The film and television industry is increasingly distributed, with productions moving into more territories than ever. That shift has revealed a persistent bottleneck: a limited supply of trained below-the-line crew. In response, the AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International) and Stage 32 announced a strategic education partnership that targets that shortfall. The collaboration will be formally presented at the Power of Place Global Film Commission Network Summit, taking place May 15–16 at the Marché du Film in Cannes, where attendees will explore practical ways to expand local capability to meet rising production demand.
The alliance is designed to equip film commissions with practical resources so they can build and certify local crews that meet international expectations. By helping jurisdictions develop reliable local talent pipelines, the program aims to make incentive programs more effective and productions more likely to hire on location. AFCI executive director Claire Brooks has emphasized that the capacity to staff projects on the ground is becoming a key competitive advantage between markets, while Stage 32 leadership frames the work as a way to strengthen the entire production ecosystem.
Why the crew gap matters now
Many regions have increased tax incentives and other inducements to attract shoots, but incentives alone cannot guarantee that productions can operate smoothly. Across jurisdictions, projects still struggle to find trained personnel for essential below-the-line functions such as production accounting, production management, assistant directing, line producing, location management, post-production and coordination. The term below-the-line refers to technical and logistical crew positions that are vital to day-to-day operations; when those roles are under-resourced, productions face schedule slippage, higher costs, and reduced willingness to shoot in that market. Strengthening these roles therefore protects budgets and preserves the value of incentive programs.
How the partnership will deliver training
Stage 32 brings a model of practitioner-led education to the collaboration: courses and certifications are created and taught by professionals active on current productions. The program roster includes trainers with credits such as Mike Fantasia (Top Gun: Maverick), Miranda Carnessale (Barbie), producer Brad Carpenter (The Diplomat) and Shalonda Ware from Paramount Studios. These instructors focus on real-world workflows and job-ready competencies so that local hires are prepared to integrate into international crews. Stage 32 has already worked with more than 50 film commissions and organizations worldwide, supporting capacity-building initiatives in countries including Saudi Arabia, Croatia, South Africa, Uganda and Poland.
Training designed for film commissions
Part of the rollout is a tailored course specifically for commission staff: Film Commission Leadership: Building World-Class Production Ecosystems. Led by Marjorie Galas, senior director of membership & programming at AFCI, and augmented by guest instructors from both industry and public policy spheres, the course addresses strategy, operational design and talent-development tactics. The curriculum aims to give commission leaders a playbook for recruiting, retaining and certifying local crew, with an emphasis on building systems that allow jurisdictions to consistently support incoming productions.
Certification, access and global rollout
The partnership will provide AFCI members with access to Stage 32’s training and certification pathways, plus ongoing educational resources. The program is scheduled to begin rolling out globally in June, offering courses, certificates and follow-up learning designed to sustain workforce growth. Amanda Toney, Stage 32 managing director, frames the initiative as practical support for the people who make production possible on the ground, noting that when film commissions are better equipped, benefits flow from studios to local crews. The model emphasizes measurable outcomes: trained hires, incentive compliance and fewer production disruptions.
Potential effects on the global production ecosystem
By giving film commissions the tools to develop certified local crews, the partnership seeks to make markets both more competitive and more sustainable. Jurisdictions that can reliably supply qualified staff increase the likelihood that productions will hire locally, maintain schedules and control budgets—outcomes that validate incentive dollars and attract repeat business. In aggregate, the program aims to strengthen the global production ecosystem by spreading best practices, elevating technical standards and creating career pathways for local workers who support film and television production worldwide.