Fred Kogel, CEO of Germany’s Leonine Studios, is set to receive the prestigious Game Changer Award at this year’s Zurich Summit. The award, to be presented on October 1 at the Zurich Film Festival’s film industry section, recognizes individuals from the international film industry whose exceptional efforts have contributed to its advancement.
With a remarkable career in the German film and TV industry, Kogel’s achievements make him a deserving recipient. Having held significant corporate positions at ZDF, SAT.1, and Constantin Film, where he served as CEO, Kogel founded Leonine four years ago. Since then, with the support of private equity group KKR, he has transformed Leonine into a leading independent producer-distributor in Europe, covering all aspects of film and TV production and distribution.
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Leonine’s impressive portfolio includes subsidiaries like Wiedemann & Berg, known for producing “The Lives of Others” and popular series “Dark,” and Odeon Fiction, along with documentary specialists Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion. On the film side, they handled German distribution for hits like “Knives Out” and the “John Wick” franchise.
The studio also has exciting upcoming productions, including the bestseller adaptation “The Billion Dollar Code” and “Girl You Know It’s True,” a film about the rise and fall of pop duo Milli Vanilli.
Christian Jungen, the artistic director of Zurich Film Festival, commended Kogel for his vision and dedication in building Leonine into a groundbreaking entertainment company, providing a platform for German productions to gain international recognition.
Kogel expressed his joy and gratitude for the honor, attributing it to the hard work and passion of all Leonine employees. He views the award as validation of their commitment to storytelling and an inspiration to keep pushing boundaries in the industry.
Past recipients of the Game Changer Award include industry figures like Pamela Abdy, Patrick Wachsberger, Michael Barker, and Tom Bernard.
The 2023 Zurich International Film Festival will take place from September 28 to October 8, celebrating and honoring outstanding talents and contributions in the film industry.