skip

UK film industry goes green without going into the red

UK film industry to look at how to reduce its carbon footprint with pedal-power cinema, recycling film sets and improving energy efficiency as it gets ready to adopt a new British Standard on environmental sustainability in film.

LONDON – Friday 15 October 2010

As a practical step towards helping UK film companies and freelancers working in film gear up for the introduction of the new British Standard developed by BSI on environmental sustainability in film, the UK Film Council, BAFTA and the BFI's London Film Festival are holding a Greening the Screen trade fair and discussion on Monday 18 October.

Greening the Screen – How to go Green without going into the Red is a half-day event being held at BAFTA during the BFI London Film Festival, bringing together companies and services that can advise film businesses and individuals on how to reduce their carbon footprint with practical advice ranging from energy audits and using green suppliers, to working with specialist location managers and innovative approaches to recycling on set.

The event will kick-off with a discussion chaired by writer/actor/impersonator Alistair McGowan outlining the latest developments in environmental sustainability for film and the various practical steps the industry is undertaking, with speakers including:

  • Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA, anindependent charity that supports, develops and promotes the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public;
  • Tim Bevan CBE, Chairman of the UK Film Council and co-founder and co-Chairman of Working Title Films which has integrated environmental working practices into its film productions;
  • Melanie Dicks, Founder of Greenshoot, which helps film productions reduce carbon emissions and provides a full recycling service, and is currently working on Sherlock Holmes 2 for Warner Bros and Johnny English 2 for Working Title;
  • Jonathon Porritt CBE, Founder Director of Forum for the Future and a leading environmentalist;
  • Fergus Rolfe, Technical Projects officer for the Low Carbon Innovation Centre based at theworld-renowned School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia which supports organisations of all sizes and from all industries on low-carbon solutions; and
  • Andy Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Dogwoof Films, a leading film distributor of social issue films and a pioneer in distribution and marketing green strategies.

Tim Bevan CBE, Chair of the UK Film Council, said: "Everyone involved in film has an important part to play in helping to make the UK film industry a world leader in environmental good practice. For countless social and economic reasons, improving the sustainability of the UK film industry will give us all a real competitive advantage internationally for years to come."

Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: "It is incredibly important that we take responsibility for a more sustainable industry, and that we do this together. We want to send a clear message that adopting a more sustainable approach does not have to be a huge burden. We are delighted to partner with the UK Film Council to raise awareness of the resources and support available to individuals, companies and organisations looking to 'go green'; Greening the Screen will provide practical and useful information that will enable them to make those essential first steps."

Alongside the discussion and debate, a trade fair will offer industry professionals the opportunity to talk to and gain expert advice from a range of services and consultants, including:

  • 10:10 – an innovative movement of people, schools, businesses and organisations cutting their carbon by 10% in a year. The 10:10 team supports sign-ups with useful carbon cutting tips, employee engagement materials and a forum for sharing carbon cutting experiences.
  • AEA Technologies – an energy, environment and information management consultancy advising on managing resources and waste and sustainable working practices.
  • AECOM and Davis Langdon - working with international and national organisations to deliver low-carbon services ranging from strategy and project management to engineering and workspace planning.
  • BSI British Standards – the UK's national standards organisation which has developed the new British Standard that will set out the requirements for improving the sustainability of the UK film industry.
  • Carbon Aware Productions –help make productions carbon aware through collaboration with the Woodland Trust. With a background in location management and production of commercials, television, features and drama, our goal is to make as many of these as possible carbon aware.
  • Cinema Exhibitors' Association (CEA) – represents UK cinema operators and has produced guidance on energy efficiency and environmental management for cinemas.
  • Dogwoof Films – the leading UK distributor for documentary and social issue films integrating carbon reducing strategies for releasing and promoting films such as a solar-powered film premiere to cinemas simultaneously across London.
  • Energise – runs the CEA Carbon Reduction Project auditing and helping cinemas on energy use and efficiency;
  • Greenshoot - provides environmental management for film and television productions, including innovative ways to recycle and save money on production budgets
  • Julie's Bicycle - a coalition of senior creative industry executives, scientists and technologists that has come together to understand the sector's environmental impacts. Runs industry campaigns underpinned by innovative research and is responsible for the IG mark and certification scheme now widely rolling out across the creative sector.
  • Magnificent Revolution - a not-for-profit environmental arts company based in London, comprising artists, musicians, designers, ecologists, and engineers.
  • Nice and Serious - an award-winning film production company that specialises in creatively communicating environmental and social issues. From visually communicating an environmental policy and inspiring case studies, to engaging and galvanising employees and stakeholders.
  • Red Redemption – award-winning independent games development company that has brought climate change to the international gaming marketplace.
  • South East Media Network – based at Pinewood Studios, SEMN supports company innovation, project development and market access whilst being actively engaged in the green agenda. As part of its 'thought leadership' program SEMN commissioned the One Planet Challenge paper which highlighted creative industry initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability.
  • Wedlake Bell – a leading law firm which advises businesses on energy efficiency.

