Stephanie Phillips Named EVP Of Publicity, Dani Weinstein Exits

Stephanie Phillips was previously the Warner Bros. Senior Vice President of Global Publicity. She is now heading to Focus Features as the EVP, Publicity.

Industry vet Dani Weinstein, who was formerly in this role, will be departing Universal’s classic label after a near five-year run.

Phillips has over 20 years of experience in managing multi-faceted global public relations campaigns. She will be based out of Los Angeles and report directly to Jason Cassidy, Focus Features Vice Chairman.

Phillips will oversee all publicity for Focus Features’ theatrical slate while working closely on awards campaigns and strategic branding. She will team with Universal Pictures’ global publicity team on Focus’ overseas campaigns on titles distributed via Universal Pictures International.

Weinstein has worked on numerous Oscar winning campaigns, the most recent being for Label. Promising Young Woman and 2017’s Darkest Hour Joe Wright. She has already teed up Kenneth Branagh’s Belfastfor Focus this awards season, which has already won TIFF’s Oscar bellwether People’s Choice Award, and has been nominated for 11 British Independent Film Awards. The film has been a highlight over the Thanksgiving box-office frame for arthouses in the pandemic period, currently bringing in $5M domestically.

Under Weinstein’s tenure, Focus Features also had their best domestic opening ever at the box office with Downton AbbeyIt debuted at $31M and earned $96.8M domestically, $237.8M worldwide. Prior to Focus, Weinstein worked at Miramax and The Weinstein Company, where she worked on such prolific titles as Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New YorkandThe Aviator; Quentin Tarantino’sInglorious BasterdsandDjango Unchainedand David O. Russell’sSilver Linings Playbook. At TWC, Weinstein worked onThe Artist,The Imitation Game,The King’s Speech,Fruitvale Station, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Philomena,The ReaderandCarol.

At Warners Bros, Phillips led strategy for several titles including most recently Village Roadshow’s The Matrix Resurrections which is opening on Dec. 22 in theatersAnd on HBO Max. She also oversaw the campaigns for the critically acclaimedAnd A CinemaScore title King Richard, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, directed by Jon M. Chu,And the Oscar-winning Judas and the Black Messiah, starring Daniel Kaluuya. During her 13-year tenure at Warner Bros, Phillips also ran publicity campaigns for Godzilla vs. Kong (Warner’s highest grossing movie of this year with $467.8M-plus worldwide), the It franchisee, HangoverTrilogy, and the female-led Oceans 8. Phillips worked prior to Warner Bros. at Sony Pictures and Mandate/ Ghost House Pictures. There, she was responsible for the marketing strategy of these films. Juno, Stranger Than FictionAnd Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.

“With the breadth of content available at audiences’ fingertips, it’s increasingly important that our publicity campaigns continue to innovate and adapt to reach the broadest audience possible. Stephanie’s track record of success with auteur driven original films and globally branded IP, paired with her impeccable filmmaker and talent relationships, make her the ideal partner to lead our publicity team into the future,”Cassidy.

“Kujo and I are incredibly grateful for Dani’s dedication to Focus and helping to deliver such impactful campaigns. We wish her all the best in her next chapter,”Cassidy.

Focus is the genre pic WolfThis weekend, the doors will open. Some of next year’s titles includeThe OutfitThe sequel starred Oscar winner Mark Rylance (February 25, 2012).Downton Abbey: A New Eraon March 18, Robert Eggers’The Northmanstarring Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard on April 22, and Anthony Fabian’s Mrs. Harris visits ParisApril 6.

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