Screen Media ups Needle, hires Howe

Seth Needle

US distributor Screen Media, owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, has promoted Seth Needle to exec VP of global acquisitions and coproductions and hired Katharyn Howe as VP of the same department.

Needle has worked at Screen Media for 10 years as senior VP of global acquisitions and coproductions. He oversees all acquisition efforts at the company, including product for domestic new releases and foreign sales, as well as all programming on streaming platform Crackle Plus, in addition to overseeing Screen Media’s copro efforts.

In her new role, Howe will report to Needle and will be responsible for continuing the company’s acquisitions and production efforts, while also managing the department’s staff, including creative executive Conor McAdam and acquisition managers Brendan Murray and Logan Taylor.

Katharyn Howe

Howe’s career in the independent film industry includes roles in acquisitions, production and business development. She spent the past five years at SXSW Conference & Festivals, before which she was an exec producer for Relic Pictures on Diego Luna’s 2016 film Mr Pig. She was also previously part of the acquisitions team at Entertainment One Films, Phase 4 Films and IFC Films.

David Fannon, president of Screen Media and exec VP of distribution at Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, said: “I am very excited to announce Seth’s promotion and Katharyn’s hiring. Seth and I have worked together for more than 10 years and this promotion is well deserved. Bringing Katharyn on board demonstrates Screen Media’s commitment to quality. I am excited to add her to our talented, hard-working team.”