Director, Special Events & Talent Relations

The Director, Special Events & Talent Relations leads the strategy, planning, and execution of high-impact studio events, marketing activations, festivals, gifting programs, and talent-facing experiences in support of Searchlight’s theatrical releases, awards campaigns, and broader brand priorities. This role partners closely across marketing, publicity, creative, field, senior leadership, external vendors, talent, and stakeholders to ensure events are strategically aligned, creatively executed, operationally sound, and reflective of the Searchlight brand identity. Responsibilities • Develop and execute event strategies that support marketing and awards campaigns across Searchlight’s theatrical releases • Oversee event planning and execution, ensuring alignment with campaign goals and brand identity • Oversee development & execution of all marketing activations including pop-ups, brand events and licensed events • Lead collaboration across marketing, publicity, creative, and field teams to ensure alignment of event strategy with broader campaign goals • Own the strategic planning and allocation of event budgets, ensuring cost-effective execution while maintaining high production value • Lead the creative development of events and clearly communicate vision to external vendors • Oversee selection, hiring & management of third-party production vendors • Serve as a key advisor to the Vice President and senior leadership on event strategy, talent relations, and brand activations. • Establish event metrics, evaluate effectiveness, and conduct post-event analysis to inform future planning and improve impact. • Oversee staffing for all studio events including internal assignments and agency supplementation • Lead the studio gifting program strategy, including general talent and filmmaker gifting as well as managing promotional item and mailer deliveries to talent and stakeholders around theatrical releases • Strategically curate guest lists for all studio events, including celebrities, influencers, and press, ensuring alignment with campaign goals and stakeholder engagement strategies • Work with Director, Field Publicity on integrating cohesive creative across field…