On 14 February, the EFM hosted a panel titled "Step Up! The New Toolkit for Green International Co-Productions", organised by Ecoprod and Eurimages. During the talk, the two bodies unveiled their new joint project aimed at fostering sustainable production practices in the film industry. The discussion was moderated by Alissa Aubenque (head of Operations and International at Ecoprod) and Adrien Roche (project manager at Ecoprod), and featured contributions from various European experts.

Els Hendrix, chair of the Eurimages Sustainability Study Group and Senior Government Official for Film Industry & International Film Affairs, described Step Up as “Eurimages’ first initiative of its kind”, emphasising its broad accessibility. “It’s something that reaches out to different people working on set, allowing them to explore sustainability in greater depth. This approach reveals significant differences among member states while navigating regulatory frameworks. It’s a tool to kickstart and facilitate change, enabling an international hub for knowledge and experience sharing. It’s a step toward further specialised training,” she added.

Aubenque introduced the work of Ecoprod, a leading green production initiative in France established in 2009, which today gathers around 450 members, including various industry stakeholders such as production companies, broadcasters, film schools, and service providers. “Our goal is to foster knowledge around green production and drive change within the industry,” she explained. She then introduced the two main features of their website: the sustainability toolkit and the e-learning courses.

The first feature consists of an interactive map that provides detailed information on sustainability efforts in different countries. By selecting a country, users can access relevant resources and gain a deeper understanding of local green initiatives. The second feature, the green production courses, promotes the key principles of sustainable filmmaking. Aubenque underscored: “For countries that don’t have training available yet, this platform will provide a first introduction to green production. And for countries that already offer those, the idea is not to replace or compete with them, but rather to complement their efforts.” She stressed that while the role of a green consultant is essential, it’s equally important for everyone in the industry to have a basic understanding of green policies. This, in turn, will make the consultant’s job more effective.

Next, Adrien Roche zoomed in on some of the available courses. For example, the "Introduction to Green Production" course is a free, 90-minute programme supported by Eurimages, designed to teach the fundamentals of sustainable production through a five-step methodology: measuring impact, defining a strategy, implementing that strategy, involving the team, and showcasing efforts. It is recommended as a brief training session for crews at the start of a shoot to establish a shared understanding of green production principles.

Aubenque then introduced the second course, titled "Mastering Green Production Strategies", an advanced three-hour session priced at €85. Designed for producers, film commissions, broadcasters, film funds, and funding committee members, this course delves into the necessity of sustainable production, addressing resource and biodiversity crises while answering the question: “How do we preserve the natural environment?”

Ludovica Chiarini, CEO and head of Sustainability at EcoMuvi, also took part in the discussion, stating: “My hope is that this initiative can also be useful to policymakers on the other end of the spectrum, helping to establish coherence, common ground, and collaborative efforts.” She explained how her team works directly on film sets and emphasised the importance of sustainable location scouting and budgeting. “Bringing a sustainability expert with you during location scouting is crucial, and budgeting correctly is essential because sustainability doesn’t always mean higher costs.” Chiarini highlighted that the focus should extend beyond the conventional concept of “green” (such as using electric cars or avoiding flights) and instead be tied to a broader vision of sustainable development, which varies depending on the country where it is implemented.

Finally, Gregor Stitzl, 1st AD on the Berlinale Special Gala title Köln 75 [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Ido Fluk
fiche film], shared his experience with green production goals. “While shooting, we aimed to meet at least 17 of the 22 sustainability objectives, to be achieved to qualify as a green production. We did our best, but sometimes it’s not enough due to higher costs that aren’t always feasible. Many times, locations are far apart—not by artistic choice, but due to permit constraints. If permits were always granted more easily, productions could save both money and time while also being more sustainable,” he summed up.