Sorry you missed it! Here's the presentation from our 2024 Film Birmingham State of the Union. This annual event is our opportunity to share the exciting developments in the local film scene, celebrate successes, discuss challenges, and highlight our plans for the future. Whether you're part of the film industry, a community stakeholder, or simply curious about the role of film in Birmingham’s growth, this presentation gives a snapshot of our year and our vision moving forward.
In 2024, Film Birmingham hosted a variety of workshops and networking nights to support and connect our local film community. From Networking Nights at the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema to workshops like 'So You Want to Work in the Film Industry,' 'PA Etiquette,' 'Camera and Lighting,' and 'PA Technical Skills,' we focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge while creating spaces to build meaningful connections.
In 2024, Film Birmingham supported 45 projects, with 26 filmed locally, resulting in a combined total budget of $19.5 million with $8.8 million in direct local spending. While these numbers showcase the ongoing strength of our region’s film industry, it’s important to note that the total budgets were impacted by the industry-wide strikes earlier this year. Despite these challenges, our community remained resilient and creative. To keep this momentum going and attract even more productions in the future, we encourage everyone to continue adding locations to the Reel-Scout database and registering as crew or support services. Your involvement is essential to Birmingham’s growth as a film destination!
In 2024, we enhanced our Location page to highlight the incredible regional assets Jefferson County has to offer for film productions. This page links directly to our Reel-Scout database, making it easier for production companies to find the perfect locations, whether they’re seeking historic architecture, scenic landscapes, or urban settings. It’s a valuable tool for showcasing our region’s versatility, and we encourage everyone to continue adding locations to the database. Your submissions ensure incoming productions have access to a robust catalog of unique spots that make Birmingham an ideal filming destination!
Launching in January 2025: the Jefferson County Film Tourism Map! This interactive map will highlight iconic productions filmed in Jefferson County, showcasing their locations and stories. Explore movie posters and click on each one to dive into detailed write-ups by Lee Shook, providing behind-the-scenes insights into the productions. This exciting project celebrates our region’s cinematic history while promoting tourism and local pride in Birmingham’s growing film legacy.
Launching alongside the Film Tourism Map in January 2025, the Birmingham Productions page will shine a spotlight on our local talent and smaller productions. This platform invites filmmakers to showcase their work—whether it’s a narrative film, documentary, commercial, or student project—highlighting Birmingham’s thriving creative community. Submissions are easy, and the page will celebrate the diversity and ingenuity of creators making their mark in the Greater Birmingham region.
Building on the success of this year’s workshops, we’re thrilled to announce our 2025 lineup! Next year, we’ll host four more workshops, including 'So You Want to Work in the Film Industry,' 'PA Etiquette,' 'PA Technical Skills,' and 'Camera and Lighting.' These workshops, along with our annual State of the Union and three networking nights in partnership with Sidewalk’s monthly events, are vital to our mission of growing and retaining local crew and talent. By equipping our community with skills and connections, we continue to strengthen Birmingham’s reputation as a thriving hub for film production.
In 2024 we looked at new and exciting ways to foster and keep local filmmaking talent here in our region, as well as increase coordination and cooperation across Jefferson County, and look at areas for improvement in both local governance and film infrastructure that could benefit the filmmaking community as a whole. With that in mind, we engaged municipal leaders from across the county to participate in the Jefferson County Film Initiative, expanded our workshop development programs, looked at new opportunities for educational and vocational training, and encouraged communities to take advantage of our Reel Scout crew and location databases to help bring money and jobs into their area. All of which we plan on expanding and promoting into more robust programs in 2025.
In 2024 we looked at new and exciting ways to foster and keep local filmmaking talent here in our region, as well as increase coordination and cooperation across Jefferson County, and look at areas for improvement in both local governance and film infrastructure that could benefit the filmmaking community as a whole. With that in mind, we engaged municipal leaders from across the county to participate in the Jefferson County Film Initiative, expanded our workshop development programs, looked at new opportunities for educational and vocational training, and encouraged communities to take advantage of our Reel Scout crew and location databases to help bring money and jobs into their area. All of which we plan on expanding and promoting into more robust programs in 2025.
In 2024 we looked at new and exciting ways to foster and keep local filmmaking talent here in our region, as well as increase coordination and cooperation across Jefferson County, and look at areas for improvement in both local governance and film infrastructure that could benefit the filmmaking community as a whole. With that in mind, we engaged municipal leaders from across the county to participate in the Jefferson County Film Initiative, expanded our workshop development programs, looked at new opportunities for educational and vocational training, and encouraged communities to take advantage of our Reel Scout crew and location databases to help bring money and jobs into their area. All of which we plan on expanding and promoting into more robust programs in 2025.
In 2024 we looked at new and exciting ways to foster and keep local filmmaking talent here in our region, as well as increase coordination and cooperation across Jefferson County, and look at areas for improvement in both local governance and film infrastructure that could benefit the filmmaking community as a whole. With that in mind, we engaged municipal leaders from across the county to participate in the Jefferson County Film Initiative, expanded our workshop development programs, looked at new opportunities for educational and vocational training, and encouraged communities to take advantage of our Reel Scout crew and location databases to help bring money and jobs into their area. All of which we plan on expanding and promoting into more robust programs in 2025.
In this year’s state update, we’re excited to share that Meghann Bridgeman has transitioned into her new role as Chief Officer of the Alabama Entertainment Office, under the leadership of Department of Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair. Meghann’s dedication to the film industry ensures a strong advocate for the creative community in Alabama, and we look forward to working with her on initiatives that uplift Birmingham’s creative landscape.
The Alabama Entertainment Office is also leading the charge on a new bill that will expand the film incentive pool and raise the cap on eligible projects—key steps toward strengthening our state’s film industry. It’s worth noting that this year, the film incentives fund was nearly exhausted, with only $3,015 remaining—the lowest it has ever been. This underscores the urgency of this new bill to support the continued growth of film production in Alabama.
