As Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Sharon Pinkenson has successfully elevated the GPFO from a little-known permit office to one of the most well-respected film commissions in the industry. This one-time wardrobe stylist had an ambitious dream to see her beloved hometown become the movie metropolis she always knew it could be. For nearly three decades as the leader in the Philadelphia film industry’s constant growth, GPFO has helped to create nearly $6 billion in economic impact for the southeastern Pennsylvania region. GPFO attracted over 400 productions in fiscal year 2019, creating hundreds of jobs for Philadelphians. Sharon’s decades of service to the local film industry has cemented Philadelphia’s reputation as one of the country’s best media production centers. Her work was also instrumental in the passage of the Pennsylvania Film Production Tax Credit program, which continues to be one of the most sustainable incentive programs in the industry.

A lifelong Philadelphian, Ms. Pinkenson graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls and Temple University. Her business career began with the successful launching of Plage Tahiti, a trend-setting boutique in Center City. She designed and manufactured a women’s apparel collection under the Plage Tahiti label for several years. Her clothes were sold nationally in stores like Bloomingdale’s and Strawbridge & Clothier, and she was the recipient of several design awards. Prior to her appointment, Pinkenson worked as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist in the film industry. Among her feature credits are Mannequin II: On the Move, Renegades, Christmas on Division Street, and Confessions of a Suburban Girl. She is the first Film Office director to come to the post directly from film production. Her complete filmography as Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office can be found on IMDB. A resident of Center City Philadelphia since 1964, Sharon has three daughters, three granddaughters, and is passionately in love with life.

List of Awards and Achievements:

• Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa from Drexel University (2006)
• Dunkin’ Donuts and the Philadelphia Eagles, 75 Greatest Living Philadelphians
• Philadelphia Magazine, 50 most Powerful Philadelphians
• American Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year
• Philly Ad Club’s Pinnacle Award
• PenJerDel Woman of Vision Award.
• Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction
• Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100
• And many more…

 Sharon has served on…

• PNC Bank Regional Presidents’ Advisory Board
• Kimmel Center for Performing Arts Board of Directors
• Mayor Michael Nutter’s Cultural Advisory Council
• Senator Vincent Hughes’ Economic Advisory Group
• Temple University’s President’s Advisory Board
• Board of Visitors at Temple University School of Communications and Theater
• Board of Visitors at Temple University’s Center for the Arts
• Advisory Board of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute
• Advisory Board of the Big Picture Alliance
• Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Film Society

Joan Bressler joined the Film Office staff in 1992. Over the years, her responsibilities have included tracking economic impact, organizing & executing the very successful job hotline, managing the Fiscal Sponsorship program, working in tandem with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, World Meeting of Families, the DNC, Parkway Centennial, Vision 2020 & other large entities to create film programming within their events and developing/facilitating events and programs sponsored by the Film Office & representing GPFO on career panels & other public venues.
When Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers was officially launched in 2001, Joan was a natural choice to helm this program. Under her direction, Filmmakers has pursued innovative partnerships with various companies/individuals in the region and implemented programs such as The Tripod Initiative, where student filmmakers are paired with professionals to produce videos for the community; Presentation of the “SIP” (“Set in Philadelphia”) Screenwriting Competition; Management of the Derek Freese Documentary Fund; Collaboration with the Kimmel Center of the Performing Arts to manage Film@The Kimmel and Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers Presents….on-going workshops and seminars in Business Training, Legal Perspectives, Script to Screen, Packaging and Financing, Wardrobe Styling, Location Scouting, Permits & Permissions and more. She also serves as a Film Office liaison, visiting schools and community groups, helping students navigate the Greater Philadelphia film industry and talking with the public about the process of making movies.
Joan’s objective in this role is to find out what regional filmmakers need and work to provide it. She has served on the Advisory Committee for Entertainment & Arts Management (EAM) at the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University, the Advisory Committee for the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, and the Film/TV Production Occupational Advisory Committee for the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). She has also served as an advisor for Philadelphia Women in Film and Television (PWIFT) and the Philadelphia Free Library’s ‘One Film, One Philadelphia.’
Prior to working at the Film Office, as a free-lancer, she worked with various companies, shooting stills, scouting locations, coordinating events and editing. Joan won a Cine Golden Eagle as the editor on The Art of Learning, She also worked on the Web-Marc Pictures feature film, I Don’t Buy Kisses Anymore, where she first became acquainted with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office. She began her film career at Lopatin Productions, Inc. where she met and married the boss’s son. Joan is married to film producer Michael Lopatin and has three children and five grandchildren.

Nicole Shiner grew up in Harrisburg, PA where she fell in love with all things film via her love for acting. After earning degrees in both English & Communication Arts from Ursinus College she took a slight detour into the political world for 6 years working for both the PA & the US House of Representatives. Nicole started with the Film Office in 2004 as the assistant to the Executive Director and transitioned into the position of Director of Operations & Government Affairs in 2007. She wears many hats every day at GPFO, handling the general operations of the office and working closely with Sharon to promote PA’s Film Production Tax Credit program to the industry worldwide. Nicole represented GPFO at both the American Black Film Festival in 2008 and at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 where she promoted PA’s best job creator and economic development driver: the Film Tax Credits! In her free time, Nicole can usually be found at a concert or music festival.