After nearly a decade at the National Endowment for the Arts, where I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand both the resilience and vulnerability of our independent film ecosystem, I’m honored to join (as just announced by Variety) the Future Film Coalition as its Interim Executive Director at this pivotal moment.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. As I write this, 92% of the 122,000 businesses in our film and television industry employ fewer than 10 people. These small enterprises, along with the filmmakers, festivals, exhibitors, and cultural workers who power them, face unprecedented challenges from media consolidation, algorithmic gatekeeping, and shrinking distribution pathways. Yet I’ve also never seen our community more ready to unite and act.
Why the Future Film Coalition Exists
For too long, we’ve navigated these challenges alone. Filmmakers, festivals, exhibitors, distributors, sales agents, cultural workers—each finding their own path through an increasingly complex landscape. But here’s the truth: isolation makes us vulnerable, and fragmentation keeps us small. The current climate for business and culture demands something bolder.
Our mission is to unite independent film professionals and organizations to build collective power and shape strategies that ensure U.S. independent filmmaking not only survives but flourishes alongside the broader entertainment industry. This isn’t about defending the status quo…it’s about reimagining what’s possible when we work as one.
Our Roadmap: From Vision to Action
Laying the Foundation (2025)
Building Our Branches: We’re in the process of activating six national membership branches: Filmmakers; Exhibitors; Distribution & Sales Agents; Media, Communications, & Engagement; Artist Support Organizations; and Members At-Large. Each branch has a dedicated team of Branch Organizers working to set the stage for our work ahead in 2026. We’re thrilled to have these individuals committed to steering this work alongside the founding members of FFC (read more on our Leadership page). These amazing Branch Organizers are preparing for onboarding members, and we look forward to sharing more publicly.
Planning with Purpose: We are in the process of conducting a stakeholder analysis to develop a multi-year strategic plan that will prioritize coalition-building and collective action that reflects the real needs of our field. This isn’t a top-down strategic plan. It’s being built from the ground up, sourced directly from independent filmmakers and allies in other sectors facing the same challenges. And, I am excited to share… we’re finding incredible opportunities for collaboration and organizing along the way!
Research That Drives Change: We’re launching our research agenda, starting with an Economic Impact Study that will quantify independent film’s contribution to local economies, jobs, and cultural vitality. When policymakers ask why independent film matters, we’ll have the data to answer.
Scaling Our Impact (Spring 2026)
Public Coalition Launch: FFC branches will open for interested members of our community to join. This will be your opportunity to join a national movement representing every corner of the independent film ecosystem. Sign up here to be the first to know when we go public!
Actionable Research: Our initial research findings will provide policymakers with timely information and analysis on key industry developments, from understanding the competitive implications of merger proposals to identifying policies that effectively support small businesses and entrepreneurship.
Collaborative Strategy Development: We’ll build on stakeholder input to facilitate informed dialogue on priority issues like media consolidation, streaming regulation, state tax incentives, and public media infrastructure—creating opportunities for ongoing engagement that helps ensure a balanced marketplace where small businesses and independent companies can compete and thrive alongside larger players.
What Makes This Moment Different
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of culture, policy, and creative practice. What I’ve learned is that sustainable change requires three things: compelling data, unified voices, and strategic timing. Right now, we have all three.
This movement goes beyond defending independent film. We’re reimagining its future. A future where independently produced stories are heard, where small businesses (for-profit and non-profit) and artists can thrive, and where audiences everywhere have access to stories that reflect and challenge their communities.
The challenges are real, but so is our collective power. Together, we can ensure that the next chapter of American independent film is written not by market forces alone, but by all of us who believe in the transformative power of storytelling.
As FFC moves from concept to action, we’ll continue to keep you updated here on Substack.
Want to be first in line when opportunities to get involved open up? Join the FFC mailing list here.
Lastly, Future Film Coalition is made possible with support from our lead funder, Perspective Fund, and we are grateful to them and the generous individuals whose founding donations are making this work possible (THANK YOU!). If you’re interested in supporting our mission to strengthen the independent film ecosystem, please reach out to us at info@futurefilmcoalition.org.
In solidarity,
Jax Deluca
Interim Executive Director
Future Film Coalition
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