Focus Chair, Vice Chair to Receive Gotham Awards’ Industry Tribute
Peter Kujawski and Jason Cassidy will be honored during the New York ceremony November 28.
Kujawski joined Focus when it was formed and became its chairman in 2016 while Cassidy joined Focus as marketing president in 2016 and was elevated to vice chairman of the company in 2019.
“Focus Features and its unparalleled slate of remarkable films, has been an essential part of the Gotham Awards for twenty years, truly representing the pinnacle of independent film. We salute Peter and Jason for continuing to make Focus Features a welcoming home for filmmakers while embracing innovative new ways to extend the studio’s stellar legacy,” said Gotham film and media institute executive director Jeffrey Sharp. “Furthermore, Peter and Jason have been essential partners in supporting The Gotham’s emerging filmmaker initiatives such as the Focus Features Jet Blue Student Short Film Program which has awarded financial support and recognition to twenty graduate film school students over the past four years.”
Two of Focus’ latest releases, Tár and Armageddon Time, earned Gotham nominations, with Tár scoring a leading 5 nods, including one for best feature.
Other notable titles that Focus, Universal’s specialty division, has released over its 20-year history include Brokeback Mountain, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lost in Translation, Milk, Moonrise Kingdom, Phantom Thread, BlacKkKlansman, Promising Young Woman, Belfast and both of the Downton Abbey films.
Focus: 2023 Slate
Focus’ 2023 slate includes Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, Zelda Williams’ Lisa Frankenstein, Bobby Farrelly’s Champions, Book Club II and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.
The Gotham Awards is set to take place on Monday, November 28, 2022, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The winners of the fourth annual Focus and JetBlue student short film showcase will be revealed during the ceremony.