ASPA: towards a shared home for audiovisual sustainability professionals

The sustainable transition of the audiovisual sector requires specialist skills and clearly recognized roles. Sustainability managers, coordinators, supervisors, consultants, data specialists and professionals working in accessibility, social impact and organization do not operate only on sets: their work extends across festivals, funds, broadcasters, institutions, schools and companies throughout the industry. ASPA – Audiovisual Sustainability Professionals Association is taking shape to provide representation and structure for these professions.

The working group has been active since 2025 and has already drafted the association’s manifesto. It brings together representatives from more than 30 countries, united by the need to establish a common language, recognize professional skills, share tools and strengthen the position of those who turn sustainability strategies into practical action within the sector. An informal meeting held during Cannes 2026 consolidated dialogue among the different international communities involved.

ASPA is now moving towards formal establishment in Europe, but its outlook is global. The association will be open to international participation and will address the audiovisual industry as a whole, rather than focusing solely on production. This broad scope is essential: impacts and decisions are distributed throughout the entire value chain and require professionals capable of working across territories, specializations and different regulatory frameworks.

Future areas of work include the definition of professional profiles, the development of shared ethical and operational standards, continuing professional development and dialogue with institutions, industry bodies and funding systems. The aim is not to create a single professional role, but to recognize the diversity of professions currently supporting this transition.

EcoMuvi is contributing to this process as a promoter and convening hub. The next step will be to transform the existing network into a formal structure capable of representing a rapidly growing professional community at international level.