Film Santa Monica served as presenting sponsor of the 13th Annual Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) Awards on Saturday, Aug. 22, drawing more than 400 filmmakers, location professionals, press and creatives to The Eli and Edythe BroadStage.
The office is less than a year old. Film Santa Monica launched on Sept. 1, 2025, as the city's official film-permitting and production-support office, operated by Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. The LMGI event landed just days before that one-year mark.
"As Film Santa Monica approaches its one-year anniversary, this sponsorship marks an exciting milestone spotlighting all the destination has to offer the global production community," Evan Edwards, chief operating officer at Film Santa Monica, said in a news release.
The LMGI represents location managers, scouts and other location professionals working in film, television, commercial and print production worldwide. Its annual awards ceremony honors contributions to storytelling through location work.
As presenting sponsor, Film Santa Monica received red carpet presence, program placement and on-screen recognition during the ceremony. The package also included a 60-second commercial showcasing Santa Monica filming locations, outdoor projections at the venue, and advertising across The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and TheWrap.
Film Santa Monica posted the commercial to its Instagram account on Aug. 22 with the caption "Santa Monica is ready for its close-up. Booked!"
The office provides permitting guidance, location assistance and what it calls a personalized permit concierge for productions filming in the city. Key locations it promotes include the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica State Beach, Third Street Promenade and Annenberg Community Beach House.
Edwards said the LMGI is "a valued partner of our organization, advocating for the importance of locations in effective storytelling."
Film Santa Monica's one-year anniversary falls Sept. 1. No economic-impact figures for the office's first year have been released.
