The upcoming Berlinale International Film Festival will host the panel discussion Shades of Green – do we need rules to take responsibility? The event, organised by Green Film Shooting, will tackle ecological sustainability, which is becoming an increasingly important issue in international film and TV production.

Going green requires the industry to rethink routines and to break new ground in order to make an ecological impact: a lower carbon footprint indicates reduced energy consumption, and it can be a real cost cutter. The key questions are: what does it take for productions to go green? Is it enough to conduct training workshops on sustainable methods and measures? Does the film/TV industry need green incentives? Will productions implement green best practices only if guidelines require their carbon footprint before they receive full funding?

Different approaches, models and experiences used in various European countries will be discussed on 7 February (2.30-4pm) at Berlin’s Landesvertretung Hamburg, with the following experts: Flanders Audiovisual Fund’s head of training and research Siebe Dumon, Ile-de-France Film Commission’s Ecoprod adviser Joanna Gallardo, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (FFHSH) executive director Eva Hubert and Netherlands Film Fund’s sustainability manager, Els Rientjes. The workshop will be moderated by Green Film Shooting’s Birgit Heidsiek.