EXCLUSIVE: Lia Buman is the new Head of Global Acquisitions and Republic Pictures at Paramount Pictures.
In addition, Buman will oversee Republic Pictures as a targeted development and production label within Paramount, zeroing in on commercially driven movie with a strong independent DNA.
The producer whose credits include the Cannes premiere, The History of Sound, and the big NEON Sundance acquisition, Together, will report to Paramount Pictures Co-Chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
Buman joins the Melrose Ave lot after her leadership of Tango, the company she co-founded with Tim Headington in 2017 and shaped into a respected force for artist-forward storytelling. In her new role, she will leverage her expertise to build and oversee a unified acquisitions and production business that combines Paramount’s global infrastructure with the independent film ecosystem.
Under Buman’s leadership, Paramount plans to grow its global acquisitions pipeline. As Head of Global Acquisitions, she will lead an expanded worldwide acquisitions and co-production strategy encompassing global theatrical releases, split-rights deals, multi-territory partnerships, and a variety of bespoke opportunities across the independent feature marketplace.
Reporting to Buman in the acquisitions group is Sejin Croninger, EVP, Worldwide Acquisitions, Strategy and Operations, who will continue to drive global acquisition efforts and oversee lifecycle management across the studio’s distribution infrastructure.
In addition, Max Silva has been named SVP, Production & Development, Republic Pictures, also joining from Tango.
Said Greenstein and Goldberg, “Lia is an exceptional executive with deep relationships across the independent community and a proven ability to identify distinctive voices and commercial opportunities. By bringing together acquisitions and a revitalized Republic Pictures under one leadership structure, we’re creating a business that harnesses the full strength of Paramount’s global infrastructure while embracing the flexibility, entrepreneurial spirit, and creative diversity of the independent ecosystem.”
Said Buman, “I’m grateful to Dana, Josh, and everyone at Paramount for the trust they’ve placed in me as we build this new chapter for the studio. For more than twenty years I have been a part of the independent film community in a variety of ways. This new role allows me to draw on all my experience to support Paramount’s creative and strategic goals through acquisitions while also shaping a focused, purposeful direction for the Republic Pictures banner. I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve put together and look forward to building, making and acquiring an ambitious slate of bold and entertaining films.”
Buman oversaw the production of nearly 30 films from 2017 to present as principal of the independent film production and financing company, Tango. The company is behind acclaimed directorial debuts and filmmaker-driven projects including Together from Michael Shanks; Sorry, Baby from Eva Victor; Aftersun from Charlotte Wells; Weird: The Al Yankovic Story directed by Eric Appel; and Little Woods from Nia DaCosta.
Prior to launching Tango, Buman served as President of Acquisitions at Focus Features, EVP of Acquisitions at FilmDistrict and VP of Acquisitions at Sony Pictures where she oversaw titles including Atomic Blonde, Nocturnal Animals, Olympus Has Fallen, Looper, Safety Not Guaranteed, early entries in the Insidious franchise, Soul Surfer, Drive and Moon.
