The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) will be participating in the Cannes Marché du Film, the Cannes film market, lineup with the first-ever Global Film Commission Network Summit. The summit, scheduled for May 19, will focus on the crucial role of film location selection and production strategies in collaboration with Olsberg Spi, a research and consulting firm. It will also feature insights from their study, ‘Best Practice in Screen Sector Development,’ which provides an update on industry trends and strategies.
The summit will cover various topics, including the importance of selecting locations for authentic storytelling, engaging with indigenous communities, and dismantling location stereotypes. Attendees will include film commissioners, policymakers, and senior-level executives from both studio and independent productions.
In today’s context of reduced content spending by major studios, tax incentives provided by film commissions have become indispensable for productions. Governments worldwide are introducing tax credit programmes to stimulate local economies.
Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of Marché du Film, highlighted the growing importance of film locations in the industry. “As film commissions become increasingly crucial to getting productions off the ground, we look forward to supporting AFCI’s future ventures and encouraging this dialogue and growth at future market editions,” he remarked.
AFCI Executive Director Jaclyn Philpott emphasised the organisation’s increasing relevance in the global screen sector. “Our expanded presence at Cannes underscores AFCI’s important role in the global screen sector,” she stated.
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to run from May 14 to May 25, with the film market taking place from May 14 to May 22. The AFCI Week conference is slated for August 25-28 in Los Angeles, continuing industry dialogue and collaboration beyond Cannes.
