Wiebke Wiesner Becomes New MD of MFG Baden-Württemberg

Update from 1 July 2026:

From today on, Wiebke Wiesner succeeds Carl Bergengruen as Managing Director of southwestern state funding agency Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg.

The first 100 days of Wiesner’s tenure will focus on discussions with filmmakers, producers, grant recipients, creative professionals, cultural institutions, associations, policymakers, and the MFG’s partner institutions.

“Baden-Württemberg is a strong hub for film, media, and the creative industries with international appeal. For many years, the MFG has made an important contribution to fostering talent, driving innovation, and strengthening creative value creation in the state,” said Minister President Cem Özdemir. “With Wiebke Wiesner, an experienced and exceptionally well-connected professional is taking over as managing director. I wish her every success in her new role and look forward to our joint efforts to shape the future of Baden-Württemberg as a hub for the creative industries!”

Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research, and the Arts, praises the new executive director of the MFG: “Wiebke Wiesner knows the film and media industry inside and out. She understands what filmmakers, producers, and movie theaters need to succeed. With her experience and strong network, she will further advance Baden-Württemberg as a hub for film and media and provide new impetus for our cultural and creative industries. As the state government, we are making targeted investments in strong framework conditions for film, media, and cinema. I look forward to working with her and wish Wiebke Wiesner every success and a great start.”

Wiebke Wiesner, Managing Director of MFG Baden-Württemberg, is looking forward to her new role: “Baden-Württemberg is one of Germany’s leading film and media hubs. MFG embodies the unique connection between film and cinema funding, the cultural and creative industries, and digital culture, as well as a strong synergy among people, projects, and ideas. After many years in Berlin, I look forward to contributing my experience and network to this region. It is particularly important to me that we work together to develop new initiatives for the southwest and place them within a national context. In recent years, the MFG, together with its partners, has established excellent structures, which will serve as the foundation for us to tackle the challenges of our time and further develop the MFG.”

Original from 03 November 2025:

From 1 July 2026 onwards, the leadership seat at Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MFG) will change hands: Current Managing Director Carl Bergengruen will retire, and Wiebke Wiesner will take his place. Her contract will run for five years. 

Wiesner has been legal advisor and deputy managing director of the production alliance since February 2023 and took over as acting managing director of the Germany-wide interest group in May 2025. She previously worked for film funding institutions at state and federal level, including the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the German Federal Film Board (FFA).

She comments: “It is with great pleasure and respect that I look forward to the tasks ahead and the wide range of activities undertaken by MFG, from promoting film, VFX, and games to supporting the entire regional cultural and creative industries.” As managing director, she is following in worthy footsteps, Wiesner added, "because Carl Bergengruen has shaped MFG over many years with his vision and tireless commitment. For this, he deserves the highest recognition and gratitude. The current challenges for Baden-Württemberg as a film and media location, but also for Germany as a whole, are immense.“ For many years, her passion and expertise have been in film promotion. ”I am very much looking forward to continuing the proven work together with the MFG team and to developing and implementing new ideas for the future."

The board had voted Wiesner into office just now. State Secretary for the Arts Arne Braun said about that: "I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Wiebke Wiesner, who is the ideal expert for an important future field in the state. Film funding is an essential part of the state's cultural and creative industries. Wiebke Wiesner combines a passion for film with a wealth of experience. She knows how the industry networks and how film funding works. Wiebke Wiesner brings people together. She impressed the supervisory board with her expertise and dynamism. With her, Baden-Württemberg gains a managing director who will lead our film and media location into the future with power and strategy."

Clemens Bratzler, Program Director of Information at SWR, said: “The appointment of Wiebke Wiesner to the MFG management team underscores our commitment to ensuring that Baden-Württemberg continues to be a relevant and innovative force in the media, film, and creative industries. Ms. Wiesner has everything it takes to build on the successful era of Carl Bergengruen despite challenging conditions, while also setting a new course for the future.”