Fred Kogel, the head of Germany’s Leonine Studios, has been selected to receive the prestigious Game Changer Award at the 2023 Zurich Summit. The award, presented at the Zurich Film Festival, recognizes leading individuals in the international film industry whose exceptional efforts contribute to the advancement of the sector.
With an illustrious career in the German film and TV industry, Kogel is a perfect fit for this recognition. Having held top corporate positions at public broadcaster ZDF, commercial network SAT.1, and renowned producer/distributor Constantin Film, where he served as CEO from 2003 to 2009, Kogel founded Leonine four years ago. Since its establishment, Kogel has steered Leonine to become one of Europe’s premier independent producer-distributors with operations encompassing all aspects of film and TV production and distribution.
Supported by private equity group KKR, Leonine embarked on an ambitious acquisitions and expansion spree, nurturing its growth. The Leonine group consists of prominent subsidiaries such as Wiedemann & Berg, the producers of the critically acclaimed film The Lives of Others. W&B Television, a division of Wiedemann & Berg, has achieved great success with productions like the Netflix hit Dark and the German fantasy series The Gryphon for Amazon Prime. Leonine’s other subsidiaries include Odeon Fiction, specializing in fiction films, and documentary specialists Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion. The film division of Leonine managed the German distribution for blockbusters like Rian Johnson’s Knives Out and the John Wick franchise. Furthermore, Leonine is set to release the highly anticipated prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in November. In addition to their distribution activities, Leonine has also produced and distributed the immensely popular German children’s film franchise, The School of Magical Animals.
Looking ahead, Leonine has exciting productions in the pipeline, including adaptations of bestselling novels such as The Billion Dollar Code for Paramount+ and Girl You Know It’s True, a film chronicling the meteoric rise and scandalous downfall of German pop duo Milli Vanilli. Directed by Simon Verhoeven and starring Matthias Schweighöfer as Frank Farian, the producer behind the lip-sync phenomenon, Girl You Know It’s True promises to captivate audiences.
Related Post
Christian Jungen, the artistic director of the Zurich Film Festival, commended Kogel for his remarkable achievement of building Leonine from scratch into a trailblazing entertainment company for the digital age. He highlighted how Leonine has successfully brought together exceptional artists and accomplished producers, allowing them to focus on their creative strengths while providing comprehensive services such as human resources, marketing, and sales. Jungen emphasized that Kogel has injected fresh energy into the German film and TV industry, ensuring that German productions receive the international recognition they deserve.
Expressing his delight at receiving the Game Changer Award, Kogel acknowledged the dedication and contributions of his team at Leonine. He described the recognition as a validation of their passion for storytelling and their drive to push boundaries and shape the industry.
Notable previous recipients of the Game Changer Award include Pamela Abdy, the President of MGM’s Motion Picture Group, Patrick Wachsberger, former head of Lionsgate, and Michael Barker and Tom Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics.
The 2023 Zurich International Film Festival, where Kogel will be honored, will take place from September 28th to October 8th. This prestigious event showcases the very best in international cinema and offers a platform for industry professionals to connect and celebrate exceptional talent.
