New NYC Film Commissioner Rafael Espinal Is Wooing Wary Financiers & Frustrated Filmmakers, What’s His Plan? — The Deadline Q&A

New York City’s ambitious administration led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani has a new Film Commissioner very much in the mold — youthful, aspirational and goal-oriented. Brooklyn-born and raised Rafael Espinal, 41, a Queens College graduate in English and film studies, became New York’s youngest elected official at age 26 when he joined the State Assembly in 2011. He served on the New York City Council representing Brooklyn, emerging as an advocate for workers and the creative sector and co-sponsoring the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, the first law of its kind to protect freelancers from nonpayment. He also led the repeal of NYC’s archaic No Dancing Cabaret Law and created the Office of Nightlife.

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