Zurich Film Festival Honors Glen Basner with Game Changer Award
FilmNation Entertainment Founder and CEO Glen Basner will receive the Game Changer Award at this year’s Zurich Summit, which takes place September 25 - 27, 2026 in Switzerland. The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) honors Basner for his outstanding achievements, excellent cinematic taste, and significant contributions within the film industry.
Glen Basner is founder and Chief Executive Officer of multi-Academy Award® winning FilmNation Entertainment, a leading independent entertainment company that produces, finances, and distributes films, TV series, podcasts, and theater productions with global appeal. FilmNation productions include Sean Baker’s ANORA, starring Mikey Madison, which won five Oscars® including Best Picture and Best Actress and Edward Berger’s Academy Award®-Winning CONCLAVE, starring Ralph Fiennes; and sales for Pablo Larraín’s Academy Award®-Nominated MARIA. The company also produced award-winning box office hits PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, ARRIVAL, and THE BIG SICK. Basner is recognized among the best sales agents in the world. He is consistently on The Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 list, Variety's New Power of New York list and the Variety500. He's a recipient of the prestigious Gotham Awards’ 2019 Industry Achievement Award, for significant contribution to independent cinema and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Game Changer Award recognizes influential leaders who shape the future of the industry, drive innovation, leadership, and forward-thinking change in the entertainment business. Past accomplished recipients of the Game Changer Award include NEON CEO Tom Quinn, CAA Media Finance & International Film Group Head Roeg Sutherland, Legendary-193 CEO and Academy Award® Best Picture winner Patrick Wachsberger (CODA), Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair & CEO Pam Abdy and Sony Pictures Classics Co-Presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, among others.
Statement Christian Jungen, CEO Zurich Film Festival: «Since its founding in 2008, FilmNation Entertainment, under the steady leadership of Glen Basner, has grown into a major and dominant independent force with global ambitions. Basner has consistently championed bold and distinctive cinematic voices, supporting acclaimed auteurs such as Denis Villeneuve, Edward Berger, and Sean Baker. His commitment to high-quality filmmaking is matched by a strong belief in the theatrical experience and a dedication to protecting and empowering directors. The Zurich Film Festival has maintained a long-standing relationship with FilmNation, previously showcasing titles such as ANORA and CONCLAVE as part of its official line up. As a tastemaker and industry leader, Basner stands out for his rare ability to combine creative instincts with market insights, sales expertise, and strong business acumen – qualities reflected in the success of the impactful films his company brings to audiences worldwide. In recognition of these achievements, he is a deserving recipient of our Game Changer Award, continuing to elevate the industry across film, television, podcasts, and theater.»
Statement Glen Basner, CEO FilmNation Entertainment: «Given the terrific group of previous recipients whom I admire greatly, this is a tremendous honor for both me and the team at FilmNation. We all need to be game changing in today's independent entertainment business and I’m excited to talk about why I remain entirely optimistic about our future. Thank you to Christian, Reta and the Zurich Film Festival team for their continued support and commitment to championing globally resonant stories and for providing such a critical space to discuss important and current topics with The Zurich Summit.»
FilmNation’s most recent TV releases 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 debuted the Emmy Award-winning TV series I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE for HBO. The company’s popular podcasts champion non-fiction storytelling and include the Signal Award-Winning SNAFU with Ed Helms and the podcast-inspired book SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups is a New York Times Best Seller. FilmNation’s theater credits include 2024 Best Play Tony-Winner Stereophonic, and the Tony Award-Winning productions Prima Facie, The Sound Inside, and The Band’s Visit.
