New York Distribution Co. Hires Key Executives: Amanda Trokan & Nico Chapin Join Team (EXCLUSIVE)

1-2 Special, a distribution firm headquartered in New York, has welcomed Amanda Trokan as the new senior vice president of acquisitions, alongside Nico Chapin who will serve as vice president of publicity.

Established in February by Jason Hellerstein, formerly of Sideshow, the organization aims to procure and distribute movies from prominent film festivals both in the U.S. and internationally. The firm has recently secured its initial major film, “Kontinental ‘25,” directed by Radu Jude, from the Berlin International Film Festival, as it prepares for the upcoming Cannes festival.

Prior to joining 1-2 Special, Trokan was at the helm of the North American programming division at Mubi, a global streaming service. There, she managed platform content and licensing agreements, securing films by renowned directors like Hirokazu Kore-eda, Quentin Dupieux, and others. Her previous stint includes over a decade at HBO, focusing on acquiring both studio and independent films such as Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car.” She started her career in production and development, later moving to Film at Lincoln Center followed by HBO’s original programming team.

Nico Chapin is set to manage all facets of film publicity and communication strategies at 1-2 Special. He comes from a recent position at Metrograph Pictures, where he orchestrated the debut and successful promotions of India Donaldson’s “Good One.” His background includes impactful roles at Mubi and Cinetic Media, contributing to the publicity of award-winning films like “Another Round” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”

While at Mubi, Chapin also led the U.S. marketing and award campaigns for films such as Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave” and Ira Sachs’ “Passages.”