11/06/2013 - The Studio Hamburg CEO moves on after only two-and-a-half years

German media manager Carl Bergengruen will become the new CEO of the film fund MFG Medien-und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Wuerttemberg on December 1. In this new position, the current Studio Hamburg CEO will succeed Gabriele Roethemeyer who is in charge of the film fund since 1995 and has built up many international relations to various initiatives, festivals and film organizations.

Bergengruen was appointed CEO of the North German film studio in February 2011 when the longtime Studio Hamburg boss Martin Willich retired after 30 years. It is a surprise for the German industry that Bergengruen is leaving this position after only two and a half years. It has not been announced yet who will be the new studio boss. "I regret but respect the decision by Carl Bergengruen," said Lutz Marmor, intendant of the North German Broadcastin Corporation (NDR) and chairman of the supervisory board of Studio Hamburg. "We will decide as soon as possible but very careful settle the succession."

Bergengruen started his career as commissioning editor for television films at Suedwestfunk, a regional state broadcaster in south-west Germany. In 1998 he was appointed head of the editorial department at the newly founded state broadcaster SWR. Under his direction the SWR produced highly successful films such as the Cannes competition entry The Edukators, the drama Stauffenberg about the German resistance fighter or Romy, the first feature film about the legendary actress Romy Schneider. 

"Professor Carl Bergengruen is the ideal choice to lead the film fund Baden-Wuerttemberg," underlined Jürgen Walter, chairman of the supervisory board of the MFG Baden-Wuerttemberg. „I look forward to work with the MFG team to support the producers and creative talents with their film and animation projects and to consolidate the region," said Bergengruen.