FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Motion Picture Association Industry Champion Award, recognizing his leadership in strengthening the state's growing film and entertainment sector.

The award, announced by Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin, honors policymakers whose efforts have helped promote the creative community while fostering economic growth through film and television production. The distinction comes as Kentucky's film incentive program has fueled rapid industry expansion, with nearly 270 projects approved since 2022 totaling $794.5 million in investment and $274.5 million in tax incentives.

Stivers championed legislation designed to attract larger-scale productions to Kentucky, including his own Senate Bill 1 in 2026, which created the Kentucky Film Leadership Council to oversee the industry. This built on Sen. Phillip Wheeler's SB 1 from 2025, which established the Kentucky Film Office within the Cabinet for Economic Development as a centralized hub for coordination, marketing and workforce development.

"President Stivers plays a starring role behind the scenes in making Kentucky an attractive place for casts and crews," Rivkin said, noting that increased production means "more jobs and investment for local businesses and workers across the Bluegrass State."

The Kentucky Entertainment Incentive program offers refundable tax credits covering 30 percent of eligible production costs, or 35 percent for projects filmed in Enhanced Incentive Counties or employing Kentucky-based crews. The program has a $75 million annual cap and has attracted significant productions, including films shot in Louisville.

"During my tenure as Senate president, our economy has made immense strides and put Kentucky on the map as a destination for production," Stivers said. "We want to keep building a welcoming ecosystem for filmmakers whose projects benefit our talented crews, small business owners, and overall economic development."

Stivers, who has served as Senate president since 2013, will receive the award later this year during the Motion Picture Association Awards Ceremony at the organization's global headquarters in Washington, D.C.