It was founded in 1992 by former Orion Classics heads Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom.

As of 2015, Barker and Bernard are co-presidents of the division, which is a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

[3] Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) was formed in 1992 by Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom, and set up as an autonomous division of Sony Pictures[2] to produce, acquire and/or distribute independent films from the United States and internationally.

[4] It has released films that have won 37 Academy Awards and received 155 nominations, including Best Picture nominations for I’m Still Here, The Father, Call Me By Your Name, Whiplash, Amour, Midnight in Paris, An Education, Capote, Howards End, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

[9] In 2006, SPC promoted The Lives of Others to an Oscar and BAFTA, after it was rejected by the Cannes, Berlin, Venice and New York Film Festivals.