Sony Pictures Classics Joins CinemaCon Film Showcase

Independent studio fills slot left by struggling Row K Entertainment.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:04pm

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Sony Pictures Classics, the Oscar-winning independent studio behind films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Call Me By Your Name, will participate in the inaugural CinemaCon Film Showcase on April 13 in Las Vegas. The company is filling a slot that had been reserved for the financially troubled Row K Entertainment.

Why it matters

Sony Pictures Classics' participation in the CinemaCon showcase highlights the independent studio's continued commitment to theatrical distribution and supporting the exhibition industry, even as some smaller distributors face challenges. The diverse slate of films from Sony Pictures Classics, Angel Studios, and Studiocanal also demonstrates the breadth of content available to moviegoers.

The details

Sony Pictures Classics, led by Tom Bernard and Michael Barker, will join Studiocanal and Angel Studios in presenting their upcoming film slates at the CinemaCon Film Showcase. This marks the first time CinemaCon has included a Monday afternoon program. Row K Entertainment, a new distribution company, had originally been scheduled to participate but withdrew due to financial struggles after the disappointing box office performance of its first film release.

  • CinemaCon will take place from April 13-16, 2026 in Las Vegas.
  • Sony Pictures Classics will present at the inaugural CinemaCon Film Showcase on April 13, 2026.

The players

Sony Pictures Classics

An independent film studio known for critically acclaimed movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Call Me By Your Name.

Tom Bernard

Co-president of Sony Pictures Classics and a longtime champion of the theatrical experience.

Michael Barker

Co-president of Sony Pictures Classics and a longtime champion of the theatrical experience.

Row K Entertainment

A new distribution company that launched last year but has faced financial struggles and pulled out of CinemaCon due to unpaid bills and poor box office performance of its first film release.

Michael O'Leary

President and CEO of Cinema United, the exhibition trade organization behind CinemaCon.

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What they’re saying

“We are excited to welcome Sony Pictures Classics to the inaugural CinemaCon Film Showcase as they bring audiences the kind of films that are essential to the future of exhibition.”

— Michael O'Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United

What’s next

Sony Pictures Classics will present its upcoming film slate as part of the CinemaCon Film Showcase on April 13, 2026 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The takeaway

Sony Pictures Classics' participation in the CinemaCon Film Showcase demonstrates the independent studio's continued commitment to theatrical distribution and supporting the exhibition industry, even as some smaller distributors face challenges. The diverse slate of films from Sony, Angel Studios, and Studiocanal highlights the breadth of content available to moviegoers.