Neon took to the CinemaCon stage at Dolby Colosseum on Tuesday with a punchy presentation of the year’s upcoming releases led by Sundance acquisition Leviticus, SXSW premiere I Love Boosters, and footage from upcoming Cannes world premiere Hope.
“At Neon we believe deeply in the theatrical experience,” Chief distribution office Elissa Federoff told attendees at Caesars Palace. “Cinema remains the most powerful way to bring people together. It drives every decision we make.”
Federoff and EVP of distribution Sumyi Khong Antonson welcomed Adam Scott came onto the stage to tee up the world premiere trailer of May 1 release ghost story Hokum, while Boots Riley and LaKeith Stanfield talked up May 22 release I Love Boosters, which is currently on a 30-college tour.
The executives showed a trailer from Fair Play director Chloe Dumont’s psychological thriller A Place In Hell (Dedember 25) introduced by a witty recorded message from stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Michelle Williams.
Neon’s 2026 slate includes Sundance horror Leviticus on June 19, and fresh acquisition and Cannes Competition selection Hope from Na Hong-Jin. Antonson showed footage from the mystery horror film, which is in post and will open in September after its world premiere on the Croisette next month.
Besides Hope, Neon’s six Cannnes films that have been announced include Arthur Harari’s The Unknown, Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All Of A Sudden, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Sheep In The Box in Competition, and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell out of competition.
Antonson noted Neon began in 2017 as a start-up with six people huddled over their laptops at a WeWork and evolved into “to a truly independent and global studio” whose films have garnered 57 Oscar nominations, 11 wins – two for best picture – and six consecutive Palmes d’Or in Cannes.
Federoff signed off with a message of solidarity to exhibitors. “The future of this business depends on originality … the industry cannot survive on tentpoles alone. The opportunity in front of all of us isn’t just to bring [audiences] back; it’s to give them something they can’t get anywhere else.”
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