New fund to help film sector tackle climate crisis

The British Film Institute (BFI) has announced a new package of industry support for awardees who can demonstrate that they are positively contributing to tackling the climate and ecological crisis.

Keir Powell-Lewis has been appointed Head of Environmental Sustainability to manage the fund, as part of BFI’s own net zero routemap.

The BFI National Lottery Sustainable Screen Fund has awarded £586,755 to industry leaders Julie’s Bicycle and BAFTA albert, to fund projects running over the next three years.

The funding will be used to support all BFI National Lottery awardees in building environmental understanding and action on positive environmental change.

Support for awardees will include tools and resources provided by each organisation, including open-access carbon calculators.

Julie’s Bicycle will offer support in the areas of audiences, screen heritage, skills, education, international projects and innovation and industry services.

BAFTA albert will aid in production across the wider screen sector, including film, XR/immersive and video games.

The funding will also allow the two organisations to further define the support needed to ensure that BFI awardees can track their environmental impact, seek sustainability certification and access relevant guidance on how to deliver projects more sustainably. 

“As the world faces a climate and ecological emergency it is vital we work with the screen sector with urgency to reduce the sector’s environmental impact and efforts to reach net zero,” said Harriet Finney, BFI Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Corporate & Industry Affairs.

“During the public consultation for our new 10-year BFI National Lottery Strategy and Funding Plan, the message was unquestionably that support for helping the industry tackle climate emergency was a priority and has been embedded as a core principle guiding our activities and funding.

“The range of tried and tested tools and resources developed by BAFTA albert and Julie’s Bicycle and their ambition, experience and expertise in further innovation and guidance for the sector will help us all work faster and better in contributing a positive impact towards tackling the climate crisis.”