2023 Pioneer of the Year Erik Lomis Presented by Amazon MGM StudiosAmazon MGM Studios honor a fearless leader, a tireless philanthropist, and a trusted friend. He’ll forever be on our Wall of Fame.2023 Pioneer of the Year Erik Lomis Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers FoundationThe complete Pioneer of the Year Tribute Journal will be available for download on our website, www.wrpioneers.org/2023dinner. Thank you to all our sponsors.2023 Pioneer of the Year Dedication Erik Lomis was a force unlike any other. His strong will and resolute conviction made him a brilliant executive, while his loyalty and unwavering generosity made him an extraordinary human being. The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation as we know it today, exists in large part due to the guidance and influence of Erik’s leadership. We are forever indebted to him for his decades of service to this organization. The loss to our industry is immeasurable. On behalf of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and the thousands of industry members we have served under his direction, we offer endless gratitude.Pioneering Spirit 2023 Pioneer of the Year With a mix of fearlessness, loyalty and an exuberant love of movies, Erik Lomis reigned with a heart of gold and sense of humor that made the whole town laugh—until his untimely passing this past March when the town that had always laughed with him, cried. His legacy will live on forever. Erik Lomis’ extraordinary career in film began during his teenage years when he worked after school as a theatre usher in Philadelphia, where he was born and raised. Later on, he would become the head film buyer at Sameric Corp in Philadelphia where he was also responsible for real estate development, before going on to head the national film department at United Artists Theatres, the nation’s largest theater chain. After a successful run in exhibition, he went on to have three incredible decades leading the distribution teams at MGM, The Weinstein Company, Annapurna Pictures, UAR/MGM, and MGM/Amazon Studios. In those 30 years as an icon in the field of theatrical distribution, Lomis was integral to many box-office successes and fostered long-standing relationships with filmmakers including EON Productions’ Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, Irwin Winkler, and Ryan Coogler. These filmmakers, along with countless other industry titans, anxiously awaited the LOMIS REPORT every weekend, which was dispatched at 6:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays, with his detailed and colorful analysis of that weekend’s box-office results. Most recently, Lomis served as the Head of Theatrical Distribution at MGM and Amazon Studios where he oversaw the theatrical distribution strategy for the record-breaking Creed III and masterminded the decision to release Air theatrically. He previously served as President of Distribution of United Artists Releasing from 2019 to 2022, handling the theatrical distribution strategy for titles including Best Picture Nominee Women Talking, Best Picture Nominee Licorice Pizza and No Time To Die. Prior to United Artists Releasing, Lomis was President of Distribution of Annapurna Pictures from 2016 to 2019, where he established the studio’s first in-house Distribution and In-Theatre Marketing Erik Lomis2023 Pioneer of the Year departments, overseeing the release of Vice and If Beale Street Could Talk, as well as the domestic release of MGM’s Bond franchise films, and Creed II which became the highest grossing live action opening ever on Thanksgiving. Lomis served as President of Theatrical Distribution & Home Entertainment at The Weinstein Company (TWC) from 2011 to 2016, handling film titles that included Academy Award® winners The Artist, The Iron Lady, The King’s Speech, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, and The Imitation Game to name a few. Prior to TWC, Lomis worked at MGM from 1993 to 2011, leaving as President of Worldwide Theatrical Distribution, Home Entertainment & Acquisitions of MGM, where he oversaw domestic theatrical distribution as well as the marketing and distribution of MGM’s international titles. As President of Domestic Distribution, he was part of the greenlight committee and oversaw the distribution of Legally Blonde, Barbershop, and four of the James Bond films: Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. That teenage usher in Philadelphia saw how stories on the big screen could inspire and entertain audiences and introduce them to worlds far beyond what they knew; and he went on to work with and advise some of the world’s greatest filmmakers. A dedicated fundraiser and philanthropist, Lomis also served as the Chairman and President of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, most recently as a member of the Foundation’s advisory council. Lomis was a fierce and tireless champion of the Foundation and was passionate about supporting those in the industry that needed assistance. He also dedicated his time to supporting numerous mentorship programs and was committed to nurturing the next generation of talent in our industry. Lomis was a beloved and respected leader, coach, mentor and consigliere to his staff and colleagues—his indomitable spirit lives on through them as the phrase, “What would Lomis do?” is still heard frequently in conference rooms, hallways, and offices. His undeniable love and passion for this industry is only surpassed by his love for The Philadelphia Eagles (Go Birds!), and his beloved family—his wife, Patricia Laucella; his children, Natalia Jovovich, Nicole Rose Lomis, and Zach Lomis; his stepmother, Joanne Lomis; sister, Sandy McGuigan; and brother Charles Lomis.The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation proudly bestows its highest honor on Erik Lomis 2023 Pioneer of the Year In recognition of his distinguished leadership of humanitarian causes and philanthropic endeavors, and in recognition of the eminence he achieved in the entertainment industry and community at large. 2023 Pioneer of the Year Mark Christiansen Chairman of the Board Heather Morgan PresidentWorking Dinner Committee Co-Chairs: Heather Morgan and Kevin Wilson 2023 Pioneer of the Year Chris Aronson Patty Ascención Adriene Bowles Mark Christiansen Ajay Clark Katie Kornfield Patricia Laucella Branden Miller Isaac Mizrahi Jim Orr Gerry Rich Todd VradenburgNext >