Eco-activists at the Cannes Film Festival

At the Cannes Film Festival, the international initiative Film4Climate invited industry members as well as representatives from environmental organizations to discuss measures in order to reduce the environmental impact of film production as well as raise awareness about climate change through cinema. “People want change but they don’t want to change”, stated Paul Watson, former Greenpeace activist and Founder of non-profit organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that fights to defend the wildlife in the ocean. “We have to address this issue”, said Paul Watson in regards to the upcoming COP 21 in Paris. “This is where the leadership has to make this changes work.”

 

Among the film representatives at the Next Pavilion was Olivier-René Veillon, CEO of the Ile the France Film Commission, a member of Ecoprod. The Paris-based organization convinced the cityl to avoid the use of generators for film shoots. At about 80 popular places like the Tour Eiffel where more than hundred movies are shot per year, film teams have now access to power grids.

 

Siebe Dumon from the Audiovisual Film Fund in Belgium described the E-Mission programme that provides support for producers to go green. As only film funding organization, at VAF it is a condition to deliver the carbon footprint of a production in order to receive the last installment of the film funding. “We have to protect what we have”, said Nevina Satta, CEO of the Sardegna Film Commission “It is cheaper to be sustainable.” According to her experience, green production also attracts investors and companies.

 

Among the sustainable activities that were introduced in Cannes were the Green Fillm Initiative in Babelsberg as well as Green Film Shooting magazine. hat focuses on sustainable film and media production worldwide. Furthermore, the brand new Cine-Regio report was presented which gives an overview about the sustainable activities of film funds and Film Commissions all over Europe. The report is available for free download at Cine-Regio.

 

Before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) will kick of in Paris, Ecoprod will invite various industry on November 18 to a discussion how the Film/ TV industry can reduce the carbon footprint.

 

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