the world. While their track record speaks for itself, Steve and Nancy’s passion, intelligence, and vision are second to none. The fiercely loyal team they’ve built reflects the honesty, transparency, and integrity with which they have led, and to which we aspire moving forward. With the foundation laid by them and the continued support of Alan Bergman, Alan Horn, and everyone at Disney, Searchlight is primed for its next exciting chapter.”