Database

SRF filmmakers, eager to commit to greater ecological responsibility, launch a six-part podcast: Ecology and the practice of filmmaking.

To facilitate contact between productions and eco-referents/eco-production managers, Ecoprod has created a directory listing these professionals in the “Resources” section of its website. The professionals listed have taken one of Ecoprod’s certified training courses and/or have experience as an eco-referent or eco-production manager.

Deploying the measures listed in the Ecoprod Label is an effective way of reducing the environmental impact of audiovisual production: for the 4 main emission sources, following the Ecoprod Label reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 41%. Eco-production is accompanied by the emergence of new professions, such as eco-production manager, which play a decisive role in the success of the approach. These are just some of the key findings of the Audiovisual Eco-production Impact Study.

Cinécolab is a student initiative launched in 2022 by four Belgian film schools — HELB, IAD, INSAS, and la Cambre — supporting the film industry’s ecological and social transition, both in production practices and in the social responsibility of content. Born from the belief that responsibility toward these challenges must start with education, the project received launch funding from ARES and has since been joined by public administrations and associative-sector organizations. Cinécolab runs a platform gathering concrete resources and tools on good practices to reduce productions’ ecological impact, usable from the preparation stage onward. Its work spans three missions: mapping existing responsible resources for the film sector; raising awareness and training students, industry technicians, and teaching staff to rethink practices and integrate these issues into film education; and networking people and organizations committed to change. Cinécolab addresses both form, promoting more resilient shoots, and content, treating storytelling itself as a lever for change.

Atmospheric Film Award is proposed and funded by the Swedish company Electrolux. It’s the second year that this award is presented to a film for implementing and promoting green practices on a set at all stages of production: screenplay, preparations, set, shooting, and post-production. This year’s edition of the award can be presented to any film submitted to the Main Competition of the 48th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, the Short Film Competition, and the Microbudget Film Competition. The winners will receive statuettes and cash prizes of PLN 15,000 each.

Łódź Film Commission was the first organization of this type in Poland, being the next stage –after the previously established Łódź Film Fund – in the film policy of the City of Łódź. Łódź Film Commission is a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), Cine-regio and section of regional film funds in Polish Producers Alliance. ŁFC is also insensitively involved in green filming activities, and is a member of the Film for Climate initiative. MATERIAL INCENTIVES – Additional points in the film fund for sustainable projects (5 points) – From February 2023, green rules are adapted as follow: 1. Hiring a green manager (2 extra points in the film fund) 2. Development of a sustainable production plan (2 extra points in the film fund) 3. Development of a sustainable transport plan (1 extra point in the film fund) – Eligibility of costs relative to the green production if spent in the region – Eligibility 25% of the cost relative to the green manager if he/she is not from the region

The Guide des Tournages en Milieux Naturels is the result of a collective initiative to limit the impact of audiovisual production on natural areas and species. Audiens, Ecoprod and IFFCAM are launching the Guide des Tournages en Milieux Naturels to help all types of productions (dramas, series, commercials, documentaries) take natural areas into account during location scouting and filming.

The Catalunya Film Commission’s guide offers the necessary resources for audiovisual professionals who wish to minimize the environmental impact of their activity and is also available to administrations that wish to apply sustainability criteria in the management of filming authorizations. Within it, you will find a connection with the European Green Film certification system, as well as a specific mention of filming and film shots that take place in natural and agricultural environments. The guide also includes a self-assessment questionnaire that facilitates monitoring of the criteria applied in the production’s creation.

The EcoProd Label is France’s certification tool for sustainable film, audiovisual, and advertising productions. It’s based on a free, comprehensive framework of 85 criteria (7 mandatory) spanning all production stages—from script and pre-production to post-production and wrap—organised into 12 action categories (production commitment, training, editorial choices, offices, locations, sets/props, costume/makeup, travel, logistics, technical equipment, post-production, and social/inclusion issues). Each validated criterion earns points, allowing productions to calculate an eco-production score; a score above 65% (70% with a formal commitment phase) makes a project eligible for the Label, which is then independently audited and certified by AFNOR Certification. Beyond an emissions focus, the framework addresses broader socio-environmental concerns, including diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination. The Label is backed and validated by ADEME (France’s environmental agency), aligns with the CNC/Ministry of Culture’s SPEC 2308 standard for responsible production (to which Ecoprod contributed), and includes explicit anti-greenwashing clauses. It’s the only French audiovisual sustainability label independently audited by an accredited third-party body. Certified productions can access economic benefits (e.g., Cofiloisirs grants, Canal+ Brand Solutions incentives), and the framework is integrated into Ecoprod’s carbon calculator, Carbon’Clap, for self-assessment or certification purposes.

