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Case Studies / Lithuania

Sustainable Film Production in Lithuania: A Case Study Report

Flag of Lithuania with horizontal yellow, green, and red stripes.

Production Country: Lithuania, Norway, Sweden
Production Year: 2025
Certificate: Green Screen (UK)
Director: Vytautas Katkus
Length: 114 minutes
Screenings/Premiere: Karlovy Vary IFF 2025 “Crystal Globe” Competition – Best Director award
Budget: €1,245,790
Funded by: Lithuanian Film Center, Eurimages, Arctic Film Norway Invest, Swedish Film Institute, Creative Europe MEDIA, Lithuanian National Radio and Television


Industry Experience and Motivation 

M-Films began implementing structured sustainability practices in 2022 during the production of “Hunger Strike  Breakfast” (dir. Karolis Kaupinis). Prior to that, the team pursued ad hoc responsible practices, but 2022  marked a systematic shift: crew training (Albert Sustainable Production Training; Green Film Lab 2023, Rome) and the adoption of the Green Screen (UK) platform. 

Motivation combined global industry trends with company values: innovate responsibly and minimize environmental, social, and economic footprint. Sustainability leadership was championed by producer/green lead  Brigita Beniušytė, whose long-standing personal commitment to environmental stewardship helped embed sustainable habits across the company since 2017. 

Approach and Methodologies 

• Adoption of a structured framework (Green Screen) supported by formal training.

• Appointment of a dedicated Green Steward to oversee implementation and compliance on “The Visitor.” 

• On-location integration: the steward was based with the crew on the Lithuanian seaside, ensuring adherence outside the primary production hub (Vilnius).  

Key Practices Implemented 

• Transport and Mobility: 

• No personal cars on set; reliance on one production van plus technical transport.  

• Encouraged bicycle use within the small shooting town. 

• Reduced flights and minimized traveling crew/equipment; e.g., Tromsø, Norway, with a minimal  Lithuanian team and limited personal luggage, prioritizing freight efficiency.  

• Logistics and Crew Sizing: 

• Lean crew model to reduce transport, accommodation, and catering impacts.  

• Local collaboration to limit long-distance sourcing and shipping.  

• Materials and Waste: 

• Phase-out of single-use items.  

• Renting clothes and props as the default; minimized purchases.  

• Reuse and circularity integrated into department workflows.  

• Digitalization: 

• Fully digital paperwork (no printed call sheets), digital signatures, and personal water bottles.  • Catering: 

• Introduction of vegetarian meals; high acceptance after clear communication.  

• Waste-conscious planning to reduce leftovers.  

• Governance and Culture: 

• Steward oversight, regular team communication, and on-set reinforcement of practices.

• Emphasis on respect, safety, and a positive, eco-conscious work environment.

Team Engagement and Cultural Shifts 

The crew response was positive, marked by curiosity, quick adaptation to bicycles and reusables, and pride in  working sustainably. The lean, car-free approach strengthened team cohesion and fostered shared ownership of the green goals. 

Financial Aspects 

Overall impact was balanced. Savings emerged from local sourcing, optimized crew size, bike use, and reduced  flights. Incremental costs were linked to steward staffing and added planning time. Net effect: manageable and not a financial burden. 

Challenges 

• Transport and travel optimization required additional planning and coordination, particularly for cross-border elements (e.g., Norway).  

• Professional recognition of sustainability roles remains limited in Lithuania; there is a lingering misconception that “anyone” can serve as a Green Steward. Specialized training and dedicated  expertise proved essential to success.

What Worked Well

• Early communication and a dedicated Green Steward on location ensured consistent implementation.  • Lean, car-free set operations, with bicycles and minimal vehicles, delivered both emissions reductions and cultural benefits.  

• Full digitalization and phase-out of single-use items were easy wins.  

• Renting over buying streamlined circularity and reduced waste.  

What Could Be Improved 

• Start sustainability planning in development to lock in greener suppliers, minimize travel, and integrate sustainability into budgeting from the outset.  

• Strengthen professionalization and recognition of Green Stewards to improve outcomes and consistency across productions.  

Broader Industry Context 

Lithuania’s industry is still scaling its sustainability capacity. While practices are gaining traction and international partners value certified approaches, better recognition and growth of specialist roles are needed to meet rising European expectations and co-production standards.

• Hunger Strike Breakfast (dir. Karolis Kaupinis) – Premiered at Warsaw IFF 2025 – Sustainable Film  Production Certificate.  

• The Visitor (dir. Vytautas Katkus) – Best Director at Karlovy Vary IFF 2025 – Green Screen implementation with dedicated Green Steward.  

• Divorce During the War (dir. Andrius Blaževičius) – To premiere in 2026; presented at Berlinale Co Production Market 2024 – Sustainable Film Production Certificate. 

While The Visitor does not explicitly integrate sustainability into its narrative, the company’s evolving mindset is beginning to appear on screen. In Divorce During the War, characters use electric cars and exhibit recycling habits naturally, signaling a subtle shift toward embedding sustainability cues where appropriate.

M-Films’ structured sustainability journey demonstrates that carefully planned, steward-led approaches can deliver environmental benefits, cost balance, and cultural cohesion without burdening production. Key enablers include early planning, a lean transport model, digital-first operations, and renting for circularity. To scale impact across Lithuania, the industry would benefit from earlier integration in development and stronger professional recognition of sustainability experts—both of which will support alignment with European co-production standards and funder expectations.

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