About Amir Malin
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For more than 35 years, Amir Malin has been a leading figure in the motion picture industry, regarded for his marketing savvy, business acumen, and strategic thinking.
Before becoming the Managing Partner of the media investment firm Qualia Capital, Mr. Malin served as Chief Executive Officer of Artisan Entertainment. His leadership was instrumental in helping the studio grow from a struggling home video distributor (known as LIVE Entertainment) to the leading privately held independent filmed entertainment company in the world.
His efforts were widely recognized across the industry, leading Variety to name him as one of its 500 Most Important People in Global Entertainment in both 2017 and 2018.
When Mr. Malin joined LIVE Entertainment, he inherited a collection of 2,500 titles, which he quickly expanded into a world-class library of approximately 7,000. These included hits such as TERMINATOR 2, DIRTY DANCING, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and RESERVOIR DOGS.
Under his guidance, Artisan grew rapidly, transforming itself into a multi-dimensional distribution machine that operated across the theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, and free television marketplaces. By leveraging these expanded distribution capabilities, Artisan was able to acquire and produce content for the theatrical and home video markets, which led to such well-known films as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, THE PUNISHER, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, and the direct-to-video BARBIE series.
Thanks to Mr. Malin’s governance, Artisan’s financial situation quickly matured. The company went from a revenue base at $120 million in 1997 to grossing more than $400 million by 2003. In addition to growing its top line, Artisan improved EBITDA from less than $6 million in 1997 to $44.5 million in 2003. This remarkable turnaround culminated in the merger of Artisan with Lions Gate Entertainment in December 2003 and resulted in a 700% return over a six-year period for the Bain Capital-led equity investment that took LIVE Entertainment private.
As his expertise in the industry grew, Mr. Malin volunteered his time as an Adjunct Professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where he taught a course entitled THE BUSINESS OF FILM.
Prior to his recruitment by Bain Capital to join the LIVE/Artisan transaction in July 1997, Mr. Malin was President of October Films, a distributor of independent film products. In the role, he was involved in product acquisition (including the Oscar-nominated films SECRETS & LIES, BREAKING THE WAVES, and THE LAST SEDUCTION), all facets of distribution, and strategic initiatives.
In 1997, he guided October to a successful sale of 51% of its equity to the Universal Motion Picture Group. Investors in the original 1992 Allen & Company transaction enjoyed an average yearly ROI of more than 20%. In 1982, Mr. Malin co-founded Cinecom Films, one of the most important independent companies of the decade. Cinecom’s oeuvre included the Oscar-winning film A ROOM WITH A VIEW, Jonathan Demme’s STOP MAKING SENSE and indie stalwart John Sayles’ MATEWAN. The company was sold to SBK Entertainment World in 1989, and Mr. Malin resigned as CEO upon conclusion of the sale.
Mr. Malin is an honors graduate of Brandeis University and Boston University School of Law. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Executive Branch.