Guides for Implementing Sustainable Practice in Film Exhibition

We are committed to minimising the negative environmental impact of the exhibition sector and ask all our members and funding recipients to contribute to this aim.

This is a task that takes sustained internal work, which we are also undertaking ourselves as a part of Watershed. We believe that through sharing resources and learnings, reducing what we can, and supporting exhibitors with space for discussion and support as a part of our funding; we can make an impact.

This guide takes you through some useful information that considers how to minimise the environmental impact of your activity, no matter the size of your organisation.

The BFI has several recommended resources that may be useful when planning around sustainability here.

Climate Action Toolkit

Conceived by Zoe Rasbash, Environmental Emergencies Action Researcher, the toolkit is designed to support actionable, achievable and nuanced climate action – to combat the overwhelm we often feel at the scale of the crisis. This is in no way prescriptive, simply a jumping off point!

The toolkit includes:

Creative Climate Action Video: This video gives an overview of key principles which help make the task of climate action feel more achievable and exciting, and breaks down different pathways to action. Laying out the unique barriers and opportunities for smaller creative practitioners and businesses, it suggests a guided exercise to help map and prioritise which actions to take forward.
Creative Climate Action Worksheet: This is a worksheet to be used in accompaniment with the guided exercise, to help structure thinking and map ideas generation.
Creative Climate Action Checklist: This can be used in tandem with the guided exercise or entirely on its own. It introduces 6 action areas: Buildings & Energy, Digital, Finance, Travel & Touring, Materials and Waste, and People. For each of these, it has a list of action prompts (sourced from different small creative entities through workshops and conversations) and a directory of tools and resources that can provide more information or support further action.

Access the toolkit

Simple Guide To: Making Your Cinema Greener

Making your cinema more sustainable can feel overwhelming. There are so many things you can do to reduce negative environmental impacts and carbon emissions, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are some tips to getting started from Watershed’s Environmental Emergencies Action Researcher Zoe Rasbash.

Download the PDF.

A Biodiverse Big Screen: Film Hub Wales

With environmental sustainability also forming part of our BFI FAN funding criteria, our friends at Film Hub Wales put together a selection of films covering everything from sustainable farming to post-apocalyptic adventure – designed to support programming as you reopen.

Find the programming pack that includes the full list of titles here

Sustaining Creativity: Julies Bicycle

Julie’s Bicycle is a not for profit organisation which bridges the gap between the creative industries and sustainability, enabling the arts to create change.

Julie’s Bicycle has a huge range of online resources available for free from their Resources hub.

You can also listen to Alison Tickell, founder of Julie’s Bicycle, in conversation with Frieze Co-Founder Matthew Slotover about turning intention into action on Gallery Climate Coalition

Green Cinema Toolkit: Independent Cinema Office

In the midst of the ongoing climate crisis, cinemas can act by taking measures to cut their energy use whilst playing a significant role in raising awareness, fostering new cultural practices and illuminating new pathways through the challenges ahead.

No matter the size of your venue or festival, you too can make a difference. The ICO’s Green Cinema Toolkit is for anyone working in film exhibition, from small independent exhibitors to larger cinemas and multi-arts venues.

A Year In A Field

The story of one Cornish field told over one climatic year. BAFTA-winning documentarian Christopher Morris invites us to slow down, as he films for a year in a West Cornwall field. It’s a chance to take a breath and reflect on our impact on the planet under the watchful gaze of the Longstone, an ancient monolith that predominates this elemental landscape.

The film’s South West setting proved extremely popular with audiences in the region, causing the film’s stone star to garner an unexpected celebrity status.

The Hub worked with distributors Anti-Worlds to support the non-theatrical release of A YEAR IN A FIELD with an introduction, short films and other supplementary activity for your audiences. We are open to working with other distributors on similarly environmental films. Please get in touch with us at filmhub@watershed.co.uk for more information.

A Year In A Film will not be receiving a physical home video release, so if you would like to screen an exclusive blu-ray of the film, get in touch with Film Hub Community Manager, Neil Ramjee.

Green Cinema Resource Download

Case Study: HOME

Up in Manchester, HOME is committed to reducing environmental impacts. They have great comprehensive information on their page to their continuous practice, a good resource for knowledge-sharing on how communities, audiences, partners and stakeholders can take action be engaged. Read this ICO profile, or check out their webpage to find out more about activities, commitments, and initiatives that contribute to working towards a sustainable HOME.

Looking across the arts: Gallery Climate Coalition

The goal of the GCC is to facilitate a greener and more sustainable art world. Their aim is to collectively reduce the commercial art sectors carbon footprint by 50% over the next ten years (in line with the Paris agreement), along with near zero-waste practices.

The GCC website contains information on a range of issues that can also be applicable to exhibition; including shipping and travelling, packaging, energy and building management, recycling, and more.

Find out more

Image c/o of Lisson Gallery, John Akomfrah ‘Vertigo Sea’ exhibited at Arnolfini, Bristol

Film Hub South West