Attendees were able to interact and participate in a great discussion with Kyle as well as network with fellow industry peers. Kyle spoke to his beginnings as a member of the exhibition community, his transition to the distribution world, and what steps he took in his career to get to his current role. He also shared lessons he learned at different stops along the way that he continues to incorporate while leading the distribution team at Paramount.
KYLE DAVIES
President, Domestic Distribution, Paramount Pictures
Kyle Davies joined Paramount Pictures in 2016 as President of Domestic Distribution, overseeing the release of dozens of movies, including Arrival, Fences, Transformers: The Last Knight, Daddy’s Home 2, Annihilation and recent hits A Quiet Place, Book Club and Mission: Impossible - Fallout. His domestic theatrical distribution team is 70 people strong and has offices in Hollywood and Toronto. He is currently President of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, and a member of the Executive branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2013, he received the Salah M. Hassanein Humanitarian Award, recognizing his distinguished philanthropic service.
Davies previously served as President of Worldwide Distribution for Relativity Media (2011-2016), playing an instrumental role in the company’s evolution from a financing and producing entity into a full-fledged studio. With the creation in 2014 of a joint venture company (Relativity EuropaCorp Distribution) between Relativity Media and EuropaCorp, Davies’ responsibilities included oversight of both companies’ domestic and international distribution strategies and working closely with their foreign output partners.
Davies was named President of Theatrical Distribution in 2010, after Relativity acquired Overture Films’ marketing and distribution assets. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Theatrical Distribution for Overture Films, where he handled the distribution of such releases as Law Abiding Citizen, Brooklyn’s Finest, The Crazies and The Visitor.
Prior to joining Overture, Davies was Senior Vice President of Distribution at Paramount Pictures. He joined Paramount following its purchase of DreamWorks, where he was Senior Vice President, Distribution. Davies worked on such DreamWorks releases as Mission: Impossible III, Dreamgirls, Over the Hedge, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, American Beauty, Shrek and Shrek II.
Davies began his entertainment career in exhibition working for major theater chains including National Amusements and General Cinema. Born in Texas, he is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he was the president of his fraternity, Sigma Chi.