Black Bear Releasing, the independent studio behind Sydney Sweeney’s boxing drama “Christy,” hires Bianca Parkes as Head of Marketing and Heather Phillips as Head of Publicity, according to multiple outlets. The appointments are framed as part of Black Bear’s broader push to expand in the United States, including efforts toward U.S. theatrical distribution.
Parkes joins from Neon, where she led creative campaigns associated with awards-winning titles and worked across genres. Phillips is described as a longtime publicity executive with prior experience at major entertainment companies including 20th Century Fox and Miramax.
Variety reports that Parkes and Phillips will oversee marketing and publicity efforts and will report to Benjamin Kramer, the company’s president of U.S. distribution. Deadline adds that Parkes and Phillips join to round out Black Bear’s team. The announcements do not specify immediate campaign details or release dates, but both sources indicate the hires strengthen the studio’s U.S. operations as it scales distribution plans.
