Karla Diaz Sayles

Deputy Director California Film Commission

Karla Diaz Sayles was appointed Deputy Director of the California Film Commission by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 26, 2023. In this capacity, she spearheads the state’s efforts to facilitate and expand production through film permitting, location resources, and on-location production support. She works closely with all levels of government and industry stakeholders to support film-friendly policies and practices, and runs the California Regional Film Office Partnership, a network of 60 local film offices throughout the state. Additionally, Karla manages the day-to-day operations at the commission, including budgeting, communications, and marketing, and leads strategic initiatives around diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, sustainability and workforce development.

Previously, Karla served as Director of Public Affairs at Warner Bros. Discovery where she advanced the Studio’s state and local policy initiatives and collaborated across various business units to address production-related issues. With extensive experience in government and legislative affairs, she cultivated strong relationships with government officials and industry stakeholders to advance the Studio’s priorities across production centers in the U.S. and Canada.

Karla’s earlier career featured a role as Policy Deputy for LA County’s Second District where she led critical health policy and programmatic initiatives, contributing notably to the establishment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital in South Los Angeles. Prior to her county service, Karla honed her expertise in public affairs, advocacy and community outreach working at firms like Consensus Inc. and Burnside & Associates, steering campaigns that centered on land-use, transportation, elections and ballot initiatives.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Karla, a California native, actively engages in her community. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Curtis School and Advisory Board for Zocalo Public Square. She is a member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and the Junior League of Los Angeles, where she served as President in 2018-2019. Additionally, she participated in HOPE’s Leadership Institute in 2022. Karla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from Northwestern University.