Podium Entertainment Acquired by Private Equity Firms - Publishers Weekly

Bleecker Street, the indie distribution label behind the U. S. releases of Alex Gibney's documentary "Musk," Mike Leigh's "Tender Loving Care," Guy Nattiv's "The Liberation," along with last year's "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," "Rebuilding," and "Bone Lake," and many more titles, has been acquired by Outerlight Entertainment, formerly known as First Look. The acquisition comes after the distributor's founder and then-CEO, Andrew Karpen, died from an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 59 in May 2025. The Bleecker Street brand joins Outerlight's Topic Studios, but the two labels will continue to operate separately. Among Outerlight's portfolio, the company also owns Puzzle Pictures, with investments in MHz Choice and Passionflix. Bleecker Street CEO Kent Sanderson and its president and chief marketing officer Tyler DiNapoli will remain with the banner. The release announcing the deal also states that Bleecker will retain control of its current slate without disruption, along with its other acquisitions, filmmaker relationships, and marketing and distribution operations.

Bleecker Street, the indie distribution label behind the U. S. releases of Alex Gibney’s documentary “Musk,” Mike Leigh’s “Tender Loving Care,” Guy Nattiv’s “The Liberation,” along with last year’s “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” “Rebuilding,” and “Bone Lake,” and many more titles, has been acquired by Outerlight Entertainment, formerly known as First Look. The acquisition comes after the distributor’s founder and then-CEO, Andrew Karpen, died from an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 59 in May 2025.