Afci Admin

What Afci Admin does

The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) is a 501-style nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1975 and headquartered at 9465 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, California. AFCI represents 300+ film commission members across six continents, serving four member categories: film commissions, business affiliates, film liaisons, and producers. Its mission is to enable film commissions and industry partners to bring successful productions to life through knowledge-sharing, skill development, and connection.

AFCI's core products are organized around four pillars: education (AFCI University with three-tier curriculum and the Certified Film Commissioner program at $295 per course), events (Studio Summit, Cineposium, and the Global Film Commission Network Summit at Marché du Film Cannes), research (Best Practice in Screen Sector Development Report co-developed with Olsberg•SPI in 11 languages, Industry Insights series, and the SetJetters-co-produced Screen Tourism Best Practice Guide), and member services (Global Directory, community portal, newsletter). The technology stack consists of standard web-based membership, directory, and learning management systems rather than an integrated software platform, with a partnership integration to SetJetters' 7,000+-scene geolocation database.

AFCI generates revenue through four streams: recurring membership dues across tiered categories, transaction-based event registration (Studio Summit 2026 at $2,250 member / $3,150 non-member), one-time course fees, and advertising/sponsorship revenue from exhibition spaces ($3,500-$7,500) and tiered event sponsorships (Platinum, Opening Reception, Panel, Media, Supporting). Distribution is direct via afci.org and afciuniversity.org, with event-based demand generation supported by social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), an email newsletter, and earned media partnerships with Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, and FilmMaker Magazine.

Name

Afci Admin

Legal name

Association of Film Commissioners International

Website

https://afci.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFCI is a 1975-founded nonprofit membership organization serving 300+ film commissions and industry partners across six continents through education (AFCI University), flagship events (Studio Summit, Cineposium, Cannes Network Summit), and industry research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for film commissions, business affiliates, film liaisons, and producers at various tier levels. Members receive 50% discount on AFCI University courses.
2. Event Registration: Revenue from flagship events including AFCI Week/Studio Summit, Cineposium, and Global Film Commission Network Summit. Includes various ticket tiers for members, non-members, and industry day access.
3. Education Courses: AFCI University online courses priced at $295 each for Film Commission Fundamentals, Film Commission Professional, and Master Classes. Film Liaison course at $150 individual or volume pricing ($100 for 10+ licenses, $50 for 50+ licenses).
4. Exhibition and Sponsorship: Revenue from exhibition spaces at Studio Summit (medium $3,500, large $7,500) and event sponsorships at various levels (Platinum, Opening Reception, Happy Hour, Panel, Media, Supporting).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

AFCI is a global nonprofit professional organization that enables film commissions, business affiliates, film liaisons, and producers to bring successful productions to life through knowledge-sharing, skill development, and connections. It provides membership services, professional education via AFCI University, industry research publications, and flagship events such as Studio Summit, Cineposium, and the Global Film Commission Network Summit. The organization also offers the Certified Film Commissioner (CFC) credential and produces best practice guides covering incentives, workforce capacity, infrastructure, DEI, sustainability, and screen tourism.

Product overview

AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International) is a professional membership organization, not a unified software product. Its offerings consist of educational programs (AFCI University with Certified Film Commissioner certification), industry events (Studio Summit/AFCI Week, Cineposium, Global Film Commission Network Summit), research publications (Best Practice reports, Industry Insights reports, Screen Tourism Guide), and membership services (Global Directory). These operate as standalone programs rather than an integrated platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFCI University: Online education platform for film commission professionals offering courses including Film Commission Fundamentals, Film Commission Professional, and Master Classes, as well as the Certified Film Commissioner (CFC) program.
• Studio Summit
• Cineposium
• Global Film Commission Network Summit

Products and services

• AFCI University Online education platform for film commission professionals offering a three-tiered curriculum (Film Commission Fundamentals, Film Commission Professional, and Master Classes) with quizzes and certificate of completion. Courses priced at $295 each (50% member discount) and available in English and Spanish.
• Certified Film Commissioner (CFC) Program Professional certification program for film commissioners requiring completion of Film Commission Fundamentals, Film Commission Professional, and four Master Classes, plus either conference attendance or thesis completion. Earns members the CFC designation.
• Studio Summit (formerly AFCI Week) Annual premier event connecting global film commissioners, location managers, producers, and studio executives with curated panels, executive-led sessions, task force initiatives, and interactive networking experiences on Hollywood studio lots. Studio Summit 2026 member rate $2,250, non-member $3,150.
• Cineposium AFCI's legacy conference designed specifically with the needs of Film Commissions at its core, exploring production trends, regional dynamics, technology, and sustainability. Rotating global destination hosting with registration tiers for members, local industry, and non-members.
• Global Film Commission Network Summit Annual summit held in partnership with Marché du Film at Festival de Cannes, bringing together film commissioners, producers, and screen tourism experts from over 80 countries for panels, case studies, and global production strategy discussions.
• Best Practice in Screen Sector Development Report Comprehensive study produced with Olsberg•SPI covering best practices across incentives, workforce, infrastructure, film friendliness, DEI, sustainability, and partner engagement. Available in 11 languages.
• Best Practice Guide in Screen Tourism First comprehensive playbook for expanding global screen tourism, defining key stakeholders, recommended action points during each phase of production, and sustainability advice. Created in collaboration with SetJetters.
• AFCI Industry Insights Reports Series of industry reports providing actionable insights on disruptive scenarios reshaping the future of film, including AI-driven virtual productions, carbon-neutral filmmaking, and amplifying underrepresented voices.
• AFCI Membership Program Global network connecting film commissions, business affiliates, film liaisons, and producers through annual membership at tiered levels, providing knowledge-sharing, skill development, and professional connections. Members receive 50% discount on AFCI University courses.
• Global Directory Searchable online directory of AFCI member film commissions and industry partners worldwide, enabling industry professionals and producers to find local commission contacts for production support.
• Film Liaison Training Course Community training course to assist film commissions in training regional contacts to support film productions, with volume licensing options ($150 individual rate, $100 per license for 10+ licenses, $50 per license for 50+ licenses).

