SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris has been elected head of the International Federation of Actors, making her the first American to hold the title. The FIA is a 70-year-old organization that represents 81 actors’ unions, guilds, and trade organizations in over 60 countries.
“It is my profound honor to be elected president of the International Federation of Actors,” said Carteris in a statement. “For nearly 70 years, FIA has been a leader and fighter for actors around the world. FIA has worked tirelessly to make stages, sets and studios more diverse and equitable, in addition to creating a culture of respect and accountability in the entertainment, media and performing arts industry that transcends international boundaries. I am grateful to Ferne Downey for her leadership as president over the past nine years, and look forward to working with my colleagues across FIA in the years ahead.”
Inside the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Best Resources for Actors Carteris has led SAG-AFTRA as president since 2016. She was the executive vice president from 2013 to 2016. As head of the FIA, Carteris will advocate for improving working conditions and collective bargaining rights for actors worldwide, and for greater equity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
“Gabrielle has spent her entire career in the entertainment industry, whether as an actor herself or standing up for workers in her role as SAG-AFTRA President, and I’m confident she will be a fantastic president of the International Federation of Actors,” said FIA Secretary General Dominick Luquer in a statement. “We must continue our critical work to expand the protections of collective bargaining, and make the entertainment industry more inclusive, supportive, and safe for workers all over the world. It’s clear that Gabrielle has a deep-rooted commitment to protecting each and every worker in our industry, and I’m so proud and grateful to welcome her as International Federation of Actors President.”
The election of Carteris to the head of FIA concluded FIA’s 22nd World Congress. The FIA also announced the members of its new executive committee, who will all be serving as vice presidents under Carteris. The new members, representing six countries, are: Denys Fouqueray (French Union of Performers), Simon Norrthon (Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Fi), Marie Kelly (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), Alicia Dogliotti (Sociedad Uruguaya de Actores), Paul Flemming (Equity, UK), and Vladimir Kamen (Consultative Council of Cultural Workers’ Union, Russia).