With new facilities and new content, Georgia film industry continues to grow

This year was another record-breaking one for Georgia’s film industry, according to Lee Thomas, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “While the direct-spend numbers went down a bit in fiscal year 2020 due to the pandemic — from $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2019 to $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2020 — fiscal year 2021 came roaring back at $4 billion.” What’s next as Georgia continues to stake a claim on the entertainment economy? This question was to be answered during the panel, “Where Do We Grow from Here?” as part of the Chronicle’s Business of Entertainment event Dec. 9, which Thomas was scheduled to moderate.