Birmingham creative figure tapped to lead Alabama Film Office

Create Birmingham CEO Meghann Bridgeman will be the next director of the Alabama Film Office.

Bridgeman will assume the post in January. In so doing, she will shepherd a growing sector of the state’s economy that contributed nearly $60 million in investments last year.

Bridgeman could also oversee the office’s focus expand to music productions and video games, while maintaining a focus on workforce development and training in motion pictures.

Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said Bridgeman’s “background in creative industries and her passion for economic development make her the perfect fit to lead the Alabama Film Office.

“We are excited about her innovative approach and her commitment to leveraging Alabama’s unique assets to attract more entertainment projects, which will ultimately benefit our local businesses and communities,” McNair said.

During her time in Birmingham, Bridgeman worked with Create Birmingham’s Film Birmingham Initiative, which acts as liason between film productions and city agencies.

“In partnership with entertainment industry stakeholders across our state, I look forward to joining the Alabama Department of Commerce as the director of the Alabama Film Office,” Bridgeman said in a statement. “The entertainment industry has the power to spark transformational economic growth, and Alabamians should be the beneficiaries of that growth.”

The Film Office’s longtime director, Kathy Faulk, will remain in charge of the office in the interim.

“Kathy’s contributions to the Film Office have been significant over many years, and she has been an untiring champion for expanding Alabama’s presence within the entertainment industry,” McNair said. “Thanks to her, the Film Office is positioned for exciting new developments in the future.”

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