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HOLLYWOOD, CA - October 2, 2026 -- Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) today announced the finalists for the 31st annual California On Location Awards (COLAs), which recognize the location managers, location teams, and public employees who help make filming possible across California. Winners will be announced on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Studio feature finalists include the location managers and teams behind "Behemoth!," "Jumanji: Open World," "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," "The Fifth Wheel," "The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth," and "Tyrant." Television finalists include "9-1-1," "Abbott Elementary," "Bad Monkey," "Ballard," "Baywatch," "Bosch," "Euphoria," "Fallout," "Hacks," "Lucky," "Margo's Got Money Troubles," "Shrinking," "The Comeback," "The Hawk," "The Land," "The Morning Show," and "The Paper."

Thirty of this year's 50 finalist productions were filmed entirely in California, up from 25 last year, and 20 participated in the state's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, which was expanded in 2025. In all, the 189 finalists include location professionals from film, television, commercial, and digital productions, along with public employees. According to figures submitted with the nominations, the productions account for more than 1,300 shoot days at more than 750 locations in 21 counties, from Siskiyou County near the Oregon border to Imperial County near the Mexican border, and from the Pacific coast to the Eastern Sierra.

"This year's finalists show the skill and creativity of location professionals working in every corner of California," said FLICS President and Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine. "For the film offices that support these productions every day, seeing more finalist projects filmed entirely in California is a sign that incentives are bringing work back to communities across the state. We also know many in our industry are still waiting for that work to return, and our members are committed to helping make that happen."

This year's program adds a New Media category, which recognizes location work on content made for digital platforms, including social media, online and user-generated video, video podcasts, websites, and apps. The first New Media finalists are all brand-produced: a Red Bull parachute and sky surfing stunt on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, a Mercedes-Benz production filmed on the Sixth Street Viaduct in Los Angeles, and Adobe's scripted comedy series "The Marketers," which premiered on YouTube.

Presented by FLICS, the COLAs have grown to become the largest awards program and industry event focused on recognizing the work of California location professionals. Finalists are selected by FLICS members and a steering committee of Teamsters Local 399 members, and winners are chosen by a panel of industry experts.

Award categories include studio and independent feature films, one-hour and half-hour television series, limited series, reality television, commercials, music videos, stills, and new media, along with Public Employee of the Year awards at the city, county, and state levels.

Presenting Sponsors for the 2026 California On Location Awards are Film Lancaster, FOX Studio Lot, BH Properties | Oakland Hills Campus, and Teamsters Local 399. Gold Level Sponsors include the California Film Commission, FilmLA, Film Santa Clarita, Film Shasta, and Riverside County Film Commission. For a current list of all 2026 sponsors, visit https://colaawards.com/2026-sponsors/.

The complete list of 2026 finalists follows and is also available at https://colaawards.com/2026-finalists/. Video of the ceremony will be posted on the California On Location Awards YouTube channel following the event. For more information, visit https://colaawards.com/.

About Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS)

Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional association founded in 1988 to promote filming across the Golden State. More than 40 member film commissions and film offices work with the California Film Commission to attract, retain, and facilitate production via locations, permits, resources, and local knowledge, all at no charge. More information about FLICS is available at https://www.filmcalifornia.com/.

2026 Finalists

Location Manager of the Year, Studio Feature
• The Fifth Wheel: Craig Van Gundy
• Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu: John Cefalu
• Tyrant: Robert Foulkes
• The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth: Mandi Dillin

Location Team of the Year, Studio Feature
• Behemoth: Dan Cooley SLM, Caleb Duffy Prep LM, Leslie Glennon Shoot Coordinator KALM, Naomi Motohashi Prep Coordinator KALM, Ben McCrea KALM, Ahmet Elez KALM, Anthony Rizza KALM, Peter Gluck KALM, Clay Valenti KALM, John Jamison KALM, Nancy Wong KALM, Rebecca Demeter ALM
• Jumanji: Open World: Chris Baugh SLM, Jeanie Farnam KALM, Ted Kim KALM, Santino Salamon KALM, Tristan Daoussis KALM, Golden Swenson KALM, Eric Crocombe KALM, Kim Jordan ALM, Matt DeLoach Location Scout
• The Fifth Wheel: Craig Van Gundy LM, Stevie Nelson KALM, Nate Stein KALM, Lindsay Delaporta KALM, Maria de La Rosa KALM/Coordinator, Rick Poyner KALM, Daniel Branson ALM, Emre Sonmez/KALM Scout
• Tyrant: Robert Foulkes LM, Nick Carr KALM/Scout, Alyssa DiMare KALM Coordinator, Kevin Danchisko KALM, Maria E. De La Rosa KALM, Alyjoe D. Valdez KALM, Daniel Branson ALM, Adriana Ruacho ALM, Adam Martinez ALM
•The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth: Mandi Dillin LM, David Park LM, Shasta Kinney KALM, Taylor Erickson KALM, Celia Fogel KALM, Rabeyah Khan KALM, Kristopher Kreeger KALM, Sheila Ryan KALM, Megan Adams KALM, Keomanee Vilaythong KALM, Rich Streeter KALM, George Alavarezzo KALM, Mario Hernandez ALM, Gilbert Perez ALM, Joaquin Aragon ALM, Rebecca Demeter ALM

