AFCI's Global Film Commission Network Summit 2025 (Festival de Cannes)

AFCI's Global Film Commission Network Summit 2025

In Partnership With Marché du Film - Festival De Cannes

Marché du Film

May 17, 2025

Main Stage in the Palais

Thank you for joining us at the second edition of the Global Film Commission Network Summit, presented by AFCI as part of our 50th anniversary celebration at the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes.

Held on Saturday, 17 May, from 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM CET, the summit brought together global film commissioners, producers, and industry leaders for an afternoon of insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of screen production. This year’s program featured the release of AFCI’s Best Practice Guide in Screen Tourism in partnership with SetJetters, as well as an exclusive case study of The Substance, one of Cannes 2024’s most acclaimed premieres.

We thank all who attended in person or tuned in via livestream—and we look forward to continuing the conversation throughout our 50th anniversary year.

Panels

Panel One
Driving Production for 50 Years - Celebrating a Legacy

For five decades, AFCI has been the cornerstone of the global production community, fostering an environment where film commissioners and production affiliates can connect, collaborate, and thrive. We’ll hear from film commissioners who began their journey with AFCI, those well-established in the industry, and studio executives who’ve leveraged AFCI’s network and support to drive innovation and streamline production. We’ll also discuss how AFCI continues to shape the future of film production and expand opportunities worldwide.

Speakers

Melissa Heuer, Principle, Economic Development Policy, Amazon MGM Studios
Daniel Celli, Head of the Rio Film Commission
Bavi Yassin, Founder & Chairperson, Kurdistan Film Commission Slemani
Ruriko Sekine, Secretary General/Film Commissioner, Japan Film Commission
Kristen Schlotman, President/CEO, Film Cincinnati
Moderator: Luke Azevedo, CEO, Edmonton Screen

Presented by

Panel Two
Building Communities: Maximizing Collaboration for Workforce Support and Development

Film commissioners have a distinctive understanding of their workforce’s needs, however, they often lack the resources and capabilities to develop initiatives. How can a film commissioner leverage programs developed by non-profits and other dedicated groups to assist in tangible advancements? This panel of experts and film commissioners will discuss examples of collaboration in their regions.

Speakers

Jeffrey Stepakoff, President and Co-Founder, Content Talent South
Anne Seibel, Board of Advisors, Production Designers Collective
Inya Lawal, Founder, Africa Creative Market & WIFT Africa
Marysela Zamora-Villalobos, Costa Rica Film Commissioner, Costa Rica Media Market Director
Lola Legros, International Promotion Manager, Film Paris Region
Moderator: Andria Wilson Mirza, Director, International Programs, Women In Film LA

Panel Three
AFCI's Best Practices in Screen Tourism and Recent Examples

AFCI’s latest Best Practice document, “Best Practice Guide in Screen Tourism,” will make its official debut at the Cannes International Film Festival. Created in collaboration with SetJetters, this first-of-its-kind document focuses on assisting film commissions and screen tourism stakeholders in understanding and establishing a sustainable screen tourism action plan from pre- to post-production. This panel explores the creation of and highlights from the document, followed by presenting current case studies that illustrate how film commissions work with stakeholders to develop screen tourism strategies.

Speakers

Erik Nachtrieb, M.S., CEO/Co-Founder, SetJetters
Marjorie Galas, Sr. Director Members and Education, AFCI
Philippa Mossman, Head of International Attraction and Marketing, New Zealand Film Commission
Stathis Kalogeropoulos, Athens Film Officer, Develop Athens
Moderator: Gabriella Geisinger, Screen International Locations Editor and Screen Global Production Editor

Panel Four
Case Study: The Substance

Speaking with the producers and talent of this award-winning, 2024 Cannes premier, this panel explores the choices that were made to shoot the Los Angeles-set story in France, from incentives, locations, stages, and crew. The panel will also explore how this feature navigated the awards circuit, resulting in accolades and honors for categories both below and above the line.

Speakers