Director, Communications & Awards

Director, Communications & Awards

Reports to: Co-Heads of National Publicity with a dotted line to VP, Communications for The Walt Disney Studios.

Searchlight Pictures is a global specialty film and television company that develops, produces, finances and acquires motion pictures and series for both worldwide theatrical and streaming releases. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and is part of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company. Founded in 1994 as Fox Searchlight Pictures, the company’s titles have grossed over $5 billion worldwide, amassing 52 Academy Awards including five Best Picture winners since 2009:  Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland; 64 BAFTA Awards, 35 Golden Globe Awards, and 10 Grammy Awards.

The company includes Searchlight Television, the division which develops and produces series for streaming, network, and cable partners, and earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress for its first production “The Dropout'' from Elizabeth Meriwether, in partnership with Hulu and 20th Studios. Searchlight Television also produced the limited series “La Máquina,” with Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna.

The Director of Communications & Awards plays a pivotal role in shaping and advancing Searchlight’s brand and film positioning within the press and industry. Reporting to the Co-Heads of National Publicity and collaborating with the VP of Communications for The Walt Disney Studios, this leader drives strategic communications, manages media relationships, and oversees awards-related initiatives to ensure Searchlight’s projects remain prominent and well-represented.

Responsibilities:

• Set the overall Searchlight Corporate Brand Strategy and positioning in the press and industry, in collaboration with senior publicity executives.

• Maintain, execute, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive impactful Awards strategies and media campaigns.

• Hire and oversee production notes writers; track progress, provide feedback, and re-write notes, as required.

• Oversee film synopses through various windows to maintain and evolve film positioning.

• Field inquiries and pursue coverage in the trade and industry press on upcoming projects and company initiatives.

• Build & maintain close trade and industry press relationships, ensuring that Searchlight projects are continually top of mind.

• Communicate with the larger Studios Corporate Comms team on Searchlight announcements, leaks and any potential crisis management strategy; work with Co-Heads to facilitate approvals and FYIs on announcements and leaks.

• Draft talking points for executives, for overall film positioning with press and industry, including panels, conferences, executive remarks and presentations.

• Draft “Sunday Morning” box office positioning for Searchlight films in their theatrical window.

• Oversee and prepare analysis and adjustment of awards budgets and effective communication with publicity department, media, and events to make sure all numbers are accurately reflected.

• Set and manage awards consultant budgets and hiring terms with co-heads of publicity.

• Stay in contact with guilds, societies, awards offices and Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) awards teams to maintain relationships and help ensure studio obtains extra tickets, screening times, etc.

• Write and develop corporate materials including press releases, executive bios, boilerplates, acquisitions announcements.

• Oversee seating and ticketing for talent and executives.

• Oversee coverage of Academy inbox maintained by awards specialist; liaise directly with AMPAS members, ensuring that they have all information they need.

• Oversee submissions for all eligible categories for Guilds, AMPAS, Golden Globes and miscellaneous awards (NAACP, Spirits, Gothams, etc); closely manage deadlines.

• Obtain internal and external AMPAS and Guild approvals for various invitations/materials/blasts.

• Work with Marketing to traffic for input creative screener packing content / verbiage and handle distribution to guild and/or critic groups, create screening calendar mailing.

• Manage creation, production and distribution of awards materials including screeners, invitations, mailers, scores, and script books.

• Liaise with Center of Excellence (CoE) on awards materials creation to ensure uniformity of look and feel within divisions (including sharing vendors, seating, designers).

• Track and update credits and all written materials for all Searchlight releases; liaise with Searchlight legal and production when needed.

• Create and maintain awards top ten lists, critics’ group awards and all guild awards that assist in the overall awards campaign.

• Maintain the awards historical data for Searchlight and statistics for competitive titles/studios as related to awards.

Requirements:

• Minimum 8-10 years of professional experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field; in-house experience a plus.

• 6-7 years of experience in Corporate Communications within the entertainment industry, preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate level of experience.

• Strategic and anticipatory thinker a must.

• Established relationships with AMPAS & other guilds and voting groups’ offices.

• Excellent writing skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with multiple partners and stakeholders.

The hiring range for this position in California is $139,200 to $186,600 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.