During the last days of the Netherlands Film Festival Els Rientjes of Green Film Making travelled south. Unfortunately there was no special attention for sustainability at the NFF this year. The attempt to again attract attention for sustainable production with a special activity failed just before the start of the festival.
That’s why Green Film Making gladly accepted the invitation to give a lecture at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. From all over the world, show runners, advertising agencies and commissioners of educational and corporate films came to Cannes to receive their awards. More than 1000 entries had been received by the jury.
And the atmosphere was, how else could it be in such a setting, great. Welcome drinks and matching snacks on the beach in front of the Carlton Hotel put excitement in the air. There was much speculation on who would go home with the silver, golden and even white dolphin this year. The Austrian host and festival director Alexander V. Kammel and his team, who organised the event for the eighth time, welcomed everyone personally.
The next day there were three special lectures planned for the invited guests in the Carlton Hotel. The organizers had praised the GFM website with it’s many reports and ideas, and had therefor invited Els Rientjes to share her experiences for an hour. The audience was very excited and surprised that we already have so many materials and techniques that promote sustainability in filmmaking in the Netherlands. Especially the Australians and the Russians asked Els jealously on how to tackle this.
The discussion focussed for a long time on waste sorting on set, a problem that has not yet been solved in the Netherlands. That’s one thing where other countries are many strides ahead. What certainly helps is to apply criteria for film funding. Everyone agreed that it could provide that extra boost needed to stimulate sustainable production. What makes it easier to produce sustainably in this specific industry is that the filmmakers can communicate directly with their clients. Companies generally are working hard on corporate responsibility, especially in the Netherlands. It is even imposed by the government.
Another result from the lecture was a new collaboration: with the prestigious Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Professor Dr. Conrad Heberling proposed to develop a program together to raise awareness with German film students for sustainable production.
Right after this very successful lecture, of which the first positive reactions appeared on Facebook right away, there was another full night of networking. During the award gala Els spoke with the company commissioned by the Dutch Railways who won a Golden Dolphin with their film Together We See More. Director / producer Patty Stenger, of production company Zee, was able to deliver this small film quite sustainably. The NS is one of the leading companies in the field of sustainability in the Netherlands.
Els missed the Golden Calf Ceremony this year, but had a great evening at the Dolphins ceremony and made many new contacts. Very inspiring to see that Green Film Making also has an impact abroad!
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