David Linde

In his 20-year career as a producer, executive and entrepreneur, David Linde has been responsible for groundbreaking, commercially successful films involving some of the world's most talented filmmakers. From critically acclaimed, independently produced films to studio blockbusters earning billions of dollars in box office revenue, Linde's unique perspective maintains a balance between creativity and what is necessary to bring a feature film from inception to a global audience. Driven by a passion for connecting cultures, Linde is known as a champion of international filmmakers and creative talent and has worked with leading voices including Pedro Almodóvar, J.A. Bayona, Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou.

In November 2015 Linde was named Chief Executive Officer of Participant Media, the global media company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, which is dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change.

In 2011 Linde founded Lava Bear Films, a production and financing company, with the support of Reliance Entertainment. In 2016, in addition to Arrival, Lava Bear productions include Jonas Cuarón's Desierto, the thriller Shut In starring Naomi Watts, and The Forest starring Natalie Dormer.

Prior to the formation of Lava Bear, Linde served as chairman of Universal Pictures, where he successfully championed a broad outlook regarding international productions, animation and family entertainment, and distribution. Linde also ran acclaimed specialty film studio Focus Features and its genre division, Rogue Pictures, both of which were formed from Universal's acquisition of the acclaimed independent production company Good Machine, of which he was a partner. While at Good Machine, Linde shepherded iconic titles such as Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Y Tu Mamá También. During his tenure at Focus, Co-Presidents Linde and James Schamus oversaw a diverse slate that was honored with a historic 53 Oscar® nominations and 11 Academy Awards®.

Linde spent the early portion of his career at Miramax, serving on the leadership team at Miramax Films and Miramax Films International, where he led the acquisition of Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures, Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway and Chen Kaige's Palme d'Or-winning Farewell My Concubine, as well as the international distribution of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Wes Craven's Scream and Anthony Minghella's multi-Academy Award®-winning The English Patient.

Linde serves on the board of directors of FilmIndependent and is on the board of trustees of New Roads School. Throughout his career, Linde has been recognized for numerous awards, including The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year, General Electric's Chairman Award for Performance Turnaround, the Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Entertainment Industry Award, the 21st Israel Film Festival Visionary Award, New York Magazine: Best of the Industry Award, the Gotham Award for Distinguished Achievement, and the Locarno Film Festival's Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award.

Paramount Pictures