Green Filming
EUFCN engagement in sustainable filming
EUFCN is committed to foster and promote a more sustainable and efficient film industry in Europe.
Film commissions play an active role in raising awareness of the environmental impact of film production and in offering solutions towards a green-friendly approach.
This page aims to collect all green protocols and best practices developed and adopted by film commissions and institutions of our network, as well as links to the main European programs and platforms devoted to sustainability in the audiovisual industry.
Best Practices within Film Commissions
AUSTRIA
EVERGREEN PRISMA – COMPETENCE CENTER FOR GREEN FILMING
Digital Platform, Green Filming Academy & Joint Network.
Internationally multi-awarded pioneer EVERGREEN PRISMA has become a cross-border lighthouse project and bridging instrument for green filming. Professional filmmakers as well as institutions are supported by an innovative service including specialized digital instruments the LAFC (Lower Austrian Film Commission) next to its role as a versatile film commission provides for.
With Green Filming Tirol the Cine Tirol Film Commission aims to provide film-makers with the best possible information to enable them to realise their film projects in Tirol under sustainable aspects.
BELGIUM
screen.brussels Film Commission is involved in sustainable development and the circular economy with the project Eco-filming.
In 2013 Flanders became a pioneer in the area of sustainable filmmaking, thanks the efforts of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF). Screen Flanders joined the movement and encourages productions filming in the region to use all the available sustainability tools and recommendations.
Wallimage developed an incentive for green filming, based on the experience of Trentino FC, granting extra points for productions with a green filming plan at their co-production sessions.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Film Commission promotes and supports the initiative of The Audiovisual Producers‘ Association greenfilming.cz which offers the Manual of Green Filming as a guide as well as practical tools and case studies. The initiative was inspired by the Slovak Film Commission’s activities in the field and the American initiative Green The Bid.
FINLAND
The Sustainability guide for filming in Lapland details how to join the fight and help keep the best Arctic backdrops beautiful and available for future generations of filmmakers and storytellers
FRANCE
Film France – CNC is part of a joint initiative public and private organisations called Eco Prod which created a carbon calculator (carbon’clap) and, since 2012, a guide to eco-production.
GERMANY
Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission offers information on green filming (in German). The nationwide sustainability initiative “Keen to be green” of the German Film Commissions was launched in May 2020.
Since 2012, MOIN Film Fund has been committed to an ecological and sustainable rethink in the film industry.
Since 1 July 2023, compliance with the new ecological standards has been a nationwide requirement for all publicly funded cinema, TV and online/VoD productions in Germany.
In cooperation with the MFG Film Funding, the Film Commission Region Stuttgart provides information regarding sustainable film production, emission reduction and action proposes.
GREECE
The Hellenic Film Commission is member of the network Green Film. Moreover, it hosted the Torino Green Film Lab in Athens on March 5-8, 2024.
IRELAND
Screen Ireland launched Sustainable production standards for live action film and tv
ITALY
In 2017, the Trentino Film Commission developed GREEN FILM, a rating system and certification for sustainable film production, which has become a pan-European initiative that involves many Film Commissions (including several EUFCN Members) and Film Funds across Europe.
GREEN FILM is not-for-profit initiative that relies on the collaboration of public institutions. A unique and pioneering project in the field of sustainability for the Audiovisual sector.
The Sardegna Film Commission launched sustainability initiatives in 2014 with the EU-funded Green Project Heroes 20.20.20 and created the Sardinia Green Shooting Protocol, a guide to eco-production and financial incentives to encourage green filming on the island.
One important step towards ensuring sustainable film productions in South Tyrol was realised with the introduction of the Green Shooting Certificate. Film productions can accumulate points in seven categories ranging from transport to waste disposal.
NORWAY
The Northern Norway Film Commission greatly emphasizes sustainability and aims for green and sustainable film & TV production in all steps and in all actions.
PORTUGAL
The Green Shooting Portugal guide, by the Portugal Film Commission, aims to raise awareness and inform the audio-visual sector on how to follow sustainable environmental practices, promoting its role as an agent of change leading to greener production models.
SLOVAKIA
The Slovak Film Commission, part of the Green Screen program, has created an enviro platform for film professionals where they can find useful information on how to film audiovisual works to reduce the environmental impact.
SPAIN
Barcelona Film Commission and Catalunya Film Commission are committed to sustainability in audiovisual productions and have been working for years to facilitate this objective in filming. For this reason, both institutions offer on this page the Guide to good practices in audiovisual production in the city of Barcelona and the Guide to implementing sustainability criteria in filming and film shoots, which is for all those productions that shoot throughout Catalonia.
Canary Islands Film, through Tenerife Film Commission, offers an useful ten-point good practice guide to achieve sustainable film productions and a checklist to acknowledge the effort and award sustainable production or sustainable service label.
Good Practices Guide for sustainable filmmaking in Cantabria, developed by the Cantabria Film Commission (in Spanish).
The Malaga Film Office, in collaboration with Promalaga and the Municipal Department of Environmental Development, released a Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Productions Guide geared at preventing and minimising the environmental impact that can stem from Film & TV production carried out in Malaga.
SWITZERLAND
Sustainable Arts is a new initiative/website from Switzerland launched in February 2022 regarding sustainability in the cultural sector, including the film industry sector. The initiative emerged from a national working group set up by the Zurich Film Foundation in summer 2020.
UK
Film London launched in 2008 Green Screen, an initiative that encourages environmentally friendly productions in London.
EUROPEAN PROGRAMS AND PLATFORMS
Green Screen’s mission is to inspire and educate the nomadic world of filming by creating sustainable working practices. By reducing the environmental impact of filming essentials such as transport, construction, lighting and catering Green Screen aspires to lead European film & TV production into a greener way of life.
Eureca is a Pilot Action receiving support from Interreg Europe as part of Green Screen. Eureca aims to develop a Carbon Calculator that can be applied widely across audiovisual industry in Europe.
In 2012, a number of Cine Regio members decided to form the Green Regio subgroup, whose aim is to raise awareness and share knowledge on sustainable film production tools, measures and policies. Read the Cine Regio Green Report 2020.
Green Film Shooting provides a platform for sustainability in the media industry, by presenting approaches to sustainable operating methods – in Europe as well as all over the world. Read the Green Film Shooting Magazine 2020 issue.
The EFAD Sustainability Working Group was initiated in February 2020 with the objective to exchange best practices and information on sustainable initiatives launched by national film funds and other partners from the public and private sectors.