For the first time in its 33-year history the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Cineposium will be held in New Zealand. The confab is slated for Nov. 19-23 in Wellington, and comes as the world is in the midst of an economic crisis. In some respects, the confab is well timed as its speakers, panel discussions and master classes could help the film commission community uncover opportunities even in the face of an unstable, uncertain financial market.
“Given the financing challenges currently facing the film industry worldwide, this year’s Cineposium could well be our most important ever,” said Robin James, AFCI board president. “We have put together a dynamic program of sessions and panel discussions for film commissioners and industry professionals affecting every production community in the years to come. And Wellington, with its leading edge in the film community and bold new initiatives in film tourism, is the right place at the right time for AFCI film commissioners and others who need to stay on top of a changing landscape.”
The Cineposium proceedings are expected to draw AFCI members from more than 20 countries.
Among the session highlights is a Nov. 22 morning keynote address by communications expert Richard D. Lewis, chairman of international consultancy firm Richard Lewis Communications Ltd. with offices in a dozen countries and a roster of clients that includes ABB, Allianz, Banco de Espana, Banque de France, Deutsche Bank, Ericsson, Fiat, Gillette, IBM, Kraft, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Nestle, Nokia, SAP and Volvo. The author of the book When Cultures Collide, Lewis will explore at Cineposium the subject of cultural understanding, which is most relevant to the film commissioner when hosting foreign production groups as well as for productions visiting foreign countries.
He will talk about how best to prepare and plan for, react and respond to a growing global clientele. Lewis will touch upon topics and guidelines for doing business with international productions as well as knowing what cultural behaviors to expect.
Another key session is an opening Oscar winners luncheon which will feature a varied panel of Academy Award winners in various production and artistic disciplines from New Zealand who will discuss their experiences in creating entertainment filmed in their native country.
The luncheon will take place on Nov. 22 at The Intercontinental Hotel. “We have created this session to showcase the fantastic talents and ‘kiwi way’ of filmmaking,” said film commissioner Delia Shanly, Film Wellington manager. “As we have so many of New Zealand’s Academy Award winners living or working in Wellington, we are able to provide a panel of Oscar winners to share their insights and secrets across a wide creative range.”
On Nov. 23, the Cineposium closing day event is the Studio Executive session featuring studio execs from Los Angeles who will interact with film commissioners in a candid dialogue on how studios and film commissions can work together creatively and as partners in making entertainment productions happen efficiently and successfully around the world.
Participating in the session will be such notables as Kate Bedya, senior VP, production for New Line Cinema; Bryan Noon, VP, business affairs for ABC Studios; and Russ Nissen, executive director, feature reporting, for Fox Filmed Entertainment.
The 2008 Cineposium lineup also includes general sessions with leaders in the entertainment business serving as hosts and panel members: “Positioning Yourself as a Financial Partner,” “Location Vacation: Film Induced Tourism,” and “Life’s a Pitch: Demonstrating Your Value.”
The AFCI will additionally offer breakout and special sessions for the attending film commissions that will focus on regional topics with global significance created by AFCI Caucuses to foster dialogue and the sharing of information about emerging trends and issues that are impacting the entertainment industry and film commission professionals.
A complete listing and description of all Cineposium sessions–with scheduled speakers and presenters– can be found at www.afci.org.
Educational initiative Back in April 2007 at its Locations Trade Show, the AFCI unveiled a Global Initiatives plan, the centerpiece of which was a worldwide educational program to certify film commissioners, boosting the professional standards of and quality of services provided by film commissions worldwide.
Courses and educational development sessions began in full swing during last year’s Cineposium in Santa Fe, New Mexico, continued to this year’s Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica, Calif., and will again be prominent at the ’08 Cineposium in the form of three professional development courses of value to both novice and experienced film commissioners:
— Film Commission Professional–this one day (Nov. 19) foundation course will build on the information presented in the AFCI online Film Commission Fundamentals by providing more in-depth information in several of the most important elements involved in film commission work.
• Master Class–Advanced Studies In Film Production. This course (Nov. 20) will examine the most important aspects of filmmaking, including finding and using material, working with writers, raising financing, getting a green light, shooting a movie, postproduction, distribution, marketing, technology changes that have an effect on all aspects of movie production, and the future of the industry.
• And Master Class–Marketing for Film Commissioners. This advanced course (slated for Nov. 21) will demonstrate how to develop a marketing strategy that will sell a film commission’s jurisdiction most effectively.
AFCI is the global professional organization whose members are film commissioners that assist film, television and video production throughout the world. It is a non-profit educational association with a network of members that serve as city, county, state, regional, provincial or national film commissioners for their respective governmental jurisdictions.
