EcoMuvi and the Hubert Bals Fund: a model for integrating sustainability into film funds

A film’s sustainability also depends on how it is financed. Through the collaboration between EcoMuvi and the Hubert Bals Fund, launched within the framework of HBF+Europe 2026, sustainability was incorporated directly into the project selection and support process, turning the fund into a tool capable of guiding decisions from the earliest stages.

The work took place on several levels. EcoMuvi contributed to the review of the selection criteria, held a webinar for applicants and joined the evaluation committee. All supported projects achieved a minimum score of 8 out of 15 on the EcoMuvi sustainability scale, demonstrating that they had a credible foundation on which to build their sustainability pathway.

The assessment considered the environmental, social, economic and organizational dimensions together. It therefore looked beyond energy, travel and materials to include working conditions, inclusion, accessibility, relationships with local communities, governance and the ability to document commitments. This holistic approach makes it possible to adapt requirements to each project’s development stage and scale, without reducing sustainability to a rigid set of obligations.

The model developed with the Hubert Bals Fund shows that film funds can help transform the industry without limiting artistic ambition. On the contrary, introducing clear criteria and technical support helps projects become more aware, better prepared and more robust by the time they enter production.

For EcoMuvi, this collaboration opens up a strategic area of work: applying its methodology not only where films are made, but also where they receive resources, priority and opportunities. It is at these stages that sustainability can become a structural part of film development.