Mark Amin

Background

About Mark Amin

Mark Amin is an Iranian American film producer, writer and distributor who’s worked in the entertainment industry for over two decades and who has executive produced such critically acclaimed titles as Eve’s Bayou and Frida, starring Salma Hayak, which was nominated for five Oscars, winning two. Amin received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his Masters of Business Administration from UCLA’s Graduate School of Management. Beginning his film career on the distribution side of the industry, in 1981, Amin co-founded a video specialty store in Los Angeles known as 20/20 Video. 20/20 Video focused on the business of distributing films on video and would eventually become the largest video specialty chain in Los Angeles. Amin’s experience with 20/20 Video inspired him to form his own distribution company called Vidmark Entertainment, a company that would be a pioneer in the market of home video entertainment. Seeking to branch out his experience in the film industry, in 1987 Amin co-founded the production company, Trimark Holdings. Serving as CEO and Chairman of Trimark, Amin lead the studio through the production of major releases, including Eve’s Bayou, starring Samuel Jackson, and Leprechaun, starring a young Jennifer Aniston. In Trimark merged with Lions Gate Entertainment, which made Amin the largest shareholder of Lionsgate, as well as its Vice Chairman. From to 2009, Amin served as Vice Chairman of Lionsgate, a period that saw the release of films like Monster’s Ball, a film earning Halle Barry a Best Actress Academy Award, and Crash, which earned the Best Picture Academy Award. Seeking to continue his production efforts, in 2001, Amin founded a new production company called Sobini Films, a studio that serves as the focus of Amin’s film efforts to this day. Since its founding, Sobini Films has released The Prince and Me, Peaceful Warrior, and the Sundance Award winner, Streets of Legend, among other titles.