Trafalgar Releasing, a specialist in global event cinema, expanded its leadership with key promotions and a new hire after setting records over the past year. Its slate, from acclaimed restoration Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII to SUGA│Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE, hit 57 event films, the most ever for the company founded in 2009.
Trafalgar runs on an April fiscal year.
Internally, Kymberli Frueh has been elevated to EVP of Content Acquisitions and Programming, where she will continue to strengthen relationships with top-tier artists, producers and rights holders across acquisitions including music, film, faith and more.
Jamie Woglom has been appointed SVP, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, expanding her remit to focus on ancillary revenue generation, including consumer merchandise programs, branded concessions, sponsorship, and strategic brand partnerships.
James Merchant now serves as SVP, Marketing & Client Relations, overseeing the company’s global corporate marketing strategy and managing key client relationships worldwide.
Gemma Spector, a two-decade film-industry veteran most recently with Modern Films, joins as Head of Marketing. Spector brings more and will play a key role in leading integrated global marketing campaigns and strengthening Trafalgar’s brand presence.
Trafalgar Releasing, a division of Trafalgar Entertainment, is UK-based but with a handful of staffers Stateside, including Woglom and Frueh.
“Trafalgar continues to set the benchmark for what’s possible in event cinema. Our record-breaking number of global events in 2024 and a slate that reflected the breadth of our programming underscore the team’s outstanding achievements and reinforce Trafalgar’s position as a trusted leader. These strategic appointments position us to build on that success and continue delivering exceptional experiences for audiences and partners alike,” said Trafalgar Releasing Chairman David Lazar.
Building on its success as the international distributor for 2023’s blockbuster concert films TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR and RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ, both in partnership with AMC Theatres Distribution, Trafalgar Releasing moved to the 15th-anniversary re-release of LAIKA’s Coraline, which grossed $21 million internationally (ex. US) and outperformed its original 2009 release in several markets; the Donmar Warehouse’s acclaimed production of Macbeth, starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, which earned over $4 million worldwide; The Chosen: Last Supper, which brought in more than $12 million globally (ex. US); and the $4.6 million re-release of Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555.
Trafalgar hopes to keep up its current pace.
The company, along with other event cinema players like Fathom, Imax and Iconic Events, have been crucial in keep the box office afloat in the wake of Covid, through Hollywood strikes, and into a soft start of 2025. Trafalgar executives are said to feel confident the company can continue to meet or exceed that pace. Event cinema seems to have carved out a permanent space and the company’s schedule remains crowded even amid a broader box office recovery. The specific number of events is hard to predict year to year since its slate is often built on shorter notice than that of traditional distributor.
Upcoming releases include The Grateful Dead Movie; HYBE Cine Fest In Asia; and BTS Army: Forever We Are Young.
The company “has always championed global fandom and the power of shared theatrical experiences. With 2024 marking our highest number of events to date, we’re proud of how the team has elevated event cinema worldwide. These new appointments and expanded roles reflect our ongoing commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustained growth as we look ahead to an ambitious 2025 and beyond,” said CEO Marc Allenby.