Jasper Basch, CEO of IFC Films, joins Variance Films as Director of Sales

EXCLUSIVE: Sales Director Jasper Basch returns to Variance Films as the new Sales Director. He will step down from his position as sales and distribution director at IFC Films later this week, marking the company’s third senior departure in two weeks.

Basch originally began his career at Variance, where he was promoted to Manager Distribution. Basch will work with Variance Films founder and president Dylan Marchetti, partner Kristen Osborne and director of sales Ryan Markowitz.

“I am thrilled to be reuniting with Dylan and Kristen at Variance Films. Variance was my first employer after graduation and it was a great experience to grow with them. To be able to do this for the second time is a privilege I couldn’t have hoped for,” said Basch.

“The industry is increasingly recognizing how critical good theatrical distribution is to a film’s success, and Variance has been waiting and ready to seize the moment – ​​as it continues to grow and evolve,” said Marchetti. “After working with Jasper for four years, we’ve watched with pride and growing envy as he’s brought his insight, drive, instinct and wealth of raw cinematic intelligence to other major enterprises, and we’re delighted to have him back. ” we.”

Basch’s recent departure from the indie hotspot follows the unexpected recent departures of President Arianna Bocco and John Vanco, SVP and GM of the IFC Center.

Basch has been instrumental in releasing some of IFC’s recent blockbusters, including skin amarin and IFC’s summer of drive-through distribution with hits like The miserable And The rent. He handled theatrical distribution for IFC’s sister labels, including Shudder and RLJE Films.

He joined IFC Films in 2020 as head of distribution, overseeing up to 30 releases a year, ranging from packed cinema windows to seven-figure daily grossing titles such as the wretched, remainderAnd The rent.

Prior to joining the IFC Films team, Basch was VP of Theatrical Sales at Greenwich Entertainment, where his responsibilities included film distribution Echo in the Canyon And Linda Ronstadt: The sound of my voice. He previously founded and operated Cartilage Films, an independent film distribution and theatrical booking agency used by Screen Media Films, MUBI, Metrograph Pictures, Paladin, Film Movement and Arrow Films.

Variance celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and works directly with rights holders of all types of films on theatrical releases. Recent releases include Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Oscar-winning film drive my car and Jerzy Skolimowski’s Oscar nominee E.O for Sideshow/Janus Films, Park Chan-wook’s decided to go for Mubi and an innovative re-release of SS Rajamouli’s Telugu blockbuster RRR which helped unleash a wave of international recognition, culminating in an Oscar win for Best Original Song, in a campaign also led by Variance; The domestic sales of this picture are $14.5 million.

Variance’s recent clients include Hidden Empire Film Group, National Geographic Documentary Films, XYZ Films, The Avenue/Highland Film Group, Decal, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, RLJE Films and Universal.

Upcoming theatrical releases overseen by Variance include the release of Sideshow/Janus Films’ Felix Van Groeningen and the Cannes Film Festival title of Charlotte Vandermeersch The Eight Mountains on April 28 and Mubi’s release of Ira Sachs’s parts on 4.8.

Significant savings have been made at IFC’s parent company, AMC Networks, over the past year. In November, they laid off 20% of their US workforce, or 200 employees.