Location Manager of the Year, Independent Feature
• Diamond: Fermín Davalos
• Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass: Daniel Milner
• Gold Mountain: Douglas Dresser
• They Know: Robert Paulsen

Location Team of the Year, Independent Feature
• Code 3: Andrew Baldridge LM, Jeffrey Shepherd Location Scout, Greg Campeau Location Scout, John Fernandez KALM, John Picconi KALM
• Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass: Daniel Milner LM, Remy Elles KALM, Tawny Fernandez KALM, John Fernandez ALM
• Gold Mountain: Douglas Dresser SLM, Scout Winn KALM, Nancy Wong KALM, William O'Brien KALM, Caitlin McCarty KALM/Coordinator
• Nightwatching: Tawny Fernandez LM, Carlos Aragon LM, Aurora Quiñones KALM - Coordinator, Scout Winn KALM, Alex Banderas ALM
• They Know: Robert Paulsen LM, Kimberly Lynn KALM, Leslie Stout Glennon KALM, Will Ruvalcaba KALM, Shannon Cloud KALM, John Paul Lorello ALM

Location Manager of the Year, Episodic TV - 1 Hour
• Ballard - Season 2: Steve Woroniecki
• Baywatch: Alexander Georges
• Euphoria - Season 3: Michael Glaser
• Fallout - Season 2: Mandi Dillin
• The Morning Show - Season 5: Jason Kaplon

Location Team of the Year, Episodic Television - 1 Hour
• 9-1-1 - Season 9: Manny Padilla LM, Anthony Carrillo KALM, Michael Wesley LM, Nav Tombros KALM, Travis Logan KALM, Anthony Ware KALM, Alexandre Chen KALM, Lyal Holmberg KALM, Bayard Outerbridge KALM, Lara Massengill KALM, Tom Brown III ALM, Michael Yoon ALM, Daniel Padilla KALM, Jimmy Hang KALM
• Baywatch: Alexander Georges LM, Jonathan Jansen LM, Amanda Harrington Location Coordinator, Jennifer Smith KALM, Mike Masumoto KALM, Amir Firozkar ALM, Niko Luna ALM, Willis Turner ALM
• Euphoria - Season 3: Michael Glaser SLM, Miguel Tapia LM, Alyssa DiMare KALM/Coordinator, Rachel Trombetta KALM/Coordinator, Nick Carr Location Scout, Golden Swenson KALM, Eric Crocombe KALM, Colleen Coviello KALM, Kevin Danchisko KALM, Tristan Daoussis KALM, Miles Birnbaum KALM, Leon Gonzalez ALM, Shanell McDonald ALM, Constance Nava ALM
• Fallout - Season 2: Mandi Dillin LM, David Park LM, Keomanee Vilaythong KALM/Location Coordinator, Celia Fogel KALM/Location Coordinator, Joaquin Aragon ALM, Ron Haynes KALM, George Alvarezzo KALM, Kristopher Kreeger KALM, Megan Adams KALM, Rich Streeter KALM, Shasta Kinney KALM, Sheila Ryan KALM, Taylor Erickson KALM, Tiffany Le KALM, Tommy Woodard KALM, Gilbert Perez ALM, Jozy De La Cruz ALM
• Lucky: Dan Cooley SLM, Miles Beal-Ampah KALM, Bryan Diaz LM, Jonathan Diaz ALM, Damien P. Evans KALM, Rebecca Demeter ALM, Ahmet Elez KALM, Ben McCrea KALM, Anthony Rizza KALM, Leslie Stout Glennon Location Coordinator, Lexington Graham ALM