The European Commission commissioned a study titled “Greening the Creative Europe program” to make the program more sustainable and aligned with the EU’s climate change goals. The study aims to promote sustainability and environmental awareness in cultural and creative activities, with a focus on achieving carbon neutrality through the promotion of sustainable transportation and responsible behaviors. It provides guidance for applicants and beneficiaries, recommendations for monitoring and evaluating green aspects of project proposals, and collects good practices that raise awareness about the need for a green transition in the cultural and creative sectors. The Commission is committed to developing capacity and knowledge in greening initiatives at all levels of program implementation. The study’s recommendations are published in three documents, including a Good Environmental Practices Guide, a Creative Europe Program Greening Strategy, and a Creative Europe Monitoring Guide for Program Greening.

Film Strike for Climate is a grassroots movement of filmmakers dedicated to maximizing the socio-ecological impact of the film and television industry through sustainable production, campaigning, and storytelling. The movement aims to unite film and television institutions worldwide under three proposals: creating impactful stories, promoting sustainability in production management, and participating in days of solidarity inspired by Greta Thunberg’s Youth Strike for Climate. Film Strike for Climate seeks to infuse onscreen storytelling with evidence-based clarity and courage, addressing the urgent need for action on climate change. Inspired by the climate movement, the movement was founded in the UK in 2019 and has since mobilized industry-wide support and engagement. With a focus on climate justice and combating political apathy, Film Strike for Climate aims to leverage the storytelling power of the film industry to inspire societal change and create a greener world.

CUT Collective Cinema for Transition is a French group of film professionals dedicated to promoting sustainability and addressing environmental challenges in the film industry. It was founded in January 2023 by Hiam Abbas, Julie Amalric, Swann Arlaud, Cyril Dion, Carole Scotta, Flore Vasseur, and Jérémie Renier. The collective aims to initiate discussions and explore possible transformations towards a more sustainable model for the cinema world. They have published a manifesto and created a platform and an engagement charter for actors and agents. Their goals include minimizing the industry’s ecological footprint, creating impactful narratives, and maximizing the dissemination of socially impactful works. Through collaboration and the power of cinema, they aim to contribute to a livable world for all.

Screens of Tomorrow is a collaborative project that offers a guide for TV and film professionals, fostering reflection on writing and story development. With a questionnaire and a resource center, it provides new reference points for viewers. The movement brings together professionals from various fields to accelerate industry evolution and share best practices. The project promotes a collective approach, offering tailored versions of the guide for writing, production, and distribution professionals. Additionally, the resource center provides access to studies, reports, and contacts for deepening understanding of social and environmental issues, aiming to transform the audiovisual sector through impactful storytelling.

The Global Green Media Network (GGMN) is an interdisciplinary initiative that bridges film and media scholarship, environmental studies, social sciences, and political economy. It facilitates collaborations between industry, academia, and policymakers to rethink a sustainable future for screen culture. GGMN focuses on addressing the environmental and social impact of the global screen media industry, including energy consumption, waste production, environmental justice, and the lack of agency in implementing effective environmental programs. By promoting transparency, raising awareness, and exploring solutions, GGMN aims to integrate environmental responsibility into industry practices. It encourages dialogue among media professionals, academics, environmentalists, activists, and reporters. GGMN organizes events and publishes research to foster collaboration, generate understanding, and develop new methodologies and educational strategies. The network’s support extends globally, engaging stakeholders from various regions and offering assistance to professionals, advocates, policymakers, and emerging scholars in the screen arts.

The “Plan Action!” is a policy for the ecological and energy transition of the cinema, audiovisual, and technical industries sectors. It was developed in response to international and national climate commitments. The objectives of the plan include making the cinema and audiovisual sectors exemplary in energy carbon reduction, raising awareness among professionals about the environmental impacts of their activities, and supporting them in adapting to climate change effects. The plan aims to promote eco-responsibility in French productions as a competitive advantage and an international attractiveness factor. The plan was constructed through a six-month collaboration between environmental experts and the National Center for Cinema and Animated Image (CNC), resulting in a three-year plan from 2022 to 2024. The plan consists of various actions, including establishing an Observatory for Ecological Transition, providing initial training on eco-production, and implementing progressive eco-conditionalities for financial assistance to productions.