CAA’s Roeg Sutherland receives the Zurich Film Festival’s Game Changer Award

The Game Changer Award pays tribute to excellency in the film business with a focus on leaders that not only cherish change and forward-thinking approaches in the business, but also stand for the DNA of what cinema has represented since its invention. Past accomplished recipients of the Game Changer Award include OSCAR® winner Patrick Wachsberger (CODA), Co-Chair & CEO Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Pamela Abdy and Sony Pictures Classics’ Co-Presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, among others.

Statement from Zurich Film Festival Artistic Director Christian Jungen: 'Roeg is a passionate cinephile and industry leader, who has not only discovered, but also nurtured and developed the careers of countless artists. In the past several years, he has secured financing and sold some of the most important and critically acclaimed films, both domestic and international. His impressive client list includes OSCAR® winners, nominees, and auteurs like Nadine Labaki, who he signed by specifically flying to Lebanon to meet the CAPERNAUM filmmaker in person – one of my favorite anecdotes about Roeg highlighting his commitment and dedication. Since early on, Roeg has been an integral part of the Zurich Film Festival and its history by convincing his far-reaching network to attend our Summit, establishing strong ties and connections between us and Hollywood, as we steadily grew in scope and prestige. Like Roeg, we at the Zurich Film Festival pride ourselves with discovering emerging filmmakers, and since we share that very same desire, it is fitting that during our 20th anniversary edition, he is our worthy recipient.'

Serving on the Board at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Sutherland specializes in the packaging and representation of independently financed film, television, and digital content. In addition, he consults with select class-leading producers and financiers on their media investments. In just the past 5 years, films packaged and/or sold by CAA Media Finance have generated approximately $5 billion at the worldwide box office.

Sutherland also represents a global roster of filmmakers, helping to package, source financing for, and/or sell distribution rights to their films, both English and local language releases. Clients include Ladj Ly (LES MISÉRABLES); Sam Mendes (1917); Rian Johnson (KNIVES OUT); Walter Salles (I’M STILL HERE); Justine Triet (ANATOMY OF A FALL); Jacques Audiard (EMILIA PEREZ); Roland Emmerich (MIDWAY); Martin McDonagh (BANSHEES OF INISHERIN); Alejandro González Iñárritu (THE REVENANT, BIRDMAN); Ana Lily Amirpour (BAD BATCH); James Gray (AD ASTRA, LOST CITY OF Z); Nadine Labaki (CAPERNAUM); Juan Antonio Bayona (A MONSTER CALLS); Claire Denis (HIGH LIFE); Dan Gilroy (ROMAN J. ISRAEL, NIGHTCRAWLER); Paul Thomas Anderson (LICORICE PIZZA); Kathryn Bigelow (THE HURT LOCKER, ZERO DARK THIRTY); Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER, BLACK SWAN); Gaspar Noé (CLIMAX); Terrence Malick (A HIDDEN LIFE), Yann Demange (’71); Karim Aïnouz (INVISIBLE); Julian Schnabel (IN THE HAND OF DANTE); Joe Talbot (THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO); Khalil Joseph (BLKNWS); and Steve McQueen (12 YEARS A SLAVE), plus Arthur Jafa and Morten Tyldum among others.

Under Sutherland’s leadership CAA Media Finance has become one of the largest suppliers of feature films into the U.S. theatrical marketplace, brokering more than 100 distribution deals per year for films with budgets ranging from $100K to more than $150M. In addition the films noted above, he has led the packaging, financing and sales of such projects as the Best Picture Academy Award-winning CODA, CONCLAVE, HIT MAN, MAY DECEMBER, THE HOLDOVERS, LONGLEGS, THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO SEVEN, BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM, PIECES OF A WOMAN, and THE FATHER, plus GREYHOUND, MALCOLM & MARIE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, HER, SICARIO, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, and YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE; plus many others.

In addition, Media Finance’s long-standing work across the global entertainment arena includes extensive experience in architecting financing and distribution entities such as Elevation (Canada), Library Pictures International, Goodfellas (France), NEON (U.S.), FilmNation Entertainment (U.S.), AC Brazil, Elysian Film Group Distribution (UK), Wild West (France), UMA (Indonesia and Southeast Asia), and Asbury Park Pictures (U.S.).

