Mubi, the global indie film distributor and streaming platform, has overhauled its content leadership structure as the company navigates a volatile marketplace for independent cinema. The restructuring also includes the full integration of The Match Factory, a leading European sales company acquired in 2022.
The company currently employs around 400 staff across 14 offices in the U.S. and international markets. A Mubi spokesperson confirmed that roughly a dozen employees accepted voluntary exit packages. The exits were offered after CEO and founder Efe Cakarel signaled that workloads would increase as the company adapts to new operational demands.
According to the spokesperson, some of those positions will be rehired. “Efe explained to the entire Mubi team that the company was going to be asking a lot of everyone going forward, and if anyone felt they were not up for it the company would help them with a generous exit,” the spokesperson said.
Senior leadership transitions and new content pillars
As part of the reshaping, longtime chief content officer Jason Ropell will step into a senior advisory role, focusing on strategic and creative counsel while working closely with Cakarel. Mubi will not appoint a new CCO; instead, content operations have been split across four leadership pillars.
Arianna Bocco, who joined the company earlier this year and previously served at IFC, has been promoted to oversee global acquisitions and distribution.
Michael Weber, longtime head of The Match Factory, will become Mubi’s head of global production. The Match Factory will now be fully integrated into its parent company but will continue handling international sales in territories where Mubi does not distribute directly.
The Match Factory will still acquire third-party films and work with major auteur talent — a core element of its brand identity.
Within Mubi’s new structure, Chiara Maranon and Uriel Kuzniecki will co-lead programming and licensing, while Danny Kasman continues to head publishing.
Financial headwinds and strategic recalibration
The leadership overhaul arrives during a turbulent period for Mubi. In spring 2025, the company secured a $100 million investment from Sequoia Capital Investment. The partnership drew criticism online after scrutiny of Sequoia’s alleged ties to the Israeli military.
Mubi has also faced pressure from a theatrical market increasingly difficult for independent releases. The company made major festival acquisitions in recent years, including a reported $24 million deal for Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love. Despite star power from Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, the film underperformed in cinemas.
Still, Mubi expressed confidence in its long-term strategy. The spokesperson said the company remains “bullish on the future,” emphasizing strong capitalization and a mission to support independent filmmaking as consolidation reshapes the entertainment ecosystem.
Recent accolades underscore that optimism. Mubi films earned seven Golden Globes nominations this year, including a best actress nod for Lawrence, and several Mubi releases have made the Oscars shortlist, including Sentimental Value, Oliver Laxe’s Sirat, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice and Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident.
The company also recently hired publicity executive VJ Carbone as VP of U.S. communications ahead of awards season.
