Zurich’s biggest film conference just got bigger. The Zurich Summit has added a second round of speakers, and the lineup now includes Oscar winner Edward Berger, Oscar nominee Robbie Brenner, and several other industry leaders.
The conference runs September 25 to 27. Its flagship event, the Zurich Film Festival, takes place in Switzerland. Deadline is the official media partner, covering panels, hosting the Deadline Studio for executive interviews, and providing on-the-ground reporting.
New Faces Join the Panels
The new additions bring fresh voices to panels on the box office resurgence, AI, the creator economy, YouTube, TikTok, and this year’s Game Changer, Glen Basner.
Berger won the Oscar for Conclave. Brenner was nominated for Barbie. Oliver Berben is CEO of Constantin Film. Janine Jackowski runs Komplizen and produced Sentimental Value.
Also joining is Zack London, who runs the YouTube and Instagram filmmaking team Gossip Goblin. Martin Moszkowicz is CEO of Transcontinental Entertainment Studios and President of the Zurich Film Festival.
These six join a list that already included Backrooms director Kane Parsons, AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer, Candle Media founder Kevin Mayer, Mediawan Pictures CEO Elisabeth d’Arvieu, and MUBI CEO Efe Cakarel.
Berger on Returning to Switzerland
Berger spoke about why he accepted the invitation to moderate the Game Changer Award conversation with Basner.
“I feel truly honored to have been asked to moderate this year’s Zurich Summit Game Changer Award conversation with its very deserving recipient, Glen Basner,” Berger said. He recalled meeting Basner on his first job in the film industry more than thirty years ago.
“Many moons later we graduated from colleagues to partners on Conclave which was just pure joy,” Berger continued. He noted his history with the Zurich Film Festival, where he has screened his previous three films.
“As a longtime admirer of the Zurich Film Festival, it is especially meaningful to return after having screened my previous three films there — and to have attended in person with Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell to present Conclave and Ballad Of A Small Player, respectively,” he said.
He also highlighted his personal connection to Switzerland. “As a Swiss citizen, I always love coming back to Switzerland, and especially to the ZFF,” Berger said. He expressed excitement about sitting down with Basner, whom he has admired and respected for many years.
“I know we have a lot to learn from him,” Berger concluded, adding a playful note about hoping to elicit a few secrets along the way.
Why the Summit Matters
CAA Media Finance’s Roeg Sutherland, a longtime supporter of the event, praised the gathering’s importance to the global film financing marketplace.
“The Summit is such a well-curated gathering and plays a pivotal role in the global film financing marketplace,” Sutherland said. He described Glen Basner’s unique combination of qualities.
“Glen possesses a rare ability to fuse a world-class creative sensibility with sharp strategic thinking, all driven by a genuine love of cinema,” Sutherland said. He noted that Basner’s support matters deeply to independent filmmakers.
“For all of us in the independent film ecosystem, we are immensely grateful for all that he does to support the community of artists we are so lucky to work with,” Sutherland concluded.
What to Watch at the Summit
The panels cover a wide range of topics. Here is a quick look at the main areas:
- Box office resurgence
- AI and its role in filmmaking
- The creator economy
- YouTube and Instagram as filmmaking tools
- TikTok
- The Game Changer conversation with Glen Basner
The conference brings together executives, directors, and industry figures from around the world. The panels are designed to explore how the business is changing.
The Deadline Studio will host executive interviews throughout the event.
For Berger, returning to Switzerland carries personal weight. His remarks made clear how much he values the festival and its community.
The conference runs September 25 to 27.
Source: deadline.com
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