Magnificent Revolution will be demonstrating how its cycle cinema and pedal sound system can bring people together to enjoy sustainable entertainment at the trade fair.

For more information go to www.greenfilm.info

For further information

Tina McFarling
T: +44 (0)20 7861 7900 / 07879 421 578
E: tina.mcfarling@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

Notes to editors

The UK Film Council

The UK Film Council is the lead Government-funded agency for film in the UK providing a unified approach and support structure for film in the UK.

Since being set up in 2000, the UK Film Council has invested over £160m of Lottery funding into more than 900 films and shorts which have entertained over 200 million people and helped generate over £700 million at the box office worldwide, generating £5 for every £1 of Lottery money it has invested.

The UK Film Council's support develops new filmmakers, funds ambitious new British films and gets a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. It also invests in training British talent, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and raising the profile of British films abroad.

13 British feature films funded by the UK Film Council were selected for the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival including the People's Choice award winner, The King's Speech and the runner-up, The First Grader. The BFI London Film Festival will show 10 feature films and six short films funded by the UK Film Council.

Since 2000, the UK Film Council has funded such films as Bend it like Beckham, Bright Star, The Constant Gardener, Fish Tank, Gosford Park, Happy-Go-Lucky, In the Loop, The Last King of Scotland, Man on Wire, Nowhere Boy, Red Road, St Trinian's, This is England, Touching the Void, Vera Drake, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Tamara Drewe and Streetdance 3D, the UK's first 3D film.

Current and forthcoming films backed by the UK Film Council include Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham, Mike Leigh's Another Year, Peter Mullan's Neds, Joe Cornish's Attack the Block, Rowan Joffe's Brighton Rock, Lynne Ramsay's We Need to Talk about Kevin, Justin Chadwick's The First Grader, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights, Ayub Khan-Din's West is West, Debs Gardner-Paterson's Africa United, Clio Barnard's The Arbor, Gillian Wearing's Self-Made and John Akomfrah's The Nine Muses.

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world's most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK.  BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. www.bafta.org

BFI

The BFI is the nation's cultural organisation for film, keeping the breadth of voices in moving image culture alive and known. Through its venues, festivals, film releases and online, the BFI inspires people to understand and enjoy film culture, ensuring that everyone in the UK can see the broadest range and choice of films, otherwise not provided by commercial cinema. The BFI reaches an audience of over 7.5 million in the UK every year.

The BFI London Film Festival champions creativity, originality, vision and imagination by annually showcasing the best of contemporary world cinema, documentaries, shorts, animation and experimental film. The Festival is a highly regarded and anticipated event in Europe's cultural calendar, attracting leading international filmmakers, industry professionals and the media together with large public audiences to London for a two week celebration of cinema.

Last year's Festival hosted 193 feature films and 113 short films from 46 countries including 15 world premieres. There were 515 screenings and 553 filmmakers in attendance, drawing the highest ever audience attendance of over 130,000 filmgoers.

This year's Festival is in the second of a three-year Lottery funding partnership with the UK Film Council.

The BFI is a public body part funded by DCMS through the UK Film Council. For every £1 it receives in grant-in-aid, the BFI raises a further £1.50 through self-generated means.

During the London Film Festival, BFI Live - the BFI's online channel - will provide behind the scenes interviews and exclusive footage, capturing events and red carpet moments from the West End to the Southbank.

www.bfi.org.uk/live
www.bfi.org.uk
www.bfi.org.uk/lff