January 13, 2022—As we get closer to the dates of the upcoming GSCA Film Expo in Los Angeles on March 8-9 and Salt Lake City March 10, we have received many inquiries about whether we are going ahead with the in-person event.

We have been following developments related to the Omicron variant very closely. We also have talked to industry stakeholders representing all segments of GSCA’s membership, and we sent a poll to all our theater members last week asking if they plan to attend. After gathering all this information, the GSCA Executive Committee had a thorough discussion on Tuesday, January 11, and has voted unanimously to proceed with in-person events in both Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.  

We fully understand that some of you may not have the budget, cannot be away from the office, are under travel restrictions, or simply are not comfortable traveling just yet. However, there is a significant portion of the GSCA membership that is enthusiastic about attending and seeing content on the giant screen, and we believe that the in-person event serves and supports the general needs of the Association’s members.

People are registering for the Film Expo, and we hope you will too.

If COVID or Film Expo-related circumstances change after you register, you can be confident knowing we will work with you. If travel restrictions or illness prevent you from coming, we will apply your registration fee to a future GSCA event.

Our members and attendees are our top priority, and we are taking the following measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone who attends:

• All attendees, without exception, will be required to fully comply with guidelines and mandates issued by the city of Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. This includes proof of vaccination for entry to movie theaters—including the AMC Universal City IMAX. The full list of Los Angeles vaccination guidelines is available here and for Salt Lake City is available here. 

• All attendees will be required to wear masks during GSCA events. 

• Committee meetings and the board of directors meeting will be held virtually rather than in person.

• All receptions will be held at outdoor venues when possible. 

• There will be a way to visually indicate your comfort level for interaction with other attendees. Whether you are fine with a hug and handshake or want people to keep a bit of distance, you will have an easy way to let other attendees know.

We know that some of you simply cannot attend in person. The GSCA Event Planning Committee will be discussing how we can best accommodate those who want to participate but are unable to join us in person. We will share details as soon as they are confirmed.

If you are thinking about registering, now is the time to do it. The deadline to register at the early rate is February 11, and you can register here.

And as a reminder to filmmakers and distributors, the deadline to submit your film projects is January 28. Here’s a link to submit your projects.  

We cannot perfectly predict the future, and there is a possibility that COVID may disrupt our planning once again. However, we are in a good position with the event venues to pivot if necessary. We are excited to meet in person and hope you are too. If you can be there, we can’t wait to see you.

More information about the Film Expo is available here