Monterey County Film Commission

What Monterey County Film Commission does

The Monterey County Film Commission (MCFC) is a nonprofit organization established in 1987 by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to promote Monterey County as a filming destination for feature films, television, commercials, and other media productions. Operating from its headquarters at 801 Lighthouse Ave. #104 in Historic Mariposa Hall, Monterey, California, the Commission serves productions by facilitating film permits, curating a searchable database of iconic locations (Big Sur coastline, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos, Bixby Bridge, Monterey Bay), and maintaining an online Production Resource Guide with more than 50 categories of local crew, equipment, support services, talent, and attractions. Since its founding, MCFC claims to have facilitated more than $144 million in cumulative economic impact to local communities, with productions averaging approximately $4 million in annual local spend. Notable productions cited include HBO's Big Little Lies (seasons 1 and 2, with Season 2 alone generating $3.7 million in local spend across 34 filming days at 36 locations) and the feature film All The Old Knives.

The Commission is funded through a diversified mix of recurring and episodic revenue streams rather than direct production fees. Reel Friends memberships range from $20 (military, senior, student) to $1,200 (Academy Level business) on annual billing; business listings in the Resource Guide span Basic (free/$25), Premium ($50/year), and Supporting Sponsor ($500/year) tiers; and the organization supplements these with event sponsorships, donations, and fundraising events such as the 2019 Big Little Lies Season 2 screening that raised nearly $15,000. Distribution is omnichannel: a self-serve website (filmmonterey.org), email newsletter, YouTube and Facebook channels, press releases, the Hollywood in Your Backyard industry mixer series, and direct staff consultation. The organization also administers the Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship Program in partnership with the Community Foundation for Monterey County, awarding up to $2,000 annually to film students at Monterey County institutions including CSUMB. Technology stack is a standard WordPress CMS with no proprietary AI/ML components, and MCFC operates as a small, government-affiliated nonprofit without disclosed headcount or financial filings.

Name

Monterey County Film Commission

Legal name

Monterey County Film Commission

Website

https://filmmonterey.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Monterey County Film Commission is a 1987 government-chartered nonprofit that promotes Monterey County locations, crew, and businesses to film and television productions through permits, location scouting, an online resource guide, and a tiered membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Commission Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Locations Services (Scouting, Permits, Management) (MPADAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

On-Lot Location Services & Permitting Coordination (MPADAIAG)

Keywords

• Film commission services
• Film permit assistance
• Location scouting resources
• Production resource directory
• Film industry membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Programs (Reel Friends): Individual and business memberships providing benefits including film event invitations, casting call notifications, industry mixer access, and film premiere invitations. Membership tiers range from $20 for military/senior/student to $1,200 for Academy Level business memberships.
2. Business Listings and Advertising: Basic listings (free for Monterey County residents, $25 for out-of-area), Premium listings ($50 annually with 250-character description and social links), and Supporting Sponsor listings ($500 annually with 500-character description and website footer exposure).
3. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations and hosts fundraising events. A 2019 Big Little Lies screening fundraiser realized nearly $15,000 in support. Partnerships with local businesses for fundraising events.
4. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events like the Big Little Lies Season 2 screening, with sponsors including City of Monterey, County of Monterey, HBO, and local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Monterey County Film Commission is a nonprofit organization that promotes Monterey County filming locations, local crew, and businesses to the entertainment industry. It provides film permits assistance, location scouting resources, a searchable online Production Resource Guide, production alerts, and connection services for feature films, commercials, TV productions, and other media projects shooting on-location in Monterey County.

