Glen Basner Receives the Game Changer Award at the ZFF 2026

At this year’s Zurich Summit—which will take place from September 25 to 27, 2026, as part of the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF)—Glen Basner, founder and CEO of FilmNation Entertainment, will be honored with the Game Changer Award. The ZFF is honoring Basner for his outstanding achievements, his cinematic taste, and his significant contribution to the film industry.

FilmNation Entertainment: The Rise to Becoming an Independent Force

Since founding FilmNation Entertainment in 2008, Basner has built the company into a leading, multiple Academy Award-winning independent entertainment company. FilmNation produces, finances, and distributes films, TV series, podcasts, and theater productions with global appeal. Among its best-known productions are Sean Baker’s *Anora*, starring Mikey Madison—which won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress—and Edward Berger’s Oscar-winning *Conclave*, starring Ralph Fiennes. In addition, FilmNation handled the international distribution of Pablo Larraín’s Oscar-nominated film *Maria*. Other award-winning theatrical hits from the company include *Promising Young Woman*, *Arrival*, and *The Big Sick*.

The portfolio also includes the production label Infrared, which focuses on genre films with franchise potential, including *Novocaine* for Paramount and the upcoming film *Skeletons* for Sony Pictures.

In the television sector, recent productions include the Prime Video original series *The House of the Spirits*, the historical epic *Black Gold* for NDR and ARD, and *Small Town, Big Story* for Sky. FilmNation also produced the Emmy-winning series *I Know This Much Is True* for HBO. In the podcast sector, the company focuses on narrative nonfiction formats—including the Signal Award-winning podcast *Snafu with Ed Helms*, whose book of the same name became a *New York Times* bestseller. In theater, the portfolio includes the Tony Award-winning play *Stereophonic* (Best Play, 2024) as well as the award-winning productions *Prima Facie*, *The Sound Inside*, and *The Band’s Visit*.

Game Changer Award: Spotlight on Visionary Leadership

The Game Changer Award honors influential figures who are shaping the future of the industry, driving innovation, and leading the transformation of the entertainment business through visionary leadership. Past recipients include NEON CEO Tom Quinn, Roeg Sutherland (Head of CAA Media Finance & International Film Group), Patrick Wachsberger (CEO of Legendary-193 and Oscar winner for Best Picture for *Coda*), Pam Abdy (Co-Chair & CEO of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group), and Michael Barker and Tom Bernard (Co-Presidents of Sony Pictures Classics).

ZFF CEO Christian Jungen explains the choice as follows: «Since its founding in 2008, FilmNation Entertainment has evolved—under the steady leadership of Glen Basner—into a significant and dominant independent force with global ambitions.» Jungen highlights Basner’s commitment to renowned auteur filmmakers such as Denis Villeneuve, Edward Berger, and Sean Baker, as well as his «rare ability to combine creative intuition with market insight, distribution expertise, and entrepreneurial skill.».

Glen Basner himself says he is honored: «Given the impressive group of past winners, whom I greatly admire, this is a great honor for me and the entire FilmNation team.» He says he «remains deeply optimistic about the future» of the independent entertainment industry.

Basner: The Career of a Leading Sales Agent

Basner is considered one of the world’s leading sales agents and is regularly listed in The Hollywood Reporter’s Power 100, Variety’s New Power of New York, and the Variety500. In 2019, he received the Industry Achievement Award at the Gotham Awards for his contribution to independent cinema. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Before founding FilmNation, Basner served as President of International at The Weinstein Company and as Executive Vice President of International Sales & Distribution at Focus Features. He began his career at Good Machine, a New York-based independent production and distribution company.

Zurich Summit: The «Davos of the Film Industry»

The Zurich Summit, considered the «Davos of the film industry,» has become the leading platform for the creative industries. This exclusive conference brings together high-ranking executives, top producers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and financiers from the film, technology, and entertainment industries to discuss current trends and relevant topics. The focus is on connecting the European and U.S. markets, as well as on networking and new opportunities for international collaboration. The event takes place at the five-star luxury hotel The Dolder Grand.

The Zurich Film Festival is the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world. Over the course of eleven days, it showcases the year’s most remarkable discoveries and most anticipated films, and fosters dialogue between emerging and established filmmakers, the film industry, and the audience. The 22nd edition will take place from September 24 to October 4, 2026.

For more information on the ZFF Industry Program: https://industry.zff.com