This document was put together thanks to guidance from other festivals and individuals, including Take One Action Film Festivals, and Aya Films. We thank them for their generosity.
Download a pdf version of this policy here.
ABOUT SQIFF
SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) was formed with the aim of adding to the exciting and growing amount of queer film stuff happening around Scotland. Since 2015, we have held an annual Festival in Glasgow alongside providing year round events across various locations. SQIFF aims to build community through queer films. Our goal is to get people watching, talking about, and making more queer films. We want to screen movies that people might not otherwise get a chance to see and create inspiring and informative events across Scotland. Moreover, we want to support marginalised groups within the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a networking system for queer filmmakers, as well as filmmaking workshops for audiences wanting to start on the medium. We want to challenge inequalities and barriers to accessing the arts.
This Environmental and Sustainability Policy includes information on:
- Policy Statement
- Purpose
- Principles
- SQIFF’s commitment to ensuring safe environments for Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People, and people of the Global Majority
POLICY STATEMENT
SQIFF is committed to promoting sustainability. Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integral to SQIFF’s professional activities and the management of the organisation. We aim to follow and to promote good sustainability practices, to reduce the environmental impacts of all our activities and to help our clients and partners to do the same.
According to the Carbon Footprint Calculator, SQIFF’s result was 5.2 tonnes CO2e from November 2022-October 2023.
PURPOSE
This policy lays out how SQIFF intends to embed positive and considerate environmental and sustainable practice. It sets out what staff and Trustees need to be aware of in this area throughout activity planning, delivery and evaluation. This policy makes SQIFF responsible to the public as well its employees, voluntary staff, and audience members for acting on those commitments.
PRINCIPLES
Our Environmental and Sustainability Policy is based upon the following principles:
- To integrate sustainability considerations into all our business decisions; for example we do not partner with organisations that invest in oil and gas production, weapons, and environmentally hazardous waste. Please read our Ethical Partnerships and Sponsorships Policy for the full list.
- To ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Environmental and Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.
- To minimise the impact on sustainability of all cinematic releases, travel and administration.
- To make clients and suppliers aware of our Sustainability Policy, and encourage them to adopt sound sustainable management practices.
- To feature films that highlight issues related to environmental and sustainability awareness across SQIFF’s programme as well as activity relating to queer ecologies, nature films and how climate change impacts the LGBTQIA+ community.
In order to put these principles into practice we will:
- Where possible, SQIFF’s employees and volunteers will walk, cycle and/or use public transport to attend meetings, site visits etc.
- Travel to screenings or meetings across Scotland (even when guests of directors are present) will be undertaken by train.
- SQIFF will avoid hosting physical team meetings to ensure employees and volunteers do not need to travel where alternatives are available and practical; ie. using teleconferencing, video conferencing or web cams, and efficient timing of meetings to avoid multiple trips. These options are also often more time efficient, while not sacrificing the benefits of regular contact with clients and partners.
- Reduce the need for our employees to travel by supporting alternative working arrangements, including home working etc, and promote the use ofpublic transport by locating our offices in accessible locations.
- SQIFF will reduce the energy consumption of office equipment by purchasing energy efficient equipment and good housekeeping.
- Regularly update and develop our organisation sustainability plans.
- Minimise our use of paper: When printing marketing materials for promoting the SQIFF Festival, we will print on recyclable paper and minimise the number of materials we disseminate focusing on building audiences through social media and online advertising. Audiences can access our Festival brochure virtually and we will also continue to have an audio version brochure for blind and visually impaired audiences. With other office consumables, for example by double-siding all paper used, and identifying opportunities to reduce waste.
- As far as possible, SQIFF will arrange for the reuse or recycling of office waste, including paper, computer supplies and redundant equipment.
- SQIFF will use an eco-tank Epson printer and will only print when necessary.
- For the merchandise, which will include t-shirts, tote bags, and badges, we are also looking for sustainable suppliers that work with organic and recycled materials and eco-friendlier printing methods.
- SQIFF will also purchase fair-trade and/or organic snacks and beverages.
- SQIFF will refrain from inviting filmmakers from abroad this year and prioritiseinviting local talents.
- Where possible, all print traffic of films will be handled digitally; there will beno shipping of prints or DCP.
COMMITMENT TO TRANS, NON-BINARY AND/OR GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY
We are committed to providing an environment that is welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all attendees, staff, guests and volunteers, in person and online. In particular, SQIFF works to provide the safest environment for Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People, and people of the Global Majority.
Please refer to SQIFF’s Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People Statement and our Anti-Racism policy to see our full statement and measures.
We welcome any comments and suggestions that can help us to develop our Environmental and Sustainability Policy: [email protected].