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Black Bear, the independent studio behind Sydney Sweeney’s boxing drama “Christy,” has hired Bianca Parkes and Heather Phillips to oversee marketing and publicity efforts.
Their appointments were announced amid the production
company’s efforts to expand into U.S. theatrical distribution. They will report to company’s president of U.S. distribution Benjamin Kramer and round out a team that includes former Lionsgate distribution head David Spitz.
“This is another big moment in Black Bear’s growth as a domestic distributor, as we welcome two exceptionally talented and respected executives,” said Kramer. “Audiences connect with films and filmmakers via a broad swath of touchpoints, from trusted friends and tastemakers and on screens of all shapes and sizes. Bianca and Heather deeply understand today’s audiences and have shown their ability to drive engagement with innovative and resonant campaigns. They will be great additions as we continue to build a leading theatrical distribution business. We are thrilled to welcome them to Black Bear.”
Founded in 2011, Black Bear began as independent production studio and launched its domestic distribution arm in 2025 with “Christy,” which bombed at the box office with $2 million against a $15 million budget. The group plans to release 12 films a year, with upcoming titles including David Leitch’s “Jason Statham Stole My Bike,” starring the titular Jason Statham and Hannah Waddingham; Julia Cox’s “A Woman in the Sun,” featuring Renée Zellweger and Sissy Spacek; Andrew Patterson’s “The Rivals of Amziah King” with Matthew McConaughey; and “Spa Weekend,” led by Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau and Anna Faris.
Parkes, who will serve as head of marketing, joins from Neon, where she worked on Oscar winners including “Parasite” and “Anora” as well as genre films such as “Longlegs” during her seven years at the company. She also served as Neon’s head of design, overseeing the launch and growth of its merchandising division.
Phillips, the new head of publicly, worked for a decade on 20th Century Fox’s theatrical publicity and awards team, spearheading campaigns for movies such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Gone Girl” and “The Revenant.” She previously served as chief communications officer for 101 Studios, whose projects include “Yellowstone,” “1883” and “Tulsa King.” She began her career at Miramax Films and more recently served as a consultant for companies like Apple TV, Disney and Lionsgate.
