Andreas Krautscheid Named New Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Film and Media Foundation NRW

Ingmar Cario Elected Vice Chair

At its 156th meeting held today, the Supervisory Board of the Film and Media Foundation NRW elected Andreas Krautscheid as its new Chairman. Krautscheid succeeds Prof. Dr. Werner Schwaderlapp, who had led the Supervisory Board since May 2014 and has now stepped down. The board elected Ingmar Cario, WDR Program Director for News, Fiction, and Entertainment, as Vice Chair; he succeeds Jörg Schönenborn.

The main shareholders of the Film and Media Foundation NRW are the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and WDR, each holding a 40 percent stake. ZDF and RTL Deutschland each hold a 10 percent stake.

Andreas Krautscheid, the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Film and Media Foundation NRW: “The Film and Media Foundation NRW is the central institution for the film and media industry in North Rhine-Westphalia and far beyond. I have followed its work with particular interest for many years. It has recognized important developments and trends in the film and media industry early on, taken them up, and driven them forward with its own initiatives. I am all the more pleased to now accompany its further development together with the members of the Supervisory Board and the management. Under the leadership of Walid Nakschbandi, the Film and Media Foundation has driven its further development with great dynamism and has already provided numerous new, innovative impulses. Especially in a time of sweeping changes in the film and media industry, we need reliable funding, strong partnerships, and the courage to break new ground. I would like to extend my special thanks to Werner Schwaderlapp, who has shaped the work of the Supervisory Board over many years with his vast experience, foresight, and personal commitment.”

Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Head of the State Chancellery: “For more than a decade, Professor Werner Schwaderlapp has shaped the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW as Chairman of the Supervisory Board—with great experience, reliability, and a keen sense of the industry’s needs. He guided the foundation through dynamic phases of development and sharpened its profile as a key funding institution for film, television, games, and web video. I would like to express my sincere thanks to him for his many years of dedicated service and our trusting collaboration. Andreas Krautscheid, an accomplished expert on North Rhine-Westphalia as a media hub, is taking over as Chair of the Supervisory Board. For many years, he played a leading role in shaping the state’s media policy as Minister of Media. He combines strategic thinking and strong communication skills with a deep understanding of how digital developments are transforming media policy, the economy, and the public sphere. I am convinced that he will provide important impetus to the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, and I look forward to working with him.”

Dr. Katrin Vernau, Director General of Westdeutscher Rundfunk: “Our industry is changing at a rapid pace, and the challenges posed by shifting media consumption patterns are significant for all stakeholders. I am very pleased that Andreas Krautscheid, as the new Chair of the Supervisory Board, will guide this transformation wisely and with his keen understanding of the concerns of the media, politics, and society. I am pleased that Ingmar Cario, as Vice Chair of the Supervisory Board, will support the work of the Media Foundation with his industry expertise and leadership experience. I would like to thank Prof. Werner Schwaderlapp for our constructive and trusting collaboration and for his many years of tremendous and dedicated service to the Film and Media Foundation and North Rhine-Westphalia as a production hub.”

Prof. Dr. Werner Schwaderlapp: “After more than twelve years at the helm of the Supervisory Board of the Film and Media Foundation NRW, I look back on an intense and eventful period. Over the years, the Film and Media Foundation has continuously refined its funding strategy and has consistently responded to major changes in our industry with fresh initiatives. I thank all members of the Supervisory Board and the shareholders for their trusting and goal-oriented collaboration. I would like to extend my special thanks to Petra Müller, who has successfully shaped the foundation’s profile over many years, as well as to Walid Nakschbandi, who has been further developing the Film and Media Foundation with a fresh perspective since 2024. I wish him, his team, and Andreas Krautscheid every success in their upcoming endeavors.”

About Andreas Krautscheid

Andreas Krautscheid has many years of experience at the intersection of politics, business, and media. A lawyer by training, he served as a member of the German Bundestag, the Bundesrat, and the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2007 to 2010, he served in the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia, initially as State Secretary for Media and Government Spokesperson, and from 2007 onward as Minister for Federal Affairs, Europe, and Media. He has had close ties to the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW since that time, having served as a member of its supervisory board. He held leadership roles in the business sector as Head of Regulation and Policy at Deutsche Telekom and as Chief Executive Officer of the German Banking Association in Berlin. Today, he advises foreign companies in Germany on behalf of the London-based consulting firm Flint Global.