Sharon Pinkenson

Sharon Pinkenson has served as the Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO), which was founded in 1985, for 27 years during the terms of four mayors and six governors. She has been responsible for all aspects of the office since 1992. Her career in film began in the wardrobe department, but Sharon had an ambitious dream to see her beloved hometown become the movie metropolis she always knew it could be. Now, after more than $5 billion of economic impact to the southeastern Pennsylvania region, she has successfully elevated GPFO from the little-known permit office it once was to one of the most well-respected film commissions in the industry. In doing so, Sharon has cemented Philadelphia’s reputation as one of the best media production centers in the country. Sharon was instrumental in the 2004 passage of the Pennsylvania Film Production Tax Credit program that continues to be one of the best and most sustainable incentive programs in the industry. While enhancing the region’s reputation internationally on both the big and small screen, she also directs local goods and services to productions; publishes the astoundingly popular website www.film.org; and advocates for the growth of Philadelphia’s indigenous film community through the Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers program that is committed to providing education and opportunities to filmmakers. In July of 2016, she launched Billy Penn Music (BPM), a music sync agency wholly owned by GPFO which represents all genres of musical artists with Pennsylvania roots for licensing their music in films, TV, games, online ads, and everywhere that music is licensed. Always innovative, Sharon is constantly creating new programs and businesses to enhance the industry she deeply loves.

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