AFCI leads on the development of best practice for film commissions and produces reports and guidance for members, wider government and industry.
Best Practice In Screen Sector Development
On Friday September 13th 2019 at AFCI’s 43rd Cineposium conference, AFCI’s detailed global report on Best Practice in Screen Sector Development was released. The report, undertaken for AFCI by creative industries consultancy firm Olsberg SPI highlights a range of successful strategies and policies that have been implemented by established and emerging markets around the world with the aim of maximizing their share of high-value production activity.
Four of the most important areas within which best practice can be demonstrated provide the framework for the Study. They are:
- Automatic incentives;
- Workforce capacity;
- Capacity building in physical infrastructure and services; and
- Film-friendly production environment.
Examples of best practice in all four areas are included in this Study.
Global Screen Production - The Impact of Film and Television Production on Economic Recovery from COVID-19
AFCI was proud to endorse a groundbreaking and timely report by Olsberg•SPI titled, Global Screen Production – The Impact of Film and Television Production on Economic Recovery from COVID-19. The report details the scale and economic impact of film and television production globally, shows the rapid nature of the spend and the wide-ranging business sectors which benefit. Critically, many of these sectors are outside the film and television industry.
The study finds that after several years of groundbreaking growth, spending on screen production reached $177 billion in 2019, driving total global economic impact of $414 billion.
AFCI + TIME'S UP Foundation Diversity Report 2020
AFCI is proud to have partnered with the TIME’S UP Foundation on a first-of-kind report drawing attention to diversity efforts led by film commissions to address safety on sets, equity among the workforce, and diversity and inclusion in leadership. The primary purpose of the report is to showcase and share information about successful strategies, policies, and best practices for inclusivity and leadership within global film sectors.
It includes recommendations for film commissions and serves as a resource for the screen sector.
Best Practice Guidelines
The guidelines below are available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community:
Understanding and Establishing a Film Commission
This Guide is designed to explain the function of a film commission/film office – their structure, the common functions they perform, and their critical role in economic development. It is as much a blueprint for territories looking to set up a commission as it is an overview of AFCI’s Film Commission Member eligibility.
Best Practice: Arranging In-Person FAM Tours (MEMBERS ONLY)
The primary purpose of a FAM Tour is to allow filmmakers to familiarize themselves with different sites, assess their suitability, and gather crucial information for planning and executing a film production. This type of tour is common in the film and television industry, where choosing the right locations is essential to achieving the desired visual and atmospheric elements of a project.
Available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community.
Best Practice: Deliverables (MEMBERS ONLY)
AFCI’s much-anticipated Guide on the acceptable ‘asks’ (deliverables) from production when incentives/rebates/credits are provided: from having the film commission logo in end credits, to obtaining details of production spend and location and, cast & crew lists, this document will help member film commissions obtain the data and the materials they need to both communicate the economic impact of production and also market their territory more successfully.
Available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community.
Best Practice: Diversity (MEMBERS ONLY)
This Guide is the essential follow-up to the recent AFCI + TIME’S UP Foundation Diversity Report 2020 and provides an overview of the Report’s three-tiered recommendations with real-world examples.
Available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community, along with the webinar with researcher and analyst, Tara Halloran.
Know Your Territory (MEMBERS ONLY)
Promoting locations is now a very small part of the modern film commission’s role. This document is a detailed checklist of information commissions should have at their fingertips when engaging with industry to attract production. It includes topics such as on-set safety, banking, tax regulations, and understanding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Developed by AFCI in conjunction with Warner Bros. Entertainment, this Best Practice Guide is designed to help commissions and screen agencies at all levels of development ensure they’re best prepared for production inquiries.
Available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community.
Covid-19 Communications Guide (MEMBERS ONLY)
The Coronavirus pandemic presents organizations, including film commissions, with unique communications challenges. Stakeholders (government officials, production industry executives, crew members, vendors, etc.) want to know that a film commission is monitoring the situation and available to help find solutions.
The suggestions in this brief guide are intended to help film commissions communicate relevant COVID-19 information to key audiences. The suggestions may apply to communication amid any external crisis that affects public safety and disrupts production activity.
Available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community.
GLOSSARY (COMMON FILM TERMS)
A glossary of common production terms has been created to assist you with this course. Please click the button to access and download this document. You may want to keep it handy as you proceed through this course to help you fully understand the content.
Available for AFCI members via the online AFCI Member Community.