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Berlin – Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth, the film subsidy institutions of the German states, the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and the Green Shooting Working Group, whose members include a majority of German TV broadcasters and VoD services as well as film/TV production companies and associations, have agreed on uniform nationwide ecological standards for audiovisual production throughout Germany with the participation of the Changemakers.film initiative. This announcement was made at the German Producers’ Day in Berlin on 16 February 2023.

Specific guidelines must be followed in all production steps and in all areas of an audiovisual production to meet the standards, from energy use and consumption to crew accommodation, catering and mobility, thus reducing carbon emissions and resource consumption.

The ecological standards are based on the minimum ecological standards of the “Green Shooting” working group published on 1 January 2022, which have been evaluated and adapted to the latest developments in production practice, as well as on experience from a “real laboratory”. The latter was carried out in 2022 by the scientific institute Ökopol on behalf of the State Minister of Culture and the film subsidy institutions of the federal states.

The roll-out phase of the ecological standards starts immediately, in a major alliance of German TV broadcasters, VoD services, production companies and film boards. Compliance with the new ecological standards shall be a nationwide requirement for all publicly funded cinema, TV and online/VoD productions in Germany no later than 1 July 2023.

Downloads: Ecological standards

The Minister of State for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth: “Film and media production in Germany has been a pioneer in environmental and climate protection for years. This progressive force must be structurally expanded. By agreeing on ecological standards, we set binding framework conditions for Germany as a production location for the first time. Against the backdrop of a worsening climate crisis, I would like to thank all participants for this joint departure towards the future of green film.”

The head of the “Green Shooting” working group Carl Bergengruen, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg film board MFG: “A broad alliance of industry and funders now agrees on the same environmental standards nationwide for a wide variety of audiovisual productions for TV shows and funded feature films. This is beneficial for production companies as they then know what they must comply with in all sectors, and it’s also beneficial for the environment.”

For compliance with ecological standards, the respective production can apply for the “green motion” label and use it in credits and for promotional purposes. The ecological standards are evaluated at regular intervals by a sustainability board in which the “Green Shooting” working group and federal and state sponsors are equally represented. If necessary, the standards are adapted to new technical developments.