Green Filming – Analysis of project figures for 2021–2025

Since the addition to the guidelines in 2021 and the associated recommendation to consider green filming as early as the project development phase, more and more projects have been relying on collaboration with the mandatory Green Film Consultant in order to take into account and finance the planning of production and production submission in a timely manner.

The proportion of projects that were already supported by a Green Film Consultant during the project development phase has increased significantly over the years.

Of the 156 approved projects, 85 were those that increasingly planned green filming from the project development phase onwards.

At the beginning of 2021, this proportion was still at 6.5%. Over the years, a sharp increase to 75% can be observed.

Year	Number of selective funded developments	incl. Green Film Consultant	Share in %
2021	31	2	6,5%
2022	20	9	45%
2023	40	30	75%
2024	26	16	61,5%
2025	39	28	71,8%

The gradual development and implementation of mandatory measures and associated criteria catalogues since 2021, which are based on the experience gained and developed, are defined according to development levels.

These LEVELS of further development of green filming build on each other. The respective regulations with a corresponding gradual increase in mandatory measures have been defined over the years on the basis of increasing experience in practical implementation and political changes.

• LEVEL 1 – 2021-2022:

Initial regulations and introduction of the mandatory final report

• LEVEL 2 – 2023-2025:

Introduction of ÖFI+ Green Bonus 5%, introduction of the criteria catalogue of minimum ecological standards for Austrian cinema film productions ÖFI and ÖFI+ and definition of mandatory thresholds of at least 22 out of 25 MUST criteria for implementation with Green Bonus. Recommendation of at least 20 out of 25 MUST criteria for all other projects that were funded during production.

• LEVEL 3 – from 2026:

Introduction of the newly revised catalogue of criteria for ecological standards for Austrian cinema film productions ÖFI and ÖFI+ and definition of mandatory thresholds for MUST criteria for selectively funded productions (at least 20 of 26 MUST criteria) as well as productions funded with Green Bonus (at least 22 of 26 MUST criteria).

Currently valid ÖFI and ÖFI+ criteria catalogues:

• Criteria catalogue of ecological standards for Austrian cinema film productions ÖFI and ÖFI+ (V2)
• Criteria catalogue of ecological standards for Austrian cinema film productions ÖFI / ÖFI+ for ANIMATION (V2)
• Criteria catalogue of minimum ecological standards for Austrian exploitation funding for cinema releases ÖFI+ (V2)

According to the Austrian Film Institute’s funding guidelines 6.1.7 (production funding), funding recipients are free to choose until the contract is signed whether they want to implement the ÖFI’s valid criteria catalogues or whether they want to have the cinema film project certified by the Austrian Ecolabel RL-UZ76 Green Producing in Film and Television. The costs are recognised as eligible costs.

Total project figures for approved projects 2021-2025

The project figures collected do not include expired projects. The allocation by year is based on the approval of selective basic funding by ÖFI. Each project is counted only once. All approved projects up to and including 31 December 2025 were included.

A total of 206 cinema film productions were approved for 2021-2025. Of these, 169 cinema film productions were implemented in accordance with the Austrian Film Institute’s green filming regulations and guideline 6.1.7.

22 cinema film productions were additionally and voluntarily certified with the Austrian Ecolabel in accordance with RL-UZ76 in the period 2021-2025. zusätzlich und auf freiwilliger Basis mit dem Österreichischen Umweltzeichen nach der RL-UZ76 zertifiziert.

 

Total number of projects approved for 2021-2025	206
Projects including Green Bonus	118
Projects with mandatory Final Green Report	51
Projects with Eco Label-UZ76	22
Projects from previous years or transitional projects	32
Special projects	5

*All figures up to 31 December 2026 / Expired projects are not included.

*These figures differ from the pure ÖFI+ total figures in the activity report, as the projects were counted per year based on selective basic funding.

The introduction of the automatic ÖFI+ funding programme, including the 5% green bonus, on 1 January 2023 has led to an enormous increase in environmentally sustainable film production.

The proportion of projects funded by the automatic ÖFI+ funding programme and awarded a 5% Green Bonus will increase gradually between 2023 and 2025.

In 2023, 44 of a total of 52 approved production projects received funding including the Green Bonus, which corresponds to 85% of the approved ÖFI+ productions.

The total cumulative Green Bonus in 2023 amounts to EUR 3,135,013.

In 2024, 46 of 51 approved productions included the Green Bonus. This corresponds to 90% of approved ÖFI+ productions.

The cumulative Green Bonus in 2024 amounts to EUR 3,707,284.

In 2025, due to budgetary changes, the number of approved film projects fell to 30 productions. Nevertheless, 28 projects were approved including the Green Bonus. The proportion of Green Bonus projects continues to rise in the third year, reaching 93% in 2025.

The total cumulative Green Bonus in 2025 amounts to EUR 2,801,700.

 

 

Of a total of 131 ÖFI+ exploitation subsidies for cinema releases, 98 were calculated with Green Bonus.

This means that 74.8% of subsidised cinema releases since 2023 have been planned and implemented taking sustainable criteria into account.

2023:

In 2023, a total of 38 cinema release projects were funded by the automatic ÖFI+ funding programme.

Of these, 27 projects included the Green Bonus.

This corresponds to a share of 71%.

The total cumulative Green Bonus for cinema releases in 2023 amounts to EUR 133,568.

2024:

In 2024, a total of 42 cinema release projects were funded by the automatic ÖFI+ funding programme.

Of these, 31 projects received a Green Bonus.

This corresponds to a share of 74%.

The cumulative Green Bonus for cinema releases in 2024 amounts to EUR 104,571.

2025:

In 2025, a total of 51 cinema release projects were funded by the automatic ÖFI+ funding programme.

Of these, 40 projects have so far received a Green Bonus.

This corresponds to a share of 78%.

The cumulative Green Bonus for cinema releases in 2024 amounts to EUR 140,244.