About AFCI
History
A Brief History
The Association of Film Commissioners International is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1975 to serve the growing needs of on-location film and television production. Originally, the AFCI was formed by a small group of film commissioners who wanted to share information and learn from one another’s experiences. Since then, the AFCI has expanded into a worldwide network of more than 300 commissions from 30 countries. All are devoted to the business of facilitating on-location film and television production activity which generates billions of dollars annually.The first major educational event hosted by the AFCI began in 1976 as Cineposium. This program of educational seminars designed to teach film commissioners about the management and processes of the film commission business, continues to be held annually.
In 1985, the AFCI partnered with the American Film Marketing Association to host Location Expo, the first on-location trade show for film and television production. This annual trade show, now Locations Trade Show, is continuing to respond to the growing marketing needs of film commissions, and provide a unique forum for film commissioners to promote filming within their respective city, state, provinces, or countries — all in one venue, Los Angeles, California. The Evolution Of Film Commission Services
The first commission was formed in the United States during the late 1940's. This was in response to the need for film companies to have a local government liaison who could coordinate local services such as police, state troopers and highway patrols, road and highway departments, fire departments, park rangers and all of the other essential municipal and government services for shooting a production on location.As more production companies began to look beyond the limits of a regular production center for realistic and varied locations, more cities and states began to see the need for production coordination liaison. They were also keenly aware of the economic benefits brought by film and video production companies to their areas.
Time To Organize
The AFCI incorporated in Washington, D.C. in 1983. The first Location Expo attracted 60 film commissioners and some 1,200 people from the film industry to a Los Angeles exhibition site. During the next four years, the Expo’s space demands increased so that by 1990 the show had to be held at a site different from the AFM conference. Attendance tripled. Then in 1991, Expo relocated with the AFM to Santa Monica. The annual trade show, now an AFCI-sponsored event and known as Locations Trade Show, averages over 200+ film commissions and commercial affiliates exhibiting their services to more than 6,000 delegates.On-Hand & On-Location: Services Of Film Commissions
The services provided by film commissions have expanded in response to the growth of on-location filming. For producers of film, episodic television and commercials, film commissions today provide a gamut of free services, from scouting locations within their area to trouble-shooting with local officials and helping cut through paperwork and bureaucratic red tape. Some provide hard economic incentives, such as tax rebates and hotel discounts for location scouts. Others offer a variety of essential free services like research for screenwriters or liaison work with local government agencies.As the services of film commissions have grown, so have their marketing efforts. From advertising to direct mail to the well-produced Locations Global Expo trade show, where they can inform producers of their vast array of services, film commissions reach industry decision-makers where they live.
Commission Structure & Responsibilities
Film commissions, set up by cities, counties, states provinces or federal governments, are generally operated and funded by various agencies of government, such as the governor’s office, the mayor’s office, the county board of supervisors, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, travel commissions and business and economic development departments.Their primary responsibility is to attract film and video production to their area in order to accrue locally-realized benefits from hiring local crews and talent, renting local equipment, using hotel rooms, rental cars, catering services, or any number of goods and services supplied on location.
While attracting business to their area, they also attract visitors. Film scenes at a particular location are in themselves "soft-sell" vehicles that also promote that location as a desirable site for future tourism and industry.
Although the membership of AFCI is uniquely diverse, all the commissions have one goal in common: to attract filmmakers and videographers to their respective regions by providing services that an out-of-town producer would be hard-pressed to acquire without their assistance. As the 21st century approaches rapidly and on-location production expands worldwide, the benefits of working with film commissions are sure to increase to meet these global production demands.
