MPA Chief to Keynote Film Commissioners’ Event

Amid concerns about an industry wide contraction in production activity, the Association of Film Commissioners International is readying its annual event gathering location managers, policy pros and executives in Los Angeles.

This year’s AFCI Week event will be held at UCLA’s Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center from August 25-28 and feature a keynote address by Motion Picture Association CEO Charles Rivkin.

The nonprofit organization says this year it’s expanding its focus to members outside of AFCI film commissioners in order to convene a larger group of industry pros together. “The purpose of AFCI Week is to facilitate connections between our film commission members and the executives who decide where film and TV projects are produced,” stated AFCI executive director Jaclyn Philpott. “Expanding attendance this year means that those with decision-making power will not only participate as speakers but also engage as attendees, enhancing opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.”

Along with conversations about production tax incentives and locations, expect artificial intelligence — and the disruptive impact it could have on Hollywood — to also be on the docket for panel discussions and workshops. (The Hollywood Reporter is a media partner of AFCI Week this year.)

“AFCI Week brings filmmakers, policy practitioners, and other key stakeholders together to navigate the state of the industry today, map out the potential for production tomorrow, and chart a course for our creative community long into the future,” Rivkin added. “The MPA is in the business of opening markets to the producers, actors, writers, casts, and crews who bring the magic of film and television to life — and AFCI presents an ideal setting to showcase how this industry’s inspiring content will continue to stand at the intersection of cultural resonance and economic impact.”

The MPA chief, who has lead the industry lobbying organization since 2018, has made news in his prior keynotes, setting his sights on movie and TV piracy in his recent address at CinemaCon in April this year. Rivkin used the Las Vegas address to unveil plans to work with Congress to “enact judicial site-blocking legislation here in the United States” in order to further “disrupt the connection between digital pirates and their intended audience.”

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