FilmNation Entertainment founder and CEO Glen Basner will receive the Game Changer Award at this year’s Zurich Summit, which takes place from 25-27 September 2026 in Switzerland.
The Zurich Film Festival will honour Basner for his “outstanding achievements, excellent cinematic taste, and significant contributions within the film industry”.
Basner is founder and chief executive officer of the 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, and is the home of Infrared, a film production label focused on genre films with franchise potential, such as Novocaine for Paramount and the upcoming Skeletons for Sony Pictures.
The Game Changer Award recognises “influential leaders who shape the future of the industry and drive innovation, leadership, and forward-thinking change in the entertainment business”.
Past 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.
Christian Jungen, CEO of Zurich Film Festival, said: “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.”
Basner added: “Given the terrific group of previous recipients whom I admire greatly, this is a tremendous honour 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.”
