FILMCO Announces Our First Board Appointment

The Filmmakers Collaborative of Trinidad & Tobago (FILMCO) welcomes Gian Franco to the organisation’s board. He brings with him years of experience in digital media and distribution, as well as generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to the development of the Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean film industry. Franco joins founding members Dion Boucaud, Mariel Brown, Danielle Dieffenthaller and Lesley-Anne Macfarlane as the fifth member of the board. 

Gian Franco worked at the Microsoft Corporation before moving to Amazon.com in 2010 to launch their digital gaming distribution platform. He then assumed responsibility for Global Content Business Development in Amazon’s TV and film distribution group, after having completed US Content Acquisition for the same group. As an independent advisor and consultant, Franco has worked with media titans such as Comcast on its digital distribution, operations and training strategies; executing training and deployment for products like Xfinity on Roku, sports platforms such as NHL Center Ice, MLB Extra Innings and NBA League pass as well as their multicultural networks. In 2015 he left Amazon to launch Pavilion Entertainment with business partner Min Lee. Pavilion Entertainment is a TV and film production and distribution company based in Los Angeles that seeks to tell universal stories from a Caribbean point of view. Pavilion Entertainment has gone on to sign distribution agreements with both The Roku Channel for TV and film distribution and Sony’s The Orchard for music distribution.

“I’m very excited to join the FILMCO board,” says Franco, “I have tremendous respect and admiration for the team of hardworking creatives who continue to invest blood, sweat and tears into seeing the Trinidad and Tobago as well as the broader Caribbean TV and Film industry grow, flourish and have the cultural impact it deserves.

“In a year when it seems like the global industry is having to rethink every aspect of the business, I’m excited to bring my experience to this formidable team and contribute in any way I can to ready our region to take full advantage of the opportunities that manifest in the next few years and beyond.”

Executive director, Mariel Brown, notes, “Gian brings new energy and knowledge to our board, and we’re excited to have his guidance as we embrace the world of online distribution and engagement.”

Founded in January 2017 by four filmmakers from Trinidad and Tobago, FILMCO is a non-profit organisation dedicated to creating a sustainable ecosystem for film and television producers and directors in Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean and to being a leader in the sustained development of a diverse audio-visual industry.