Statement from CAA Media Finance Co-Head Roeg Sutherland: 'The independent film community has always been recognized for fostering audacious storytelling and discovering fresh voices, just as much as it is for its resilience. The very nature of the business demands that we constantly think about the business in unique and innovative ways. The Zurich Film Festival has played a pivotal role in supporting our collective mission to support artists and the independent film ecosystem, and I am deeply honored by this award.'

Zurich Summit - The Davos of the Film Industry

The Zurich Summit is a high-profile conference known as the “Davos of the film industry,” where innovative leaders and forward-thinking innovators from around the world discuss the state of the entertainment business in relation to film financing, distribution awards and streaming. Taking place every year in the fall within the framework of the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) in the 100 million German-speaking market, the exclusive and prestigious gathering is organized at the iconic 5-star Dolder Grand luxury hotel in Switzerland.

The two-day conference connects established and prolific actors, producers, executives, agents, managers and creators from different creative sectors to exchange ideas, address and discuss relevant film, TV, technology and business strategies in an inspiring environment. The event concludes with the Game Changer Award being presented to the honoree during the closing dinner. This year’s attendees and guest speakers include Searchlight Pictures’ Rebecca Kearey, NEON’s Tom Quinn, AGC Studios’ Stuart Ford, UTA’s Alex Brunner and Theresa Peters, Fremantle’s Christian Vesper, Mediawan’s Elisabeth d’Arvieu, Constantin Film’s Oliver Berben, Film4’s Stefanie Fahrion, Anton’s Sébastien Raybaud, 30West’s Maren Olson and Artist International Group’s David Unger, among others. They will discuss such relevant panel topics as:

THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT: AI – CURSE OR BLESSING?

The debate about the dawn of AI, manifested itself when last year’s strike affected all the sectors of the entertainment industry, resulting in a complete overhaul of the status quo. Hence, does AI present an opportunity or is it the doom in a divided industry?

WHAT DO INVESTORS WANT? For the first time in its 10 years history, the Zurich Summit will have a panel of investors who share what they are expecting from financing movies. What does an ideal ROI look like?

HOW TO MONETIZE INDEPENDENT FILMS?

In a contracted marketplace, where content spend is being reduced, yet production is more expensive than ever due to inflation, the sector is facing immense fiscal challenges. What are some creative and innovative ways to access/secure financing in getting indie films made? How important are bankable talent attachments when packaging, and how can indie films be profitable when box office returns are diminishing?

THEATRICAL DISRUPTION: WHERE HAVE ALL THE CINEMA LOVERS GONE?

Since the pandemic, the box office is significantly down and audiences haven’t fully embraced and/or returned to cinemas, so the theatrical business is facing a worrisome trend. Mostly IP driven franchise films succeed, yet indie films, the so-called adult dramas, have yet to recover in making a full comeback. How should indie films be distributed to appeal to a wide audience in the light of streaming?

HOLLYWOOD IN EUROPE: DECENTRALIZING THE GLOBAL FILM INDUSTRY

Soft money, tax breaks/incentives and financing obligations by streamers lure many productions to Europe to create content for a global audience.

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH AN AWARDS CONTENDER?

Fall film festivals have become a crucial element for awards campaigning, especially considering the influence of international AMPAS Members. Does the Academy’s embracement for international cinema have a spillover effect on OSCAR® nominations, and what role do European awards (Venice Film Festival, BAFTA, EFA) play during awards season?

BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF HOLLYWOOD'S CHANGING AGENCY BUSINESS

Mergers in an ever rapidly changing environment have upended the game. Agents need to be flexible by diversifying their business in an effort to stay relevant. What does the agency of tomorrow look like and does the classic movie star still exist in the age of social media influencers?

THE GAME CHANGER AWARD RECIPIENT CONVERSATION: THE JOURNEY OF ROEG SUTHERLAND

More info on the Zurich Summit and its topics can be found here: https://zff.com/en/industry/zurich-summit