Telefilm makes sustainability plans mandatory

FilmProduction
Projects selected for Telefilm's production programs must now submit a sustainability plan before filming begins.

Films selected for funding under Telefilm Canada’s production support programs will now be required to submit a sustainability plan before the start of principal photography.

The requirement was announced in an industry advisory by the Crown corporation on Tuesday (May 16) and is now in effect.

It applies to “all applicants receiving production commitment letters starting [May 16],” a Telefilm spokesperson told Playback Daily.

Telefilm introduced sustainability plans in 2022 as part of its eco-responsibility action plan, but they were considered optional until now.

A sustainability plan template is available on the Telefilm website. It is “designed to encourage production teams to think about their potential environmental impacts, raise awareness of issues and solutions, and empower productions to implement best practices.”

Data from the submitted sustainability plans will be used to understand best practices and challenges the industry faces, and will not factor into a project’s assessment, according to Telefilm.

Promoting sustainability in production was one of the key strategic priorities in the 18-month corporate plan that Telefilm unveiled in September 2022.

Measures towards that goal include promoting research on sustainability best practices and engaging all stakeholders on awareness-raising and capacity-building opportunities across the industry.

With files from Kelly Townsend

Image: Unsplash