Ryan Smith

Hailing from Nashville, Ryan Donnell Smith is a seasoned financier and producer in the film industry, with nearly two decades of experience across the entire film value chain. With studios in Georgia and Mississippi and financing arms in Los Angeles and New York, Smith is the driving force behind Thomasville Pictures, Polaris Creative Risk, and Winston Holdings – a dynamic film production ecosystem that empowers filmmakers to realize their visions, create jobs nationwide, and captivate global audiences.

His film portfolio boasts over 80 prominent independent film projects, including The Pale Blue Eye on Netflix, the critically-acclaimed The Trial of the Chicago 7, Bandit with Mel Gibson and Josh Duhamel, Flight Risk with Mark Wahlberg, and Cash Out with John Travolta. He has collaborated with celebrated talent across the industry, including Christian Bale, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jennifer Hudson, Dustin Hoffman, Sissy Spacek, Eddie Redmayne, and Liam Neeson, just to name a few.

Beyond film, Smith plays a key role in venture capital as a Limited Partner with Mantis VC (alongside The Chainsmokers) and Blitzscaling Ventures, partnering with Reid Hoffman and Chris Yeh. His commitment to innovation also extends to The Seed Lab, where he fosters emerging consumer-focused ventures. Currently, Smith is raising his own film fund with a focus on AI in film, international production, and debt financing.

From music to film production and finance to entrepreneurship and VC, Smith’s impressive journey is marked by innovation, philanthropy, and a dedication to purposeful storytelling.