As AFCI celebrates its 50th anniversary, its impact extends far beyond film commissions: it lives on in the personal and professional stories of those who helped shape the organization.

For Robin Holabird, a former board member, longtime editor of Locations Magazine, and retired leader of the Nevada Film Office, AFCI was more than a professional network: it was the catalyst for meaningful connections that influenced both her career and personal journey.

From Cineposium to Location Scouting for Hollywood Royalty

During her tenure, Robin played a central role in AFCI events, particularly Cineposium, where she often moderated discussions or conducted interviews with keynote speakers for Locations Magazine. It was during one such event that she met iconic filmmaker John Waters, best known for Hairspray.

“Before he even let me ask a question, John Waters turned the tables and interviewed me,” Holabird recalls. “He wanted to understand what film commissioners were eager to learn from his experience filming on location, mostly in Baltimore, Maryland.”

Waters’ charm was matched by his generosity. Upon arriving at his Washington D.C. hotel suite, elegantly prepared by AFCI, he immediately handed his welcome basket to a bellhop with instructions to deliver it to the homeless people on the corner.

Moments like these, Robin says, underscored how AFCI not only elevated conversations around filmmaking but also brought together diverse personalities who genuinely cared about community and place.

From Missed Opportunities to Serendipitous Success

Another standout memory came in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during a Cineposium where director Taylor Hackford (Ray) delivered the keynote address. Although Robin didn’t get the chance to speak with him then, that missed opportunity soon turned into something much more.

“Within a month, Taylor called me directly,” she says. “He came to Reno, Nevada, where I was based, and ended up filming a week of Love Ranch, starring Helen Mirren. It brought good business to the region. All because AFCI made that connection possible.”

But that wasn’t the end. Years after Robin retired, Hackford reached out again, not for a production but to find a home. Remembering his positive filming experience in Reno, Hackford and Mirren wanted to move to the Lake Tahoe area. Holabird happily took on the role of honorary location scout, exploring over 30 properties until she found the perfect fit for them.

AFCI’s Impact Beyond the Job

These connections proved mutually enriching. When Robin later published her book “Around the World in 80 Movies”—a travelogue-meets-film-location-guide—Taylor Hackford and Helen Mirren offered a blurb and introduction, lending star power to a personal project rooted in her years of work as a film commissioner.

“My tenure as film commissioner may have ended,” she reflects, “but the great memories and organizational benefits continue.”

Robin’s journey with AFCI illustrates the long-lasting value of community, collaboration, and connection. Whether moderating panels, interviewing directors, or introducing filmmakers to new locations, her story embodies the spirit of AFCI: building meaningful bridges between people, places, and productions.