A Pivotal Month for FFC and What’s Next
Catch up on #BlockTheMerger, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production,” and the latest news from FFC.
March was a pivotal month for the Future Film Coalition: we testified in a Senate hearing, used testimonials from our 2026 #BlockTheMerger campaign to publicly respond to the Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Skydance merger (WBD-PSKY), and became a non-profit. Thank you so much to all those working alongside us, whether sharing testimonials, donating to our grassroots effort, or much more. Here are some exciting updates and what’s next:
#BlockTheMerger
We officially launched the #BlockTheMerger campaign at Sundance this year. What began as a rapid-response effort has quickly evolved into a national movement backed by 350+ allies and 40+ organizations, including the International Documentary Association, Free Press, Common Cause, and Open Markets Institute.
In addition to FFC testifying in a Senate spotlight hearing, Jane Fonda championed the campaign on Oscars night, and Mark Ruffalo has been a vocal supporter—urging film workers and others impacted to go to BlockTheMerger.com, where you can share your testimony (confidentially if needed) about the harms of media consolidation, which could help the State Attorneys General build a potential case to block the WBD-PSKY merger.
Call to action: film workers and others impacted, please share your story at BlockTheMerger.com, and organize your communities to gather testimonies. This is a key way you can help to #BlockTheMerger
Senate Hearing: FFC Testifies
At FFC’s first-ever Senate Spotlight hearing, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production,” Executive Director Jax Deluca served as an expert witness alongside IATSE president Matt Loeb, Actor Noah Wyle (The Pitt, ER), and former CNN anchor Jim Acosta. We testified to Members of Congress, including Senator Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman.
Watch: FFC’s spoken testimony
Our testimony focused on how the proposed merger would have harmful ripple effects across the film and media supply chain, from freelancers, small businesses, and independent organizations to companies embedded in communities nationwide. Along with expressing the need to block the merger, we also spoke in support of a national film board and federal production incentives.
Read: FFC’s written testimony.
Press: FFC on NPR and More
We’re proud to see this work again greater visibility via coverage in mainstream national publications like NPR’s All Things Considered, Bloomberg, IndieWire, TheWrap, Variety, and The Ankler.
Listen: to our Executive Director Jax Deluca on NPR | Entertainment and California regulators push back against Warner-Paramount merger
LA Production Incentives and Federal Tax Incentives
We were happy to see LA City Council approved measures last month aimed at easing production processes in Los Angeles. This is part of an ongoing multi-phase policy initiative, so we look forward to continuing to advocate for the independent film ecosystem as it proceeds.
At the Senate hearing, alongside Noah Wyle and others, we advocated for Federal Tax Incentives, an important policy initiative needed to support independent film workers and connected economies nationwide.
South By Southwest: Storytelling for Public Power
Future Film Coalition went to South by Southwest. Our Executive Director Jax Deluca headlined a panel “Culture Under Fire: Storytelling for Public Power,” alongside California Common Cause, American Library Association (ALA), and Americans for the Arts (AFTA). We discussed concrete strategies for defending public cultural infrastructure, as libraries, theaters, and arts institutions face growing threats from budget cuts, censorship, and consolidation, yet remain vital to civic life. From local to national coalition-building, we talked about how artists and communities can protect access, uphold free expression, and strengthen an equitable media ecosystem.
And the Lumen Award goes to…
We were honored that FFC was recognized at the Lumen Awards by The Impact Lounge alongside a brilliant cohort, during Oscars week in Los Angeles. This is a strong sign of a growing industry interest and long-overdue recognition that the independent film ecosystem deserves visibility and policy attention.
We’re officially an independent nonprofit!
We’re excited to share that Future Film Coalition is now officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This is an important milestone to expand this work, deepen our partnerships, and build long-term infrastructure for the field.
Coming up in April:
Panel with National Writers Union | Big Media and the Rise of Authoritarianism: How We Fight Back | Monday, April 27 on Zoom (7pm ET / 4pm PT) | Media monopolies pose a potent threat to media workers and U.S. democracy. Join us for a panel discussion on the dangers of media consolidation, how we got here, and what we can do about it. Register: bit.ly/FightBigMedia
Collaborate + Amplify | If you have ideas or opportunities to build this movement: for public platforms and events, press or op-eds, TV and media appearances, social media collabs or videos please reach out at info@futurefilmcoaltion.org. Especially public figures, creators and organizations with a large following can be powerful amplifiers, and at the same time, grassroots platforms and communities are equally important collaborators and voices. We welcome ideas for partnerships and initiatives from all of you and thank you for collaborating!
Organize | We can help you organize an event, newsletter, teach-in, or campaign in your community: whether unions, film festivals, independent theaters, your local area, or with other workers who depend on the independent film economy, we can help you find good ways to empower, educate, and inspire people to tell their stories and organize to #BlockTheMerger
Take action | Please share your story: at BlockTheMerger.com and organize your communities to gather their testimonies (confidentially if needed) to help block the merger.
We’ll share even more ways to stay engaged in the coming weeks, including opportunities to participate in coalition efforts and help shape our next steps. In the meantime, please reach out if you see opportunities to collaborate.