Diana Loomis, the vice president of national publicity at Searchlight Pictures, is departing the studio after nearly two decades as head of its East Coast office, according to Variety.
What’s Happening:
- Loomis will depart Searchlight Pictures at the end of the summer after completing work on Flamin’ Hot, Theater Camp and Poor Things.
- She’s leaving to launch a consulting operation specializing in theatrical and streaming releases, and awards campaigns for motion picture and streaming companies.
- Loomis began her tenure at the studio — known then as Fox Searchlight Pictures — in 2006 with the release of Little Miss Sunshine.
- While at Searchlight, Loomis took part in the strategy and rollout for five best picture Oscar winners: Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water and Nomadland.
- Her most recent awards work includes The Banshees of Inisherin, Nightmare Alley and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
- Loomis previously worked at Walt Disney Studios as vice president of east coast publicity. She then moved with her then-boss Jeffrey Katzenberg to help launch DreamWorks SKG in 1994.
- Some of the Disney film campaigns she worked on include Pretty Woman, The Little Mermaid, Dead Poets Society, Beauty and the Beast and The Color of Money.
What They’re Saying:
- Diana Loomis said in a statement: “I’ve had some amazing years at Searchlight with incredible, unique films — truly innovative filmmakers gravitate to this place. I’m grateful to Nancy Utley, Steve Gilula, David Greenbaum, Matthew Greenfield, Michelle Hooper, Rebecca Kearey and, of course, our New York and Los Angeles publicity teams and looking forward to new experiences in the industry with new and old friends and colleagues.”
- Michelle Hooper, Searchlight’s executive VP of Marketing: “Diana was my first hire two months after I started at Searchlight, and I still consider it the best decision I’ve made here. Her intelligence, strategy and — most importantly — humanity is something I aspire to every day.”