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ member organizations worldwide representing film commissions across 6 continents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and supporting.

• NetflixkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Netflix is the Industry Day Presenting Sponsor for Studio Summit 2026. This partnership provides access to Netflix executives and production teams for AFCI members and producers during Industry Day programming.
• Raleigh StudioskeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Studio Summit 2026 Host Partner. Raleigh Studios provides venue access for the summit's programming and studio day activities in Hollywood.
• MBS GroupkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Studio Summit 2026 Host Partner providing venue and facilities for the summit's studio day programming.
• SetJetterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2025AFCI partnered with SetJetters to produce the 'Best Practice Guide in Screen Tourism,' a strategic resource to help film commissions and tourism boards harness screen tourism potential. SetJetters provides the largest precise film locations database globally (7,000+ geolocated scenes) and complements the guide with a direct-to-consumer app for film tourism.
• Marché du Film (Festival de Cannes)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AFCI partners with Marché du Film for the annual Global Film Commission Network Summit, part of the Cannes Film Festival business wing. The partnership brings together film commissioners, producers, and screen tourism experts. Summit features case studies, panels, and the screen tourism playbook presentation.
• Film CincinnatikeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Film Cincinnati, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987, hosts Cineposium 2025 in association with AFCI. Film Cincinnati's mission is to attract, promote, and cultivate film and content creation industries for economic impact and workforce development in the Cincinnati region.
• Ibero-American Film Commission NetworkkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AFCI has been instrumental in fostering connections between Castilla-La Mancha Film Commission and Ibero-American Film Commissions, providing an international umbrella for collaboration between Spain and Latin America from a professional standpoint.
• Olsberg•SPIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2024AFCI collaborated with creative consultancy Olsberg•SPI to develop the comprehensive 'Best Practice in Screen Sector Development' study. The 2024 report updates and expands the 2019 edition, examining best practices amid pandemic, labor disruptions, rising costs, and technological changes. Available in 11 languages.
• Texas Association of Film Commissions (TXAFC)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Platinum Sponsor of AFCI Week 2024. Hosted panel 'Film Texas – A Legacy of Filmmaking, A Future of Innovation' featuring major studio executives, line producers, and location managers.
• Creative BC / Screen BCsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Opening Reception Sponsors for AFCI Week 2024, representing British Columbia's film commission and screen industry organization.
• HigginbothamsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Presentation Sponsor for the Global Film Commission Network Summit at Marché du Film 2024.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF): International federation representing national film producer associations and promoting global film production policy. Directly comparable to AFCI as a global, membership-based film industry association advocating for the production ecosystem.
• Producers Guild of America (PGA): Professional guild for film, television, and new media producers in the US. Comparable as a membership-based professional association that serves producers with education, advocacy, networking events, and industry representation.
• European Film Academy: European professional organization supporting the European film industry through events, awards, and educational programs. Closely comparable to AFCI as a regional/global professional association for the film sector with events and member services.
• Creative BC: British Columbia's film commission and screen industry development organization, an AFCI member and Board Chair Marnie Gee's home organization. Directly comparable as a film commission that is both an AFCI member and a peer organization in the film-commission ecosystem.
• Film London: London's film commission and screen culture agency. Comparable as a regional film commission delivering location services, training, and production support - the same constituency AFCI serves globally.

Broad incumbents

• British Film Institute (BFI): The UK's lead organization for film, television, and the moving image, with film commission functions and broader cultural remit. Comparable to AFCI as a film-industry body with commissioner and policy advocacy, but larger and broader in scope.
• National Film Board of Canada (NFB): Canadian federal production and distribution agency. Comparable to AFCI as a national institution with commissioner-style functions and policy influence, but operating at much larger scale and as a producer-distributor.

Emerging players

• Sundance Institute: Nonprofit supporting independent storytellers through labs, grants, and the Sundance Film Festival. Comparable to AFCI as a mission-driven film-industry nonprofit providing education, events, and career support, though focused on independent creators rather than film commissions.

Others

• Olsberg•SPI: Creative-economy consultancy that co-produces AFCI's flagship Best Practice in Screen Sector Development study. Comparable as a strategic research and consulting partner in the screen-sector policy space, and a meaningful ecosystem participant.

Regional players

• Film Cincinnati: 501(c)(3) nonprofit film commission for the Cincinnati region, host of Cineposium 2025 in association with AFCI. Comparable as a US regional film commission - the core constituency AFCI serves - and an event-hosting peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WeAreTheAFCI
• Facebookfacebook.com/filmcommissions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/789213
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmcommissions
• Xx.com/wearetheafci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afci Admin