Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1538423
On August 6, the DGA PAC Leadership Council held a meeting with U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (D-CA) at the Guild's headquarters in Los Angeles. During the gathering, Leadership Council members heard her thoughts about issues important to DGA members, including the need for a federal tax incentive to support domestic film and television production; protecting against the threats posed by artificial intelligence; and the continued need for strong copyright protections. Representative Friedman is currently serving her first term in Congress representing California's 30th Congressional District. She on serves on two key committees: the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Before being elected to Congress, Representative Friedman represented the 44th district in the California State Assembly. She got her start in the private sector working as a film and television producer after receiving her B.A. from the University of Rochester, New York. Building on her years of community service, she also served on the Glendale City Council and as the Mayor of Glendale. This was Representative Friedman's first Leadership Council meeting and the 121st such meeting hosted by the DGA PAC. Photo: (L-R) UPM Jodi Ehrlich, 1st AD Kelly Cantley-Kashima, Director Hart Bochner, UPM Carol L. Vitkay, Director Jeremiah Chechick, DGA Fifth Vice President Millicent Shelton, Director Peter Weller, UPM Linda Montanti, DGA PAC Chair Jay Roach, DGA PAC Vice Chair Oz Scott, U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (D-CA), DGA Director of Government Affairs Mike Stoever, DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine, DGA Associate Board Member Kevin Koster, Associate Director William ("Bill") Herbstman DGA Associate Board Member Shawn Pipkin West, and DGA Alternate Board Member Lily Mariye. photo by Tricia Noble, DGA Staff DGA PAC Leadership Council hosts meeting with U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA) YOU AND A GUEST ARE INVITED TO THE 29 th EDITION OF Presented by THE FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURAL FUND a partnership of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the French Society for Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (SACEM), and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAw) The American French Film Festival is the largest festival in the world dedicated to both French movies and series, with over 70 programs competing for the 2025 American French Film Festival Awards in three categories: Cinema, Television, and Short Films. Line-up includes North American, International, and World Premieres. THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL All films and series are presented in English or subtitled in English. All screenings take place at the Directors Guild of America Complex from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, 2025 and are free to all DGA members and their guest. The program will be announced on September 30 th on TAFFF.ORG and guild members may RSVP starting October 2 nd on the same website. All RSVPs will be online only. Enter the code FRENCHPREMIERES. Some tickets may become available before each show on site during the festival, even for screenings that are sold out online. The American French Film Festival is produced in association with the centre national de la cinématographie CNC, Villa Albertine and the French Consulate in Los Angeles, and Unifrance.