Cinema and sustainability

Cinema and Sustainability: Expanding the Boundaries of the Cinematic Framework

Sustainability has come to the audiovisual industry to stay. Although the stories we see on the screen transport us to other worlds, we can't ignore the impact they have behind the scenes. In this context, since Environmental Ideas, we were honored that the organizers chose us to be Partner of sustainability and sponsors of the 19th Edition of the L'Hospitalet Curtmetratges Festival (FCLH), an edition that this year focused on SDG 12: responsible consumption and production. This approach is not only relevant, but essential in a sector where every decision can make a significant environmental and social difference.

At the final gala of Festival held on November 8, in addition to enjoying the rest of the short films and the commitment and artistic vision of the creators, we presented the first prize in the Global category for short films “Note 8. Now the birds nest” From the director from Malaga Marta Orosa, whose work reflects on the current tourism model and the need to rethink it in terms of sustainability, not only environmental, but also social and cultural. This message couldn't be more pertinent: cinema and audiovisual as powerful tools to generate awareness and agency in the face of imbalances in the tourism model.

Sustainability in cinema: beyond the plane

The collaboration with the Festival allowed us to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the sector. As we shared at the award ceremony:

“When at Ideas MedioAmbiental, together with the organization of the Festival, we sat down to think about the issue of sustainability in the cinema and the audiovisual sector, the difficulty involved in the framework of the screen soon appeared.

Cinema is based on annotation. And it is precisely through limiting and not showing what is out of plan, that magical things happen for the audience in the room.

However, on the other hand, what sustains and makes cinema sustainable is what is not seen on the screen:

How the shooting itself, the trips, the materials, the art are organized.
As you think about the environments where you record and the equipment that works,
And how are human and non-human communities that are involved unintentionally, whether at a technical or narrative level, are understood.

Creators and creators. The audience in the theatres cannot see the sustainability of your projects. So, awareness and support for all those small and big decisions that expand the framework, and allow the magic of cinema to also be sustainable.”

Towards a more responsible audiovisual industry

At Ideas MedioAmbiental, we believe that the cultural sector, and especially the cinema, plays a crucial role as an engine of change. Every detail counts: from the design of more efficient and environmentally friendly productions, to the inclusion of practices that reduce the carbon footprint or favor local economies in the environments where it is recorded.

Our collaboration at the L'Hospitalet Curtmetratges Festival not only reinforces our commitment to sustainability, but is also an invitation to the industry to think beyond the plane. In Environmental Ideas we want to be that bridge between cinema and a sustainable production model, accompanying creators in this process.

How can we help you?

If you are part of the audiovisual sector and are looking to take a step towards a more responsible production, we are here to advise you. Whether designing strategies to reduce the environmental impact of your productions, creating good practice guides or analyzing the ecological footprint of your projects, we can accompany you on this journey.

The magic of cinema can coexist with sustainability. The question is not if it's possible, but how we can do it together.

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All photographs taken by: PinyaColada Films