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Charlotte County Film Office Awarded with AFCI Scholarship

10/27/2003

Port Charlotte, Fla. (October 23, 2003) - The Charlotte County Film Office, one of the County’s newer generators of tourism revenue, was recently awarded the Dancy Jones Memorial Scholarship by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). The award sends a film commission member to Cineposium 2003, one of the most important industry events for film commissions in the country, and the premier educational event for the AFCI.

“This scholarship enables our film office to gain invaluable knowledge and techniques to become even more efficient, maximize revenues from increased in-bound film production and develop important film industry contacts, “ said Becky Bovell, Charlotte County tourism director. “We’re extremely grateful to be named the recipient of this scholarship. It gives our film office staff incredible professional exposure while minimizing the cost of attendance.”

Feature films, documentaries, television shorts, commercials and catalog photography have been a boon to tourism-based economies and Charlotte County is no exception. Since opening its office this January, the Charlotte County Film office has received 114 film leads and matched criteria to respond to 51.

Year-to-date in-county production expenditures account for $204,000. Total room nights for film crew from these productions comes to 197. “These are dedicated revenues streams generated by hotel stays, restaurant meals and the utilization of local services during production projects,” said Bovell. “We anticipate that the Film Office will continue to be one of our best tourism marketing partners.”

Cineposium 2003 was held Oct. 11 to Oct. 15 in San Diego. The Dancy Jones Memorial Scholarship awards the recipient with free registration to the event. It enables a representative from a member film commission to attend the Cineposium and Film Commission Fundamentals based on financial need and other qualifications. Only one scholarship was awarded from the pool of applicants which included the Charlotte County Film Office. The scholarship was personally presented to Sarah John, the Charlotte County Film Commissioner and event representative by Martin Cuff, AFCI board member.

The Dancy Jones Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Dancy Jones, Tennessee’s former film commissioner, an AFCI member, director, officer and advisor, in recognition of her encouragement and assistance to film commissions and film commissioners worldwide.

The Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands region is located halfway between Sarasota and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast. Southwest Florida International Airport, 30 minutes to the south in Fort Myers, provides convenient flight service. For more information on how location scouts as well as visitors can enjoy Florida’s best-kept secrets throughout Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, go to the Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau web site at www.pureflorida.com or call 1-888-4PUR-FLA.

To download a JPEG of the photograph featuring Sarah John receiving the Dancy Jones Memorial Scholarship, please go to www.ksrteam.com/downloads/charlotte . Photo caption: Sarah John, Charlotte County Film Commissioner, receives the Dancy Jones Memorial Scholarship from Martin Cuff, AFCI Board Member.

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