Exhibitors

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Exhibitors

This section outlines good practice for exhibitors. What you can do as an exhibitor, in particular on a practical operational level, depends on where you operate and work from, where your activities take place and the extent to which you control or manage these spaces. See the key categories below for different types of exhibitors.

Cinemas

  • venue which it manages
  • venue managed by others e.g. landlord, local authority
  • home working

Film festivals

  • office/s which it manages
  • office/s managed by others e.g. landlord, local authority
  • events at other venues
  • events in outdoor spaces
  • home working

Touring

  • office/s which it manages
  • office/s managed by others e.g. landlord, local authority
  • events at other venues
  • events in outdoor spaces
  • home working

Film clubs and societies

  • rented space
  • events at other venues
  • events in outdoor spaces
  • home working

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Practical Operational Action

Energy

understand and reduce energy use and move to low or zero carbon energy sources (for venues, offices and/or events), promote good energy practice for homeworking

Travel & Transport

promote low or zero carbon options for audience travel, business travel and staff commuting, move to low or zero emission vehicles or transport services

Food & Drink

for venue and/or event/festival catering - provide mainly plant-based food, avoid single-use serve ware and food waste

Digital & Technology

choose digital service providers who offer renewably powered hosting or cloud services or energy efficient digital design, use and keep devices for longer

Materials & Waste

avoid and reduce waste, chemicals and single use plastics, choose sustainable materials which can be reused or recycled and suppliers with strong environmental credentials

Nature & Water

conserve water, make more space for nature, minimise air, noise, water and light pollution

Planet Placement

  • ‍Communicate your environmental commitment and action to key people and groups e.g. staff, volunteers, audiences, members, community, peers, funders
  • Provide staff and volunteers with opportunities for environmental training and learning
  • ‍Engage with your audiences and members on what they can do to take positive environmental action
  • Bring stories and activities which showcase the diversity of perspectives, solutions and voices in the climate, nature and justice crisis into your programming

Pushing for Wider Change

  • Work with those who manage the spaces you use, hire or rent to find out what environmental action they are taking and how you can work together as a tenant, incoming festival, touring exhibition, etc.
  • Make your money matter by switching to banks, insurance companies and pension funds with ethical investment policies and which do not invest in fossil fuels
  • Develop sponsorships and partnerships with organisations with strong environmental credentials and which do not invest in fossil fuels
  • Get involved in local or community environmental initiatives
  • Share good practice and collaborate with your peers and others in the screen sector
  • Provide inclusive and accessible spaces for dialogue, debate and reflection

Exhibitors

Resources & Examples

Black and white image of murmurations
HOME Manchester Sustainability Approach
Example 
HOME Manchester Sustainability Approach
Find out more
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Depot Lewes Sustainability Approach
Example 
Depot Lewes Sustainability Approach
Find out more
Close up neon lights outdoors in the dark
BFI Film Audience Network: The Bigger Picture
Networks
The BFI Film Audience Network has developed The Bigger Picture to showcase how UK film exhibitors are making a difference. Full of inspirational case studies, articles, guides and research, this resource, developed by exhibitors for exhibitors, is a place to pick up ideas, get different perspectives on the issues we are facing and to share our stories with the wider world.
Find out more
Outdoors in action shot of person on flipping on a skateboard, in a skatepark near the beach
Cinema for All Climate Action Focus Group
Networks
Join Cinema for All’s On the Ground climate action focus groups to discuss addressing climate change and what the sector can do to create a greener future.
Find out more
Montrose LandxSea Film Fest Sustainability Approach
Example 
watch the video
Depot Lewes Sustainability Approach Video
Example 
Watch the Video
Boat on a river, with people holding up a sign for Montrose LandxSea Film Fest
BFI Film Audience Network: Green Hour – Festivals and Environmental Sustainability
Video & Webinar
Richard Phillips from Julie's Bicycle talks about festival sustainability for Green Hour, a series of events for UK film exhibitors focusing on environmental sustainability.
WATCH THE WEBINAR

Related "Getting Started" Resources & Examples

Person outdoors painting, green foliage in the background, a sunny day
Watershed Creative Climate Action Toolkit
Guide
This toolkit is designed specifically to support smaller businesses, organisations, collectives and freelancers to act on climate and comprises a video, worksheet and checklist.
Find out more
The Barn’s Environmental Policy
Example
Find out more
Broadway logo
Broadway Nottingham Environmental Policy & Action Plan
Example
Find out more
Watershed logo
Watershed Bristol Climate Action Plan
Example
Find out more
Green Phoenix logo
Exeter Phoenix - Green Phoenix
Example
Find out more
Watershed Bristol Video: Carbon footprint and climate priorities
Example
Watch the video
Cardiff Animation Festival logo
Cardiff Animation Festival Planet Positive
Guide
Supported by Clwstwr and Ffilm Cymru Wales’ Green Cymru Challenge Fund, Cardiff Animation Festival has developed a set of recommendations on a Net Zero animation sector and top tips on what the animation sector can do, from footprint calculations to taking action. They have also created a Planet Positive Animation Network open for anyone in the animation community to join.
Find out more
A lone plant outdoors growing
Independent Cinema Office Green Cinema Toolkit
Guide
Created in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle, Curzon Cinemas, Depot, HOME and Tyneside Cinema this guide provides top tips and case studies on how cinemas can take environmental action and develop environmental practice.
Find out more
Birds eye view of potted plants
Independent Cinema Office Environmental Sustainability Online Course
Training & Learning
Created in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle, this online course, for anyone working in film exhibition, from small independents to larger cinemas and multi-arts venues, looks at the importance of addressing the challenges presented by the climate emergency, and provides case studies as well as tools and tips on developing environmental policies and action plans.
View Resource

Related "Actions" Resources & Examples

Screen Savers: Managing and saving energy for cinemas and screen venues
Video / Webinar
Aimed at cinemas and mixed arts venues, watch this webinar on energy efficiency, management, and switching to renewables.
WATCH THE WEBINAR
BFI Film Audience Network - Green Hour Digital Sustainability
Video / Webinar
This webinar looks at the environmental challenges that come with working in a digital context and what steps film exhibitors can take to reduce their digital carbon footprint. The speakers - Alice Bonnot (Environmental Sustainability Specialist, Julie’s Bicycle), Lou Hargreaves (Executive Director, Abandon Normal Devices) and James Coleman (Managing Director, Supercool) - share their insights and experiences on digital sustainability and how to implement greener online practices.
Watch the webinar
Mosaic image including a Gorilla behind bars, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaking at a rally with a microphone, a person walking through green fields, a person sleeping, a person out to sea, a person wearing a big protective suit with volcanic lava in the background and another person at a rally
Film Hub Wales - A Biodiverse Big Screen Catalogue
Example
Find out more
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