Adam Leipzig

Lecturer, Haas School of Business
headshot of Adam Leipzig

"Yes is a powerful word, but it's a difficult word to get to."

Adam Leipzig is an expert at bringing media industry smarts to diverse companies worldwide, and coaching senior executives how to shine in front of their boards, investors, teams, and customers. As CEO of Entertainment Media Partners, he has advised technology, venture investment, social media, marketing, and entertainment companies. Many of Adam's accomplishments have emerged as household names, including A Plastic Ocean, March of the Penguins, Dead Poets Society, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Collectively, Adam's projects have generated over $2 billion in revenue on $300 million production spending, and twice he has been responsible for the "most profitable movie of the year".
 
As a game-changing visionary and leader, Adam has been a producer, distributor or supervising executive on more than 30 films that have disrupted expectations. His movies have won or been nominated for 10 Academy Awards, 11 BAFTA Awards, 2 Golden Globes, 2 Emmys, 2 Directors Guild Awards, 4 Sundance Awards and 4 Independent Spirit Awards. Adam is the former president of National Geographic Films and senior executive at Walt Disney Studios.
 

 

Photos of Adam Leipzig holding up a sign
Programs for Individuals 
Academic Background 

BA, Literature (honors), Yale University, 1979

Coro Foundation, Fellow, Arts and Public Policy

Publications & Media

Videos 

A Look Inside the Communications Excellence program

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How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig | TEDxMalibu

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TEDxFullerton - Adam Leipzig - The Real Culture War

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Books 

Filmmaking in Action

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Inside Track for Independent Filmmakers

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Papers & Articles 

How to Sell a Movie (or Fail) in Four Hours

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The Sundance Odds Get Even Longer

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Compared With Their Filmmakers, the Penguins Have It Easy

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Will the Movie Industry Contract in 2017?

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Awards & Honors 
Adam Leipzig’s films have achieved:
  • Academy Awards: 2 wins, 8 nominations
  • Film Independent Spirit Awards: 3 nominations
  • Sundance Film Festival Awards: 2 wins, 2 nominations
  • International Documentary Awards: 1 win, 1 nomination
  • Cannes Directors Fortnight FIPRESCI Prize: 1 win
  • BAFTA Awards: 5 wins, 6 nominations
  • DGA Awards: 1 win, 1 nomination
  • Golden Globe Awards: 1 win, 1 nomination
  • Emmy Awards: 1 win, 1 nomination
Programs for Individuals 
Academic Background 

BA, Literature (honors), Yale University, 1979

Coro Foundation, Fellow, Arts and Public Policy

Publications & Media

Videos 

A Look Inside the Communications Excellence program

WATCH VIDEO

How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig | TEDxMalibu

WATCH VIDEO

TEDxFullerton - Adam Leipzig - The Real Culture War

WATCH VIDEO
VIEW MORE
Books 

Filmmaking in Action

VIEW BOOK

Inside Track for Independent Filmmakers

VIEW BOOK
VIEW MORE
Papers & Articles 

How to Sell a Movie (or Fail) in Four Hours

VIEW

The Sundance Odds Get Even Longer

VIEW

Compared With Their Filmmakers, the Penguins Have It Easy

VIEW

Will the Movie Industry Contract in 2017?

VIEW
VIEW MORE