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Location Managers Guild To Honor Film Commissioners Group With Trailblazers Award
The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) has selected the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) as the recipient of its 2026 Trailblazer Award. The honour will be presented at the LMGI Awards on 22 August at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, recognising organisations whose leadership has expanded opportunities and left a lasting impact on the film and television industry.
Founded more than 50 years ago, the AFCI is described as the leading global network for film commissions, working to strengthen ties between film commissions and the wider screen industry through education, advocacy and professional development. LMGI Awards chair Nancy Haecker said location managers rely heavily on film commissions to connect productions with communities and navigate local complexities, praising the AFCI's role in building a stronger global network of partners for location professionals and production teams.
In short
- LMGI to present its 2026 Trailblazer Award to the AFCI
- Award to be given at LMGI Awards on 22 August in Santa Monica
- Recognises AFCI's decades of global film commission leadership
Explained simply
Film commissions are organisations that help television and film productions find suitable filming locations and navigate local regulations. Location managers are professionals responsible for scouting and arranging these locations for productions. The two groups work closely together, with film commissions providing crucial local knowledge and connections.
The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) is a global network of film commissions that has operated for more than 50 years. It helps film commissions around the world collaborate with each other and develop professionally. By strengthening these international connections, the AFCI supports productions across the globe in accessing locations and managing local relationships.
The Trailblazer Award from the Location Managers Guild International honours organisations that have expanded opportunities and created lasting positive change in the film and television industry. The film commissions that make up the AFCI network are vital to enabling productions to be made successfully. This award recognises the importance of the partnership between location professionals and film commissions to the industry.