‘Davos 1917’ Producer Contrast Film Appoints Former Disney Exec Anke Beining as Commercial Managing Director (EXCLUSIVE)
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Swiss production company Contrast Film has appointed former Disney, Global Screen and Blue Entertainment executive Anke Beining as its new commercial managing director.
Beining brings with her a strong and diverse history of industry experience. She studied political science in Germany, Switzerland and the U.S. and has a PhD in international copyright law. Early in her career, Beining worked for German production companies Senator Film and Kinowelt. She then spent a decade on The Walt Disney Company’s executive management team in Munich, where she led the Business and Legal Affairs team and the Affiliate Sales department. In 2011, she started a four-year stint as CEO and program director of Teleclub, a Swisscom-now-Blue Entertainment subsidiary. In 2017, she took on the role of managing director at Global Screen, a Telepool company in Munich.
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In her previous roles, Beining collaborated several times with Contrast, including on Hannes Baumgartner’s “Midnight Runner,” Joel Basman’s “Caged Birds,” and Dimitri Krebs’ “The Traitor.”
Of her new role, Beining said, “I am very excited to become part of Contrast Film and to continue the success story of this company together with the creative team,” Contrast Film rightfully stands among the most innovative production houses in Switzerland.”
At Contrast, Beining joins a management team that includes co-owners Ivan Madeo, Stefan Eichenberger, and Urs Frey. Founded in 2009, Contrast is a leading Swiss indie that recently produced “Davos 1917,” the most ambitious and highest-cost Swiss TV series ever. The show won two Prix Walo, Switzerland’s top entertainment award.
Contrast also has a strong track record of European co-production and recently backed the 1944-set feature “Stella. A Life,” which world premiered at Zurich and enjoyed a strong festival run as well as four German Film Award nominations. This year, the company’s latest documentary co-production, “Stray Bodies,” is doing the festival rounds after world premiering at CPH:DOX.
“[Beining’s] extensive experience from her leadership roles at Disney, Global Screen, and Blue Entertainment, along with her expertise and network, will help shape the future of Contrast Film,” said co-managing directors Ivan Madeo and Stefan Eichenberger as they announced Beining’s appointment. “In addition to her operational leadership skills, she possesses comprehensive knowledge in the field of international co-productions and distribution. This ideally positions our production company for the exciting challenges in the rapidly evolving market.”
Frey, Contrast’s third co-owner, added, “[Beining] both holds the necessary professional expertise and aligns exceptionally well with the ethos of our company and our vision for the future.”
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