Bleecker Street Hires A24's Frank Martinez as Head of Distribution

Bleecker Street has named Frank Martinez head of distribution, effective immediately. He will oversee theatrical distribution strategies, planning and execution across the Bleecker Street and Crosswalk slates.

Martinez joins from A24, where he spent three years as head of theatrical sales. During his tenure, A24's annual box office grew from $151 million in 2023 to over $333 million in 2026, driven by the releases of "Backrooms," "The Drama," "The Invite" and "Marty Supreme."

"Frank is one of the most insightful, analytical and creative minds in theatrical distribution," said Kent Sanderson, CEO of Bleecker Street. "As Bleecker Street continues to reinvent itself and prioritize the cinematic experience, I am so thrilled to have him be the steward of our slate in this exciting time in theatrical distribution."

The appointment signals Bleecker Street's sharpened focus on theatrical releasing at a moment when independent distributors are competing for screens and audience attention.

"Bleecker Street has established itself as a destination for bold, distinctive filmmaking, and I couldn't be more excited to join the team," Martinez said. "As the theatrical landscape continues to evolve, there is tremendous opportunity to find creative ways to connect great films with audiences. I look forward to working alongside our filmmakers and exhibition partners to build on Bleecker's strong foundation and help drive the next chapter of the company's growth."

Before A24, Martinez served as executive director of domestic distribution at Paramount Pictures. There he worked on "Top Gun: Maverick" and on releases across the "Mission: Impossible" and "Scream" franchises. He began his career in theater management and operations before moving into film programming and buying at Bow Tie Cinemas and Rave Cinemas' The Film Group.

Martinez's industry roles extend beyond distribution. He was a founding member of Film Row and served as its president for two years before becoming its honorary chair. He currently serves as vice president of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation board.

Martinez arrives with a track record of scaling a boutique distributor's box office performance more than twofold — experience Bleecker Street will now look to apply across its own slate and the Crosswalk lineup.