With over 20 years in the film industry, Steven Raphael has been passionately devoted to bringing quality films to the US marketplace. Raphael is a co-founder of required viewing, a full-service film marketing, distribution, and consulting agency specializing in U.S. theatrical and ancillary marketing strategies and implementation for quality narrative, foreign language, and documentary films. Raphael was Senior Vice president of Acquisitions and Co-productions at USA Films (now Focus Features). During that period he was involved in the theatrical campaigns for such films as Being John Malkovich, Gosford Park, and Traffic.
At USA, Raphael was responsible for acquiring and co-financing Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding, Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven (nominated for four 2003 Academy awards), Francois Ozone’s 8 Women, the Dardenne Bros. Rosetta (winner Palme d’Or 1999 Cannes Film Festival) and Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love.
Prior to USA FILMS, Raphael was Sr. Vice President of Publicity and Marketing at Gramercy Pictures/PolyGram where he was responsible for national campaigns on Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pricilla Queen of the Desert, Dead Man Walking, Elizabeth, Fargo, The Usual Suspects, Shallow Grave, Bound, The Big Lebowski, and Cold Comfort Farm.
Raphael is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He is a past board member of the Film Independent (FIND), OUTFEST, THE DRAMA DEPT, and NEWFEST. Raphael currently is a member of IFP advisory committee and a consultant to the RIO Film Festival and Telefilm Canada. He lives with his partner in New York City.