Location Manager of the Year, Episodic TV - ½ Hour
• Margo's Got Money Troubles - Season 1: S. Dylan Kirkland
• The Comeback - Season 3: Gregory H. Alpert
• The Paper - Season 2: Kyle Alexander

Location Team of the Year, Episodic TV - ½ Hour
• Abbot Elementary - Season 5: David Lyons LM, Russell Hadaya KALM, Jon Cline KALM
• Hacks - Season 5: Kyle Sucher LM, Danny Finn LM, Nick Bell KALM, Nicholas Brandt KALM, Will Ruvalcaba KALM, Scott Kradolfer KALM, Miles Beal-Ampah KALM, Morgan Patterson KALM, Megan O'Neil KALM, Bradley Moore ALM
• Shrinking - Season 4: David Flannery LM, Kendra Liedle KALM, Elizabeth Reynolds KALM, Kenneth Daroca KALM, Aaron Cota KALM, Christina Conway KALM, Jacob Rolland ALM
• The Comeback - Season 3: Gregory H. Alpert LM, Andre Balderamos KALM, Hektor Larios KALM, Shawn Hueston KALM, Shelly Armstrong Loc. Dept. Coord.
• The Hawk: Derek Alvarado LM, Ian Bogert KALM, Kyle Hollinger KALM, Brian Love KALM, Allison Cox KALM, Patrick Pardo ALM, Amir Firozkar ALM, Tammy "Tamara" Thomas ALM

Location Manager of the Year, Commercials
• Drive Without Limits: Erika Belis
• For the Love of Californians: JJ Levine
• Shasta ~ The Call of Telos: Stan Bautista
• OIKOS (Super Bowl Commercial): Patrick Ranahan
• Subaru "Wilderness": Jof Hanwright

Location Team of the Year, Commercials
• For the Love of Californians: JJ Levine LM, Carrie Krum Location Scout, Carrie LA Location Scout, Ivan Siebel Location Manager, Joe Ampelo Location Scout
• Toyota Trucks: They Don't Read Reviews: Alexandra Gibson SLM and Location Scout, Christina Conway LM and Location Scout
• The More You Share: Ryan Wylie LM, Christian Powell LM

Location Manager of the Year, Mini Series/Limited Series
• Five Star Weekend: Steve Woroniecki
• Fly Away: Levi Vincent
• People of the West: Laura Dominguez

Location Manager of the Year, Music Video
• Madwoman by Laufey: Casey Sullivan
• Packed Up by AZ Chike: Oscar Arias
• Risk It All by Bruno Mars: Jason Wisch

Location Manager of the Year, New Media
• Red Bull Bridge Rider: Matthew Riutta
• Mercedes-Benz: The Autobahn - AMG GT 4 Door Coupe: Ana Vasic
• Adobe - The Marketers: Alexandra Gibson SLM and Location Scout

Location Manager of the Year, Reality TV
• Adventure Garage: Nena Barlow
• It Followed me Home: Sean Nichols
• Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat: Tara Jean O'Brien
• Love Island: Beyond the Villa - Season 2, Episodes 7 & 8: Marcy Guevara - Prete, Tom Friedman
• Real Housewives of Orange County: Lee Bautista

Location Manager of the Year, Stills
• LL Bean Spring Catalogue: Lorin Miller
• SanMar MiiR: Matt Reoch, Rick Chapman
• Strauss 4010: Kimberly Estrada

Public Employee of the Year, City
• Los Angeles Dept of Transportation: Karina Chaki, Transportation Engineering Associate II
• City of San Bernardino: Mike Rosales, Senior Planner
• Los Angeles DWP: Chelsea Cruz, Film Liaison
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency: Jonathan Kibrick, Senior Transportation Planner and Film Coordinator
• City of Los Angeles BSL: James Masud

Public Employee of the Year, County
• San Bernardino County Fire Department: Zared Ibarra, Fire Prevention Specialist / Special Events Coordinator
• Los Angeles County Lifeguards: Dan Murphy, Section Chief, Lifeguard Service
• El Dorado County Fire Department: Jacob Poganski, Deputy Chief - Fire Marshal
• Treasure Island Development Authority: Jack Nathanson
• Riverside County: Ryan Mark, Administrative Services Assistant

Public Employee of the Year, State
• California Park: State Park Superintendent: Lauren Shoemaker
• Cal Fire: Captain Benjamin Philips
• California Parks: Megan Gierhart: Associate Park and Recreation Specialist
• Department of Transportation: Victor Ortega: Transportation Engineer