Welsh Film and TV companies awarded funding to develop new ideas for greening the screen sector

Ffilm Cymru Wales and Media Cymru have invested £307,675 in the development of seven innovative projects aiming to make Wales’ screen sector greener.

The projects are led by film and TV production companies, studios and facilities based in the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), and cover varied elements of production, including power, transport, food, water, and construction materials.

Informed by BAFTA albert’s Screen New Deal Transformation Plan for Wales, the Greening The Screen Development Fund was designed and delivered by Ffilm Cymru Wales and Media Cymru to develop innovative ways to make the Welsh TV and film sector more environmentally sustainable. The open call for applications was launched in May, and submissions were judged by an independent panel of sustainability experts, as well as representatives from Ffilm Cymru Wales and Media Cymru.

Greening the Screen Development Funding has been awarded to:

Afanti Media

TV production company Afanti will invest in portable mobile charging and off-grid battery solutions to replace diesel generators and support transition to electric vehicles. By trialling a leasing model to provide flexible equipment access across the industry, the project will help create a sustainable infrastructure that internal and external productions can access and utilise as they move around the country, reducing their environmental impact.

The Full EV

Electric vehicle (EV) charging specialists The Full EV will develop a range of electric-only power sources to allow film and TV productions to substantially decarbonise their location shoots. They aim to eliminate the use of diesel generators and replace them with renewable generation and smart use of the electric grid.

The Occasional Kitchen

Film and TV catering company The Occasional Kitchen aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of location catering. Using a pre-order menu app with sustainability ratings for choices, they will reduce waste and encourage positive change through empowerment and education.

On Par Productions

The film and video production company intend to revolutionise filmmaking in Wales by developing sustainable Virtual Production (VP) services, cutting carbon emissions. Partnering with industry leaders, they will create cost-effective and eco-friendly production pipelines, train talent, and produce a compelling case study, setting a new green standard for the film and TV industry in Wales.

Protem Lighting

Lighting and power company Protem Lighting will develop their Protempod battery generators, which provide 100% clean energy for film and TV sets. The Protempod innovation will eliminate carbon emissions, runtime anxiety and improve the way clean power is distributed on set.

Re-Scene It

Re-Scene It aims to create a construction and set material recycling and repurposing hire service with an online presence and educational hub for the Welsh media industry, as well as the wider local community. Their goal is to minimise waste and maximize potential by ensuring these resources are obtainable for future projects.

Wolf Studios Wales

The studio filming location of Doctor Who, His Dark Materials and Industry will analyse the water usage at their 7-stage, 250,000 square foot high-end TV production hub. Working with experts to complete a full audit and then install and trial a variety of different applications and technologies to reduce and recycle water, they hope to influence consumption culture and reduce the carbon footprint of the site.

Louise Dixey, Sustainability Manager at Ffilm Cymru Wales, says:

“There was a high level of competitive applications for this Development Fund. Ffilm Cymru Wales congratulates the seven awardees. They comprise a diverse portfolio of innovative R&D projects that support implementation of priorities in the Screen New Deal: Transformation Plan for Wales. Key themes include shifting to renewable energy, rethinking transport, a circular approach to tackling material and food waste, information gathering and collaboration, and culture change. I look forward to working with this cohort and seeing how these projects can pilot a path to the ambitious goal of creating net zero carbon and zero waste targets in the screen sector.”

Prof Justin Lewis, Director of Media Cymru, says:

“The successful projects demonstrate a breadth of innovative solutions in significantly reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. We look forward to working with this exciting new cohort of innovators as part of the 2024 fund and moving the needle on making Wales an exemplar in greening screen production.”

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Photo: Jo Haycock