Sustainable filmmaking and best practices from an Indigenous lens

November 27, 2024

A first-of-its-kind pilot workshop on Sustainable filmmaking and best practices from an Indigenous lens was organized by Sacred Earth, with the collaboration of the Indigenous Screen Office and Telefilm Canada. This well-attended workshop welcomed 87 industry professionals from across Turtle Island (also known as North America), including Indigenous, English and French speaking communities, as well as internationally.

This three-hour virtual workshop, led by Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Earth, and joined by seasoned Indigenous filmmakers, examined best practices used in the screen content industry. In addition, discussions demonstrated how Indigenous values and epistemology are critical in sustainable filmmaking practices, and reflect the Indigenous commitment to protecting the earth, both on and off the screen.

“Our new partnership with Sacred Earth, along with our longstanding collaboration with the Indigenous Screen Office, facilitated this first-of-its kind pilot workshop on Indigenous sustainable practices,” said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada. “Aligned with our Indigenous Reconciliation Plan to strengthen, expand, engage and learn through an Indigenous lens, Telefilm is committed to this transformative journey to drive real, lasting change for the sustainability, and future, of our creative sector.”

“Indigenous representation on the big screen has been pivotal in changing the narrative of our shared history in this country, but we must look at how Indigenous values are being embodied behind the camera to ensure the stories we are telling do not come at the expense of biodiversity or carbon emissions in our environment,” said Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Executive Director and Founder of Sacred Earth. “When we think of the film industry, we often think of entertainment or important stories that need to be told, but we don’t necessarily think of the impact the industry is having on the environment. The workshop was created to help filmmakers learn about best practices from an Indigenous lens to help lessen the negative impacts of film production.”

“The enthusiastic participation in this pilot workshop on sustainable filmmaking through an Indigenous lens clearly highlights the importance of adopting best practices that reflect Indigenous values at every stage of production,” said Kristy Assu, Director, Funding Programs, Indigenous Screen Office. “The Indigenous Screen Office is proud to have partnered with Sacred Earth and Telefilm Canada to support this opportunity for Indigenous filmmakers and is looking forward to providing further opportunities that propose innovative environmentally sustainable approaches.”

Did you know?

• Indirect effects of the film industry include: the CO2 emissions caused by movie productions and the use of materials are linked to deforestation. The more direct effects include the damage caused by crews while on filming on location.
• Referencing the Telefilm Canada report: “Using a 3-year production volume averaged from Canadian Media Producers Association’s Profile reports, the total annual carbon footprint was estimated at 7,126 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents (t CO2e) for Canadian Feature Film production, and 260,843 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents (t CO2e) for Canadian TV Series which is equivalent to 1,669 and 61,087 homes’ energy use for a year, respectively.” (Source: Estimating the Carbon Footprint of Canada’s Audio-visual Sector | Telefilm Canada)
• Average emissions across the 22 feature films and TV series amounted to 280 t CO2e.
• Average emissions per hour of content were 28 t CO2e, almost twice what the average Canadian person emits over the course of a year (15 t CO2e per year).
• Comparing carbon emission results between feature films and TV series, the latter had both higher total emissions, as well as higher emissions per hour.
• A single soundstage can lead to 4,000 hectares of deforestation, this is due to the use of ‘lauan’, a lightweight plywood which is easy to work with, but often unsustainably harvested from rainforests.
• The average tentpole film emits more than 3,300 metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere. To sequester that much carbon would require over 55,000 tree seedlings to be planted and then growing for ten years.
• An Ipsos Mori and Futerra survey of 20,000 people from 27 countries surveyed found that a fifth of the youngest cohort (under 35 years old) said that they believe it is ‘too late to fix climate change.’

Sacred Earth, alongside the Indigenous Screen Office and Telefilm Canada, are looking to conduct this workshop in 2025 after feedback and evaluation. For more information about this workshop, please reach out to Sacred Earth.

About the Indigenous Screen Office

The Indigenous Screen Office is an independent national advocacy and funding organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators of screen content in Canada. The ISO’s mandate is to foster and support narrative sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous storytelling on screens and promoting Indigenous values and participation across the sector.

About Sacred Earth

Sacred Earth is an Indigenous-led climate organization that works to support energy literacy initiatives and inclusive climate policy regionally, nationally and internationally. At Sacred Earth, we develop community-led partnerships, where we work collaboratively to design and build climate infrastructure, provide energy education, hands-on training, advocate for community-centered climate policies, create pathways for healing, wellness, and cultural revitalization that reinforce a holistic approach to the transition.

About Telefilm Canada

As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on LinkedIn and on X.

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Media contact

Waabshkigan Shane Monague
Communications Lead
Sacred Earth
comms@sacredearth.solar

Joyce Richards
Advisor, Strategic Communications
Telefilm Canada
Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca

Jean-François D. O’Bomsawin
Director of Communications and Francophone Initiatives
Indigenous Screen Office
jfobomsawin@iso-bea.ca

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