Nice to Meet You.
Bright Iris Film Co. connects films to audiences by providing guidance and expertise to storytellers ready to bring their work to the world. Founded in 2017, the agency offers distribution, marketing and publicity services that capitalize on a depth of industry experience and access as well as a wealth of enthusiasm for celebrating and amplifying the stories that connect us. In an ever-changing film industry, we champion collaborations that are nimble, innovative and thoughtful.
From project-based engagements to long-term partnerships, we consistently balance pragmatism with potential, pairing proven tactics with tailored strategies for unparalleled success. Keenly aware of the privilege it is to do this creative work, Bright Iris Film Co. exists to elevate the human experience through film.
Notable and recent clients include World and North American premieres at SXSW, Slamdance Film Festival and others; the annual Nashville Film Festival; and some of the most acclaimed arthouse distributors in the industry, including Music Box Films, Cohen Media Group, Magnolia Pictures and Greenwich Entertainment.
A Team Effort.
We’re prepared to deliver on projects as ambitious as you are. With a team at the ready—from associate publicists based in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, to theatrical bookers, social media managers and more—we have a deep bench of experts ready to make your film a success.
Lisa M. Trifone, CEO
Strategist. Publicist. Consultant.
Magician. Cheerleader.
Call her whatever you’d like, but when Trifone is on your team, she’s all in. With nearly two decades of experience in the independent film industry and a lifelong love of the movies, Trifone brings her hustle, passion and expertise to every partnership.
A Chicago native, Trifone has always known she’d work in movies. To date, that work includes film festival management, programming and marketing (Heartland Film; Indy Film Fest); publicity management and logistics (Sundance Film Festival); arthouse distribution strategy, marketing and national publicity (Film Movement; Music Box Films) and now several years at the helm of the agency she founded in 2017.
In addition to her agency work, Trifone is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and an adjunct professor at DePaul University. When not working on movies or writing about movies or watching movies, Trifone is an avid traveler, baker and Wordler.
Cordelia Sklansky, Consulting Publicist
Sklansky is a seasoned communications professional with over a decade of experience in the entertainment and film industry, playing a key role in numerous impactful theatrical releases and awards campaigns, from major studio blockbusters to independent foreign language films and documentaries.
Her specialty is helping filmmakers identify and shape the core messaging of their work to resonate with audiences, including leading successful theatrical and streaming release campaigns for Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films with a focus on elevating stories that engage viewers on a global scale. She has also contributed to awards campaigns for numerous high-profile documentaries and foreign language titles, supporting projects that have garnered international recognition and critical acclaim. Her career began in regional publicity at Allied Integrated Marketing, followed by a role on the national publicity team at 20th Century Fox. She also held a position at Tina Brown Live Media, where she helped produce the 2016 Women in the World Summit.
What’s In A Name.
Sydney Krey, Associate Publicist
Sydney Krey (she/her) is a recent graduate of DePaul University, holding degrees in Public Relations and Advertising, as well as Film and Television. Thrilled to join the Bright Iris Film Co. team as an Associate Publicist, she is dedicated to connecting important stories with the audiences they deserve. Sydney firmly believes that film is one of the most powerful tools we have to foster empathy and connection, and looks forward to putting this belief into practice through her work at Bright Iris Film Co.
Bright Iris Film Co. draws its name from both Greek mythology and the mechanics of filmmaking: Iris is the messenger to the gods, ushering stories and lessons between worlds, while the iris of a camera is the mechanism that determines how much light enters the frame. Together, these concepts perfectly capture the spirit of the agency as it serves as a bridge between artists and audiences.
Site stock imagery courtesy of Unsplash; portrait photography by Lisa Kay Photography and Hilltop Photo Co.