With over 20 years of experience in the film industry, Virginia Pearce has been the Film Commissioner for the state of Utah since 2014. Working closely with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Office of Tourism, Virginia has grown the state’s reputation as a leading filmmaking destination, specifically bringing television series to the state to ensure sustainable growth for Utah’s industry. Networks including ABC, HBO, Disney Channel and Paramount, have brought TV series to Utah, creating an economic impact of over $100 million. Virginia works closely with government leaders to ensure sustainable growth of Utah’s motion picture incentive program and with tourism leaders to create a Film Tourism program that showcases the state’s long history in film. She has created a number of new programs encouraging diversity in the entertainment industry. A new women’s network and a sexual harassment policy were both launched in 2017 to cultivate change in the industry.

My background in entertainment, non profit organizations and on AFCI’s board for the past two years have given me a wide variety of skills that have been helpful on the board. My time at Sundance Institute, a global organization trying to serve a mission for many audiences, has a lot of relevance in where I see AFCI sitting in its worldwide position. Massive overhaul of an organization, fine tuning staff, budgets and marketing, have all been part of my career for the past 10 years. AFCI is at a fragile point right now and I feel it would be very beneficial to keep momentum going that we’ve started. If elected, I will continue to actively serve on the board and will continue to think about the bigger, more global picture for the organization.

I have been serving on the AFCI board for the last two years, while the organization has gone through a big period of change. My experiences at the Utah Film Commission – growing production there with over $100 million of economic impact – have helped shape ideas that I’ve been able to bring to the board. I have used the AFCI resources, specifically the networking with other commissioners from around the world, to further develop programs in my own state and feel that knowledge base is one of the greatest strengths of AFCI.

The past two years on the board of AFCI have been a significant but rewarding challenge, as the board is truly a working board and we’ve all worked together to try to create a new future for AFCI. I feel like we are just getting started, and the momentum that we’ve created with AFCI week, new ideas at Cineposium, and actively listening to new and old members have helped create new visions. I’d like to continue the good work we’ve started by serving another two year term.