Product overview

Monterey County Film Commission is a nonprofit organization (established 1987 by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors) that operates as a regional film promotion and facilitation service, not a unified SaaS platform. Its core offerings include: (1) Film Location Promotion Services that market Monterey County to the film industry; (2) a Production Resource Guide database connecting filmmakers with local crew, equipment, and services across 50+ professional categories; (3) a Business Listing Program allowing local vendors to advertise; (4) Reel Friends Membership Program offering industry networking benefits; (5) a Film Student Scholarship Program supporting local film education; and (6) Production Alerts providing road closures and production news. The organization has facilitated over $144 million in local film spending and attracts approximately $4 million annually from film productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Location Promotion Services End-to-end promotional service that markets Monterey County locations, crew, and businesses to the film industry, facilitating film projects from initial inquiry through wrap. Targets feature films, commercials, TV productions, and other media projects.
• Local Permits Assistance Permit information and guidance service for productions filming within Monterey County, helping productions navigate local filming requirements and serving as the official point of contact.
• Production Resource Guide Online searchable directory of more than 50 professional categories of local crew, equipment, facilities, support services, talent, and attractions available to film productions in Monterey County.
• Location Database Searchable database of film locations across Monterey County, with documented filming history dating to 1897 and locations sought by notable filmmakers including Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, and Clint Eastwood.
• Business Listing Program Advertising platform allowing local businesses to list in the Film Resources Guide. Offers Basic Listing (free for locals, $25 for out-of-area), Premium Listing ($50/year with description and social links), and Supporting Sponsor Listing ($500/year with enhanced visibility and website footer placement).
• Reel Friends Membership Program Paid membership program offering industry access including film event invitations, casting call notifications, industry mixers, and film premieres. Individual memberships range from $20 (military/senior/student) to $95; business memberships up to $1,200 (Academy Level).
• Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program providing financial aid to film students enrolled in Monterey County community colleges or universities. Awards up to $2,000 to CSUMB Cinematic Arts & Technology students; endowment managed in partnership with Community Foundation for Monterey County.
• Production Alerts News and updates service providing road closures, location spotlights, casting calls, and press releases relevant to film productions in Monterey County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $144 million in economic impact to local communities since 1987
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• County of MontereycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe County of Monterey is a primary supporter of the Film Commission. MCFC was created by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 1987 and receives funding and institutional support from the county government.
• City of Carmel-by-the-SeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Carmel-by-the-Sea is a local city supporter of MCFC, providing municipal support for film operations in the area.
• City of King CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of King City is a local city supporter of MCFC, participating in the regional film promotion network.
• City of MontereycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Monterey is a primary supporter and was a major sponsor of the Big Little Lies Season 2 screening fundraiser.
• City of Pacific GrovecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Pacific Grove is a local city supporter of MCFC, contributing to regional film industry support.
• City of Sand CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Sand City is a local city supporter of MCFC.
• Monterey Peninsula Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMonterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is a supporter of MCFC, promoting filming and local business engagement.
• Community Foundation for Monterey CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Foundation for Monterey County is a community partner that manages the Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship Program endowment for MCFC.
• Association of Film Commissioners Int'l (AFCI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association providing networking and industry standards for film commissions worldwide.
• California Film CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level film commission partner providing coordination and support for California film productions.
• Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide network of film liaisons facilitating production coordination across California.
• Location Managers Guild InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association for location managers supporting industry standards and networking.
• HBOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBO produced Big Little Lies seasons in Monterey County, spending $3.7 million locally during Season 2. MCFC hosted a premiere screening and fundraiser for Season 2.
• Honest Engine FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal film development and production company; sponsor of MCFC and producer of award-winning independent films including And With Him Came the West.
• Coastal Roots HospitalitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMCFC nonprofit partner for 2026 Pick-It Up - Pay-It Forward fundraiser. Includes Tarpy's, Montrio, and Rio Grill restaurants donating 10% of take-out orders to MCFC.
• Arts Council for Monterey CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity arts organization supporting creative industries in Monterey County.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Film Florida: Regional film commission promoting Florida locations to the film industry. Directly comparable nonprofit-style organization focused on location promotion, permits, and crew/resource connections within a specific U.S. region.
• Film New Mexico: Regional film office promoting New Mexico as a filming destination with comparable services (location library, permits, crew database). Operates in a competing incentive-heavy jurisdiction.
• Hawaii Film Office: State-level film office offering location scouting, permits, and production support. Directly comparable mandate with a similarly distinctive location portfolio (coastlines, tropical scenery).
• Oregon Film Office: State film office providing location promotion, permits, and crew resources in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable size, structure, and services to MCFC.

Others

• Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI): Industry association that MCFC explicitly partners with for networking and standards. Not a direct peer but the governing membership body for film commissions globally.

Regional players

• Texas Film Commission: State-level film commission promoting Texas locations. Directly comparable mandate of location promotion and production facilitation, though operating at state scale rather than county level.
• Vancouver Film Commission (Creative BC): Regional film commission serving British Columbia. Comparable location promotion and production services; serves as a major North American production hub competing for Hollywood productions.
• Atlanta Film Office (Mayor’s Office of Film, TV & Digital Entertainment): Regional film office promoting the Atlanta metro area as a filming hub. Provides comparable location, permit, and crew services; a leading competitor due to Georgia's substantial film tax incentive.

Broad incumbents

• NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment: City-level film/media office that promotes New York City as a filming destination, issues permits, and facilitates productions. Comparable function to MCFC but with significantly larger organizational scale and government backing.
• California Film Commission: State-level film commission that partners with MCFC. Operates at a broader geography across California, providing state-level incentives, permits, and production coordination — overlapping mandate but at a higher jurisdictional level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@filmmonterey
• Xx.com/FilmMonterey
• Facebookfacebook.com/MontereyCountyFilmCommission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Monterey County Film Commission