TorinoFilmLab (TFL) has launched Green Narratives, a new international development laboratory designed to support projects that address, directly or across the board, the social, psychological and ecological transformations that characterise the contemporary world. Head of studies Eva Svenstedt Ward explains the objectives and needs behind the new call.

Cineuropa: What inspired the launch of the Green Narratives call, and what kinds of stories or projects are you hoping to support through this initiative?
Eva Svenstedt Ward: Writers have a desire to mirror the times in which they are living, and most stories are inspired by some aspect of contemporary life. The polycrisis that is affecting the world is a global experience and is reflected in film and TV, in documentary but also in fiction: be it a thriller with eco-terrorists or corruption in politics, the exploitation of people or natural resources, the experience or fall-out of extreme weather events, zombies, horror stories, or tales of mental health, loneliness, alienation or lack of community and hope.

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The issue, from my perspective, is that these stories tend to focus on the catastrophic and the dystopic. However, I think we need to question the narratives and tropes perpetuated in some films and series today, and consider how they resonate with audiences. Only a small fraction of the population in the UK, for example, are climate change deniers. Yet many people who do believe in climate change feel fatalistic about the possibility of doing anything about it and, worse, believe that no one else cares.

Green Narratives aims to provide a space to explore stories seeded in the crisis we find ourselves in - not only dystopias, but a wide range of narratives across genres that can truly touch audiences. Producers and funds are increasingly looking for such projects, and TFL wants to support filmmakers at an early stage of their development.

How do you define a “green narrative” in the context of today’s audiovisual landscape? Is it more about environmental themes, sustainable production or a broader mindset regarding storytelling?
TorinoFilmLab is founded on a strong belief in the importance of diverse narrative voices: geographically, culturally and artistically. The ambition is to inspire filmmakers who have a story they want to tell, addressing the issues of our times in some way, and to help them develop their own way of doing so.

For this reason, Green Narratives embraces a broad understanding of storytelling linked to the ecological, socio-political, psychological and even spiritual dimensions of life today, while also fostering awareness of how storytelling influences sustainability in production.

What impact do you hope this call will have on the European film and television industry in terms of promoting sustainability and ecological awareness?
Green Narratives is designed as a script-development lab combining inspirational lectures, peer-to-peer group work and individual consulting. Filmmakers often fear that programmes focused on urgent global issues might limit artistic freedom, but I believe the opposite is true. The confidence to make bold creative choices grows through open dialogue with colleagues who share the desire to tell stories that reflect a world shaped by climate change – while still aiming to reach and engage audiences. This is one of the major artistic challenges of our time, and Green Narratives aims to support filmmakers willing to take it on in their own way.