Resources
Intimacy Coordination Resource Page
Intimacy professionals play a vital role in creating a safe space for performers during intimate scenes, acknowledging the unique vulnerabilities that come with performing these scenes. They ensure that consent is always prioritised and establish a professional process for handling intimacy on set or stage. Although they are not responsible for addressing general misconduct, their work is essential in fostering respectful, harassment-free workplaces within the industry.
As FIA’s members and sister organisations find different ways of promoting the work of intimacy professionals in the sector, we have created this dedicated resource section to bring together the many interesting examples shared from across the globe. Here you will find contents and links to a wealth of resources, intended as both a source of guidance and of inspiration.
Discover the brand new FIA Guide to Intimacy professionals!
Guidelines, Protocols and Toolkits
Developing intimacy guidelines or protocols, though non-binding for producers, serve as valuable tools for setting recommended practices and promoting the use of intimacy professionals. These resources provide a structured framework for working with intimate scenes, prioritizing the safety, dignity, and well-being of performers. They raise awareness and improve understanding among employers and other professionals involved in managing, casting, directing, producing, and designing scenes with intimate content.
The intimacy guidelines and protocols collected here vary in scope: some apply to both stage and screen, while others are specifically tailored to live performance or audiovisual production.
Australia
– Equity Intimacy Guidelines for Stage and Screen (MEAA, 2020)
Canada
– Best Practices for Scenes involving Nudity, Intimacy, Simulated Sex and Sexual Violence (ACTRA Toronto, 2020)
Finland
– Guidelines for doing intimate scenes in camera work (The Finnish Film Foundation, 2020)
New Zealand
– Intimacy Guidelines for Stage and Screen (Equity NZ)
Poland
– Recommendations for filming intimate scenes (ZZAP, in English, 2022)
– Recommendations for filming intimate scenes (ZZAP, in Polish, 2022)
Sweden
– Guidelines for Intimate Scenes in Film and Drama production
(Scen & Film)
South Africa
– Protocols for Intimate Content in TV, Film and Associated Media South Africa (SAGA, 2021)
United Kingdom
– Equity for Women Toolkit Website page
– Guidelines for engaging intimacy directors for live performance
– Guidelines for engaging intimacy coordinators on Film/TV
– Advice for performers
– BECTU Intimacy Coordinators Branch Website page
– BECTU Guidance for Shooting Intimacy (2022, updated in 2024)
United-States
– Quick Guide for Scenes involving Nudity and Simulated Sex (SAG-AFTRA)
– Standards and Protocols for the Use of Intimacy Coordinators (SAG-AFTRA, 2024)
Language and Provisions in Collective Agreements and Contracts
Collective bargaining remains the most powerful tool for unions to secure safe, fair working conditions for their members. Although intimacy coordination is still a developing field, several FIA members have already successfully integrated intimacy language into their agreements with producers.
These clauses generally fall into three categories: those aimed at the prevention of sexual harassment and referencing intimacy practices as a means of doing so; those outlining how intimate scenes should be managed; and those specifically addressing the work of intimacy professionals.
The access to the documents and examples hereunder is restricted to FIA members, please log-in or create your online profile to download them.
France
– Amendment to the National Collective Agreement for Audiovisual Production (in French, 2025)
– Amendment to the National Collective Agreement for Film Production (in French)
Italy
– SLC CGIL, Audiovisual Agreement (in Italian)
Sweden
– Scen & Film, Public Theatre Agreement
United-States
– SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP Agreement (Summary, 2023)
Professional Training, Certifications and Registries
Intimacy coordinators and directors are highly skilled professionals with extensive industry knowledge, specialised training, and practical experience. To effectively fulfil their role, aspiring intimacy professionals should complete a minimum level of training across several key areas. Although unions do not develop training themselves, some organisations play a key role in providing training standards, certifications and registries.
SAG-AFTRA has played a pivotal role in establishing intimacy coordination as an industry standard in the U.S., fostering a safer work environment for actors performing nude, intimate, or simulated sex scenes. One of its key achievements has been the development of industry standards for the qualification, training, and vetting of intimacy coordinators, including an accreditation system of training programmes and a registry of qualified professionals.
The SAG-AFTRA Registry and accreditation information is available on their Website
The list of SAG-AFTRA Accredited Intimacy Coordinator Training Programmes is as follows:
– CINTIMA (USA)
– Intimacy Coordinators Canada (Canada)
– Intimacy Professionals Education Collective (USA)
– Intimacy Directors & Coordinators (USA)
– Intimacy Professionals Association (USA)
– Intimacy on Set (UK)
– Key Intimate Scenes (Australia)
– Moving Body Arts (UK)
– Nordic Intimacy Coordinators (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden)
– Principal Intimacy Professionals (Canada)
– Safe Set Intimacy Coordinator Training and Mentoring (South Africa)
– VanCity IC (Canada)
