ARIZONA FILM INSIDER - OCTOBER 2025

INSIDE THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE

Elections Musical Chairs

As we move deeper into the fall, the shadow of the 2026 elections is beginning to take shape, bringing with it a wave of announcements and political maneuvering across Arizona.

The first major domino fell when Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-CD1) officially launched his campaign for Governor of Arizona. He joins an increasingly competitive Republican primary alongside Congressman Andy Biggs and housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson, both of whom currently share a dual endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

Schweikert’s entry into the race is already creating a domino effect across the political landscape. His Congressional District 1 seat, which has consistently been one of Arizona’s most competitive, will now draw significant attention from both parties. His decision is also expected to trigger a cascade of shifts across legislative and statewide races as candidates reevaluate their plans and opportunities.

Following Schweikert’s announcement, Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda entered the CD1 race, launching her campaign with an endorsement from President Trump.

Congressional District 1, which encompasses Scottsdale and northeast Phoenix, remains one of Arizona’s most hotly contested seats. On the Democratic side, several candidates have already filed to run, including Marlene Galán-Woods and Amish Shah, both of whom ran in 2024, as well as Mark Robert Gordon, Rick McCartney, and Jonathan Treble.

The landscape is quickly evolving, and with the full Legislature up for re-election in 2026, this will likely not be the last shake-up we see.

The Arizona Film Coalition will continue tracking these developments closely and will provide updates as new announcements emerge.

The “Hopper” Awaits

The next Arizona legislative session will begin Monday, January 12, 2026, but the groundwork starts well before lawmakers return to the Capitol.

One of the most important early milestones arrives in November 2025, when the pre-filing period opens. During this time, House and Senate members can begin submitting draft bills into what’s colloquially known as “the hopper.” Bills remain there until they are formally introduced once session begins.

The Arizona legislative process is highly deadline-driven, and pre-filing gives members a head start in organizing their priorities. For House members, it’s particularly valuable: shortly after session begins, each of the sixty representatives is limited to seven bills. By pre-filing, lawmakers can effectively work around that limit and ensure their proposals are ready to move early in the session.

With every legislator looking to make an impact ahead of the 2026 elections, we can expect a flood of new proposals in the coming months. The Arizona Film Coalition will be monitoring all introduced bills for any potential impacts, positive or negative, on Arizona’s growing film industry.

INSIDE FILM TUCSON

European fashion shoots have long held a deep fascination with all things southwestern, so when Moncler Grenoble contacted Sara Furey of Colorado Location Scouts with a request for mountainous desert landscapes with saguaros, she instantly knew to call our offices for everything her client needed, and more.

The breathtaking vista of Tucson Mountain Park played the lead role, while the supporting cast was our local can-do crew base. Film Tucson assisted with everything else.

INSIDE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE

One of the most common questions I hear when talking with local industry professionals at events around town is, “What feature films are shooting in Phoenix?”

The truth is, we don’t see many.

So far in 2025, the Phoenix Film Office has issued just two permits for projects identifying as feature films, out of a total of 90 permits issued. That’s just over 2 percent.

By comparison, commercials continue to lead the way with 31 permits, making up 33.7 percent of all activity. Other frequent project types include:

• Social Media (12)

• Documentaries (12)

• Corporate/Industrial (11)

• Still Photography (10)

Phoenix has long been a market driven by commercial production and they remain a cornerstone of our industry.  These projects move quickly, hire local crew, support small businesses, spend with local vendors, book hotel rooms, rent vehicles, and contribute significantly to the local economy.

At the same time, it is important that we continue to market Arizona to all segments of the industry including (but not limited to) feature films, television, documentaries, and emerging formats. To support that effort, the Phoenix Film Office, along with our partners in Tucson, Sedona, and at the state level, will be attending the American Film Market in Los Angeles this November. Our goal is to showcase Arizona’s diverse locations, experienced crew base, and film-friendly environment to a broad range of content creators.

INSIDE INDUSTRY BITS

“After moving from Arizona to Matthew Perry’s last house, real-estate scion Anita Verma-Lallian has a dream: Cashing in on data-center mania to fund her own mega-studio” from The Hollywood Reporter

“An Alternative To Film Tariffs” from Forbes