Thinking and acting sustainably has also become an important element for future viability in the film and event sector. The climate crisis requires us to constantly scrutinise and improve existing processes to see how they can be made even more sustainable and resource-efficient.
We are therefore scrutinising all planning and implementation steps and taking comprehensive measures to make the Münster Film Festival as climate-neutral as possible. This is quite a balancing act in some respects, because a festival thrives on the shared film experience and the exchange with filmmakers, on an interested, broad audience and also on networking opportunities for filmmakers. Hybrid programmes can supplement this at times, but never completely replace it. Real encounters and opportunities for exchange are therefore essential for us and the cornerstone of the festival. However, these can also be organised in such a resource-friendly way that emissions are largely avoided.
We also ask our audience and filmmakers to support this cause, which is so important to us all, and to consider climate-friendly options when travelling to the festival, for example.
We act
Places:
Both the festival office in the Filmwerkstatt Münster and the Schloßtheater festival cinema are powered by 100% green electricity. When selecting other venues, we also ensure that they make use of renewable energies.
Mobility:
The main environmental impact of events is usually caused by participants travelling to and from the event. Added to this is the environmental impact of travelling to and from the event. The primary goal is to avoid greenhouse gas emissions by focussing on low-emission mobility when travelling to and from events and reducing unnecessary journeys on site. For domestic and international journeys within a reasonable radius, only rail travel will be booked or reimbursed for invited guests. During the festival, a shuttle service will be avoided and public transport, neighbourhood cars and rental bicycles will be used.
Accommodation for guests:
Guests are accommodated in accommodation that places particular emphasis on climate-neutral behaviour. This includes energy-efficient buildings and sustainably furnished rooms, regional breakfasts with as little food waste as possible and no unnecessary packaging.
Products and services:
The basic principle of resource-orientated management is to consider whether the product or service is absolutely necessary for the successful implementation of the festival before making any new purchase. For all necessary products and services, we favour sustainable solutions and providers wherever possible. For example, at the last festival we reduced the print products from a catalogue and flyer to a festival booklet and regularly review the required print run. The same applies to posters and banners.
Catering:
For catering, we work closely with the café in the Schloßtheater festival cinema, which offers a compact menu with small dishes as well as weekly or seasonally changing offers. The café works primarily with regional partners. If catering is also offered at the festival, products from organic farming are used as far as possible. We do not use disposable crockery and glasses and ensure that the food and drinks on offer are served in the quantities required. The use of packaging is avoided as far as possible.
Social sustainability & accessibility:
The Münster Film Festival is equally committed to diversity and gender equality. Restrictions due to potential discrimination through racism, classism and ableism will not be tolerated. We endeavour to organise barrier-free access to our festival, both in terms of participation and access to the competitions (and thus access to prize money). In order to enable active participation in events, the needs of people with disabilities (e.g. mobility impairments) are also taken into account. All halls of the Schloßtheater are accessible for wheelchair users and have space for at least 2 wheelchairs. The toilets are also wheelchair accessible.