Tom Ortenberg
Tom Ortenberg | |
|---|---|
 Ortenberg in 2024 | |
| Born | August 8, 1960 |
| Occupations |
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| Employer | Briarcliff Entertainment |
| Title | Chief executive officer |
| Spouse | Edie |
| Children | 3 |
Tom Ortenberg (born August 8, 1960) is an American businessman.
Early life and career
[edit]Ortenberg was born on August 8, 1960, in Briarcliff Manor, New York. He attended Pennsylvania State University[1] and graduated in 1982. While at Penn State he first dabbled in film, showing recent theatrical movies on campus to raise money for non-profit student groups, including the Consumer Party, a political organization which he co-founded and ran for office with.[2] After moving to San Francisco, he began his film career with Columbia Pictures in 1985 as a clerk and joined Hemdale Film Corporation in 1989, where he briefly became president of distribution and marketing after the company filed for bankruptcy and laid off the C-level officers of the company.
He then joined Lionsgate Films as its President of Theatrical Films, where he was the first employee in its Los Angeles office.[1] Ortenberg led Lionsgate's film division as it quickly grew from an independent arthouse distributor into one of Hollywood's leading movie studios. In 2009, he left Lionsgate to join The Weinstein Company as president of theatrical films.
In 2011, it was announced that he would become the founding CEO of Open Road Films, a newly formed movie studio owned by the theatre chains AMC Theatres and Regal Entertainment Group.[3] In 2016, he endorsed Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.[1]
After seven years at the helm, which included a Best Picture Oscar win for Spotlight at the 2016 Academy Awards, as well as films such as Nightcrawler and End of Watch, Ortenberg left Open Road in 2017 after Tang Media Partners acquired it.[4]
He then founded Briarcliff Entertainment, a distribution company which has since released over a dozen films theatrically.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Ortenberg lives with his wife Edie and his three children, Jason, Andrew, and Cole, in Santa Monica, California. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and is a trustee of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.[6][better source needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c McClintock, Pamela (February 25, 2016). "'Spotlight' Executive Tom Ortenberg on Oscar Campaign Reform, Why He's "Feeling the Bern"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ Diacont, Patti (September 4, 1984). "Ortenberg campaign focuses on University, economic issues". Daily Collegian. Pennsylvania State University. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 7, 2011). "Theater Chains AMC, Regal Launch Distribution Venture Open Road With Tom Ortenberg At Helm". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 2, 2017). "Tom Ortenberg Exiting Open Road Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 30, 2018). "How Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 11/9' Landed Its Release Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ "Tom Ortenberg". IMDb. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
External links
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