Participant Media Names Krista Wegener Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution

LOS ANGELES (March 9, 2017) – Participant Media has named Krista Wegener Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution. The announcement was made today by Participant’s CEO David Linde, to whom Wegener will report.

In her new position at the company, Wegener will be responsible for implementing an overall sales and distribution strategy for Participant’s content, and collaborate with distributors and sales agents on the execution of international social impact campaigns. Additionally, Wegener will work to ensure that the company’s library of over 75 films is reaching the widest audience possible.

Linde stated, “As we continue to grow Participant’s global footprint, we look to Krista’s expertise to further our vision and mission of combining great storytelling with social impact outside of the U.S. Her deep relationships and knowledge of the international marketplace will greatly accelerate our growth strategy. We are thrilled to have Krista as a member of the team.”

“I have long admired Participant’s dedication to creating dynamic content that inspires social change, and the team is second to none,” added Wegener. “It is a great privilege to join a company with such a timely and important mission. I look forward to further raising Participant’s profile in the international marketplace, and collaborating with distributors who also embrace these same values.”

Wegener joins Participant after serving as Senior Vice President, International Distribution at Miramax. While there, she was a founding member of the executive team which successfully relaunched the company after it was acquired from The Walt Disney Company in 2010. Prior to Miramax, Wegener lived in London where she was Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at Alliance Films. Before joining Alliance in 2005, Wegener spent five years in various international finance roles for Universal Pictures. She has also held similar positions with Virgin Entertainment and began her career at The Walt Disney Company. Wegener holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA, and earned her MBA from the London Business School.

Today’s announcement follows Participant’s agreement to have Lionsgate represent the international rights to Participant’s upcoming slate of narrative feature films and select documentaries. The deal, which was announced in January, will cover Participant films in all territories outside of North America, including available non-output territories for films that fall under Participant’s deal with Amblin Partners. Last month, at the European Film Market in Berlin, Participant announced Human Flow, a documentary directed by renowned artist and filmmaker Ai Weiwei, and presented two narrative feature films, José Padilha’s Untitled Entebbe Project and Rupert Wyatt’s sci-fi thriller Captive State, to enthusiastic foreign buyers.

About Participant Media
Participant Media (www.participantmedia.com) is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant’s content combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for real world impact and awareness around the most pressing global issues of our time. Participant’s more than 75 films, including Spotlight, CITIZENFOUR, The Look of Silence, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, He Named Me Malala, Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient Truth, have collectively earned 52 Academy Award® nominations and 11 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight. Participant’s digital entertainment division, SoulPancake (www.soulpancake.com), is an award-winning provider of thought-provoking, joyful, and uplifting digital content including such widely popular series as Kid President and The Science of Happiness and reaches an audience of nearly 9 million fans. Follow Participant Media on Twitter at @Participant and on Facebook and Instagram. Follow SoulPancake on Twitter @soulpancake and on Facebook and Instagram.

Contacts
leen Reich / Alice Zou
Participant Media
ireich@participant.com / azou@participant.com