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FilmNation CEO Glen Basner Talks Art Of Film Sales & Financing: “It’s Really Just About Sitting & Listening To The Filmmaking Team” – Zurich Summit
FilmNation founder and CEO Glen Basner received the Game Changer Award at the Zurich Summit, where he discussed his career and the principles behind his success in international film sales and financing. In conversation with director Edward Berger, Basner stressed the importance of listening to filmmakers, treating films as works of art and building honest, long-term relationships with international distributors.
Basner moved from selling garments in his father’s business into film through work with Edward Burns and New York’s Good Machine, where he learned from figures including Ted Hope, James Schamus and David Linde. He founded FilmNation in 2008, initially as a sales company, and it has since expanded into financing, production and television, with credits including The Big Sick, Promising Young Woman, Anora, Conclave and Maria; Berger and Basner also worked together on Conclave, which grossed $100 million globally.
In short
- Glen Basner was honoured for transforming independent film sales and financing.
- He prioritises honesty, listening and lasting international relationships.
- FilmNation has grown from a 2008 sales venture into a major film company.
Explained simply
Glen Basner is the founder and chief executive of FilmNation Entertainment, a company established in 2008 that handles international film sales and financing. Starting as a sales-focused business, FilmNation has expanded to also produce and finance films and television. Its credits include acclaimed films such as Anora, Conclave, Promising Young Woman and The Big Sick.
Film sales involves negotiating deals to distribute films across different countries and platforms, whilst financing means securing the money needed to make films in the first place. These services are particularly valuable for independent filmmakers without major studio backing, as they provide pathways to funding and global audiences.
Basner came to film after working in his father's garment business, eventually joining the influential independent film company Good Machine. There he worked alongside industry figures including Ted Hope and James Schamus, learning the craft of international film distribution and developing an approach centred on respecting filmmakers' artistic vision and building lasting relationships with distributors worldwide.
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