Latest news with #2025GlobalProductionAwards
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Love Hurts, shot in Manitoba, named most sustainable film production
Cynthia Burke is a sustainability trailblazer in Manitoba's film scene. She's the industry's first certified environmental manager and last year worked as the eco-specialist on Love Hurts, the first local production to employ a dedicated sustainability department. On Monday, the action comedy starring Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan was named the year's most sustainable film production at the 2025 Global Production Awards in Cannes, France, beating out the likes of Wicked and Mean Girls. The international accolade — awarded annually to a production engaged in meaningful green filmmaking practices — is thanks in no small part to Burke's efforts to help reduce waste and emissions on set in Winnipeg. But she isn't one to hog the spotlight. 'I'm a liaison and a cheerleader, but my job is insignificant. The work that's done to create a sustainable film production is the crew's participation and buy-in — without that commitment, none of it is possible,' she says. Burke spent decades working as a teacher, but stepped away from the classroom because of stress and burnout. She's been working in film and television since 2012 after getting a degree in theatre and film and has spent most of her second career as a production assistant, with experience in set decoration, props and location services. Becoming an eco-friendly film production facilitator was not on her bingo card. The opportunity arose during pre-production for Love Hurts. A sustainability department was required to meet the corporate environmental standards of NBCUniversal and 87North Productions, but at the time nobody in town had the proper credentials. Burke interviewed, got the job and spent months training with Green Spark Group, an environmental consulting firm specializing in the film industry. She's since furthered her education with a Sustainable Production for Entertainment Certification (SPEC) from the U.S. Green Building Council California. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Cynthia Burke is the first certified environmental manager in Manitoba's film industry. Burke describes the role of an eco-specialist or environmental manager as 'a huge octopus of tasks.' 'It isn't just taking out the garbage, it's really intensive data collection to see what our carbon footprint is, to see where our emissions are coming from to understand where the gaps are and how to fix them,' she says. It's also about education. Between asking vendors for detailed waste and energy reports, Burke spent time on the Love Hurts set encouraging the cast and crew to use the garbage, recycling and compost bins correctly (which resulted in 4,000 kilograms of compost being diverted from the landfill), celebrating weekly achievements and doling out workplace and household sustainability tips. 'The things we do as teachers in terms of data collection, managing paperwork, teaching, communication skills — all of those things are really lovely parallels that are transferrable into this job,' she says. Power is one of the biggest environmental concerns on a film set. 'The work that's done to create a sustainable film production is the crew's participation and buy-in — without that commitment, none of it is possible.'–Cynthia Burke To cut down on emissions, NBCUniveral paid for electricity upgrades at Winnipeg's Big Sky Studios, which will benefit future productions; used mostly LED lighting; and sourced a hybrid electric generator instead of the usual gas-powered machines. Electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as e-scooters and e-bikes, were used to transport equipment and people. Burke is particularly proud of the new partnerships she helped establish with local organizations. Forty-five tonnes of usable construction and set-building materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity and more than 31 kg of edible prop food was sent to Harvest Manitoba. The on-set caterer agreed to provide reusable and compostable plates and cutlery and reduce the amount of red meat served during the production. Aluminum water bottles were procured to cut down on single-use plastic. One of Burke's biggest hurdles is convincing executives that sustainability initiatives are worth the extra effort and cost — especially with practices that aren't yet commonplace locally. Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. 'Making change is really difficult. When you have no baseline or past experience, it's hard to get your head around how it can save us money when it's costing us much more upfront. It's a really hard thing for people to understand the holistic aspects of a circular economy,' she says. At the moment, sustainability isn't an official department recognized by local film unions. Burke hopes her work and Love Hurts' sustainability win will help move the industry forward. Universal Pictures Ke Huy Quan (left) and Rhys Darby in Love Hurts 'We need to keep training people,' she says. 'We could be the best example of sustainable film production because we're a small market. We know each other and our vendors want to support (this) because you can see the difference it makes in Winnipeg.' X: @evawasney How is the stage lit? Who hangs the paintings? What happens in the dish pit? Behind the Scenes is a recurring series highlighting the important and often invisible work happening at arts and culture venues across Winnipeg. Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating New Zealand Film Sector Wins At 2025 Global Production Awards In Cannes
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) congratulates the outstanding achievements of the Māoriland Charitable Trust and Craig Gainsborough of Greenlit, recognised at the prestigious 2025 Global Production Awards, held in Cannes this week. Māoriland Charitable Trust took out the Economic and Social Inclusion category, while the Impact Leadership Award went to Craig Gainsborough – showcasing the creativity and innovation Aotearoa is famed for. 'We're delighted for Craig and the Māoriland Charitable Trust. To be recognised at the Global Production Awards demonstrates the reputation Aotearoa has as a leading film sector that celebrates indigenous storytelling and exceptional leaders,' says Annie Murray, NZFC Chief Executive. 'These awards celebrate those behind the scenes of what we see on screen. It's incredibly heartening to see New Zealanders ranked alongside some of the most well-regarded international names in the industry,' she added. Renowned for celebrating excellence in film production around the world, the Global Production Awards recognise the people, places and projects that drive the film industry forward. NZFC representatives attended the Global Production Awards as part of their global trade mission in Cannes. Murray added, 'These awards were made all the more special by the NZFC being in attendance alongside Māoriland Charitable Trust and Craig Gainsborough as they were announced. Our global trade mission is focused on building creative and commercial partnerships to elevate New Zealand within the international screen industry – to be recognised by our peers at these awards solidifies the depth of talent and skills Aotearoa has to offer.' About the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is the government agency responsible for supporting and promoting New Zealand's vibrant screen industry. It invests in the development, production, and marketing of New Zealand films, both locally and internationally, and works to grow the country's reputation as a world-class destination for screen production. The NZFC provides production financing for New Zealand feature and short films, offers talent development initiatives, and administers the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) – a key driver in attracting major international productions. It also supports official co-productions and offers resources to connect New Zealand filmmakers with global partners. Through its dual focus on nurturing local storytelling and bringing international productions to New Zealand's shores, the NZFC plays a vital role in the economic and cultural growth of the screen sector.
