NYWIFT Talks with VP of Publicity and Promotion of IFC Films Laura Sok

In our August 18, 2020, NYWIFT Talks, we joined VP of Publicity and Promotion of IFC Films Laura Sok to discuss publicity in the age of the “new normal” of VOD platforms and drive-in’s.

Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on cable’s Video On Demand (VOD) platform, reaching nearly 50 million homes.

Some of the company’s successes over the years have included BOYHOOD, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, TOUCHING THE VOID, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, CHE, SUMMER HOURS, ANTICHRIST, IN THE LOOP, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, TINY FURNITURE and CARLOS. Over the years, IFC Films has worked with established and breakout filmmakers, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noé, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, Abdellatif Kechiche, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Abbas Kiarostami, and many more. IFC Films is a sister label to IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.

Learn more about IFC Films. 

The conversation was moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Rachel Watanabe-Batton.

Panelists

Laura Sok is the Vice President of Publicity and Promotions for IFC Films where she develops, implements and executes publicity and award campaigns across IFC Films and its sister label IFC Midnight. Under her direction in the 2019/2020 Award Season, IFC garnered a spot on the Academy Shortlist for Best International Feature Film for The Painted Bird, earned seven Independent Spirit Award Nominations and three Gotham Award Nominations for films such as Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale, Kent Jones’s Diane, Lynn Shelton’s Sword of Trust, Rashaad Ernesto Green’s Premature, and Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe’s feature directorial debut Greener Grass.

Sok has previously held roles at Cinetic Media, New Line Cinema, Relativity Media, Oscilloscope Laboratories, Cohen Media Group, Cinedigm Entertainment and consulted with IFFR (International Film Festival Rotterdam) where she contributed to film campaigns including I, Tonya, The Big Sick, The Hero, Short Term 12, Mustang, Sorry to Bother You, First They Killed My Father, Samara, and Shut Up and Play the Hits. She is a member of the Television Academy and NYWIFT.

Rachel Watanabe-Batton (moderator) has produced film, TV and pop culture for over 20 years in development and physical production. She founded Contradiction and Struggle to champion global stories that reframe history and culture and connect cinema, causes and capital. Projects include documentary Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl directed by NYWIFT Muse Julie Dash and narrative series 1850 about mixing and migration. Her work has been supported by IFP, NEH, NEA, BPM, Ford Foundation and Radcliffe. 

A longtime advocate for empowering women, Rachel has spearheaded “Celebration of Women” festival parties, inter-guild readings, women’s mixers, diversity summits and creative impact partnerships. She programs and moderates in-depth industry conversations and screenings, and is represented by P.S. 314 Collective for media consulting. Mayor DeBlasio and former NYC MOME Commissioner Lopez honored her with a MADE IN NY Award as Producers Guild of America East Vice Chair, Diversity Chair (2008-2018) and Co-Chair of PGA Women’s Impact Network. Rachel is Chair of Manhattan Neighborhood Network and on the boards of Women Independent Producers and NYWIFT.