In its 24th edition, the Zagreb Film Festival is taking ever more decisive steps along the green path, implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy that integrates the ecological, social and organisational aspects of its activity.
The goal is to reduce the festival’s environmental impact, support the local community and promote a culture of responsibility among festival participants. Under the motto We Recycle Everything Except Films, the festival integrates responsible practices into every aspect of its operations. Its progress is evaluated using the international Green Charter for Film Festivals tool, which helps measure and document its overall impact.
In collaboration with Carwiz, the festival uses hybrid vehicles for local transport, while staff and visitors are actively encouraged to cycle and use public transport. International guests are encouraged to travel by train and are given access to the local public bike system. Disposable promotional materials are recycled in cooperation with FED, while all festival venues are equipped with waste separation bins.
During the Industry workshop programs and at all accompanying events, plant-based dishes are promoted, along with organic snacks and vegan catering made from local and seasonal ingredients, provided in partnership with the bio&bio health store and the restaurant Zrno.
As part of the Industry program, ZFF will also hold two events led by producer and green consultant Morana Komljenović (Little Red Dot). The workshop Sustainable Strategies: A Green Approach to EU Funds is the third edition of the Green Practices workshop program, aimed at organisers who want to learn how their cultural events can reduce their environmental impact. The other event is the third session of CineLink’s Sustainability on Set Training program, which provides sustainability training for producers.
In collaboration with the associations Film svima and DLAN – Theatre, Audiovisual Arts and Culture of the Deaf, a portion of the screenings and informational content will be adapted for blind and visually impaired audiences, as well as deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences; furthermore, as part of the intercultural project Welcome to ZFF!, five films from this year’s program will be screened with Arabic and Ukrainian subtitles.
As part of the EcoScope programming line of the Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region, ZFF will present a screening of Melt (2025), the documentary by Austrian filmmaker Nikolaus Geyrhalter, who visits some of the spectacular locations around the world to provide a comprehensive overview of the disappearance of ice, along with the impact that climate change has on people’s lives.
This year, ZFF once again demonstrates that cinema can be a tool for change – a catalyst for a community that acts responsibly, sustainably and with a vision for the future.
In its 23rd edition, the Zagreb Film Festival is taking even more decisive steps along the green path, implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy that integrates ecological, social, and organizational aspects of its activities.
The goal is to reduce the festival’s environmental impact, support the local community, and promote a culture of responsibility among all participants. Under the slogan We Recycle Everything Except Films, the festival integrates sustainable practices into every aspect of its operations. Its progress is evaluated using the international Green Charter for Film Festivals tool, which helps measure and document its overall impact.
In collaboration with Carwiz, the festival uses hybrid vehicles for local transportation, while actively encouraging staff and visitors to use bicycles and public transport. International guests are encouraged to travel by train and are given access to the local public bike system. Disposable promotional materials are recycled in cooperation with FED, and all festival venues are equipped with waste separation bins.
During the Industry workshops and all accompanying events, plant-based dishes are promoted, along with organic snacks and vegan catering made from local and seasonal ingredients, provided in partnership with bio&bio stores and Zrno restaurant.
As part of the Industry program, two events dedicated to sustainability will be held: Sustainable Film Production Consulting and Green Practices: Guidelines for Sustainable Festivals, led by producer and green consultant Morana Komljenović (Little Red Dot).
The festival also places a strong focus on social engagement and inclusivity. In collaboration with the DLAN Association, part of the informational content is adapted for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, while within the intercultural project Welcome to ZFF!, four films from this year’s program will be screened with Arabic and Ukrainian subtitles.
As part of the Ecoscope program line (Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region) and in collaboration with the Green Visions Film Festival in Potsdam, the festival presents a screening of Léo Favier’s documentary Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature, which explores how the beloved characters of the Oscar-winning Japanese filmmaker reflect his deep ecological consciousness.
Once again, ZFF demonstrates that cinema can be a tool for change — a catalyst for a community that acts responsibly, sustainably, and with a vision for the future.
