Matthew Loeb, who has successfully guided the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) consisting of over 150,000 members for the past 17 years, will continue his leadership as he has been re-elected for another term. Loeb, who faced no opposition in the election, will begin his fourth consecutive full term as president.
The re-elections, which took place at the IATSE’s 70th Quadrennial Convention in Honolulu late Thursday, included not only President Matthew Loeb but also General Secretary-Treasurer James B. Wood, 13 Vice Presidents, and other positions. Loeb has been at the helm of the union since 2008, with a background that includes working on notable film projects such as Malcolm X and Jacob’s Ladder.
“I am honored and humbled to continue the work we do together,” expressed Loeb. “Let’s seize this momentum, lock arms and get ready for the future challenges.”
By the end of this term, Loeb will have led the union for over two decades, as IATSE does not implement term limits for its presidents.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees represents a diverse group of behind-the-scenes workers in industries such as live theatre, film and TV production, trade shows, exhibitions, television broadcasting, and concerts. Its members include employees from staging, lighting, sound companies, media production companies, and venues that host various political and entertainment events.
The re-elected leadership faces challenging years ahead as major Hollywood unions advocate for an increase in domestic physical production. With a strong presence in both the U.S. and Canada, IATSE has been instrumental in advocating for the return of production to North America and played a key role in securing additional funding in California. The union leaders are also hopeful for a federal incentive to support this cause, although it remains uncertain. The Trump administration has so far not fully engaged with this initiative, except for a brief mention of possible tariffs on overseas filming, which was not well-received.
According to Deadline, Jon Voight, one of Trump’s ambassadors to Hollywood, has been discussing other strategies to increase production with union leaders, as tariffs are currently seen as impractical.
During the convention, delegates unanimously passed a resolution in support of the federal incentive. Other resolutions included promoting AI protections, supporting Canadian members amidst U.S.–Canada trade tensions, combatting discrimination, advocating for the PRO Act, and pushing for the unionization of production accountants, among other issues.
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