Sustainable filmmaking, also known locally as green filming or green production, has been gaining momentum in Slovakia, particularly since the country’s participation in the Green Screen project in 2018.
As of June 2025, the main national funding body in Slovakia – the Audiovisual fund, is not giving extra subsidy to productions for employing “green consultants“, as it had been done previously in Slovakia. However, the current ongoing discussion of changes in funding structure focuses on incentivising productions to commit to sustainability principles, and upon submitting a funding application proposal, some percentage of financial subsidy approved will be directly related to a production’s sustainability strategy.
For international co-productions and service productions in Slovakia, carbon footprint calculation is the most in-demand service due to its impact on securing funding.
Green filmmaking principles have already been applied in practice. A notable example is “The Flood” (Potopa), a Slovak-Czech-Polish-Belgian fiction co-production that implemented sustainability measures throughout pre-production and filming. The team followed the “Ten Green Commandments” and hired Valentína Hučková, a certified green filming coordinator, to oversee eco-friendly practices on and off set.
While sustainable filmmaking in Slovakia is still developing, progress has been made in reducing the industry’s environmental impact, supported by both local and international efforts.
Slovakia has no specific green filming laws, but the Slovak Audiovisual Fund (AVF) supports national films and co-productions, including eco-friendly initiatives, though funding allocation remains unclear.
Social rules
These measures influence the film industry indirectly, especially in terms of gender equality and non-discrimination in hiring and working conditions. However, there are no specific regulations targeting discrimination in Slovak filmmaking.
The Slovak Audiovisual Fund (AVF), under the Ministry of Culture, supports eco-friendly practices in the audiovisual sector through the Slovak Film Commission (SFC).
The SFC promotes sustainable filmmaking via the EU’s Green Screen project, which aims to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. It also collaborated with INCIEN (Institute for Circular Economy) to encourage eco-friendly production practices. Initiatives include workshops, training, industry talks, and the Green Call—a sustainability manifesto for producers. The SFC also promotes the EURECA carbon calculator, developed with scientific data from EU partners.
The AVF has announced plans to fund productions that hire certified eco-consultants. A training course in September 2022 certified professionals in sustainable filmmaking, allowing production companies to request additional funding for their wages or sustainability investments. However, the long-term operation of this funding scheme remains uncertain.
Key aspects of Slovakia’s approach to eco-friendly film production include:
One private broadcaster , TV Markíza, part of the CME network, adopted a sustainable filmmaking agenda in 2022, following the example of Czech broadcaster TV Nova. A Sustainable Production Coordinator was hired to oversee green initiatives, and a Green Runner (sustainability PA) role was introduced on selected fiction series.
Efforts focused on basic sustainability improvements, carbon footprint calculation and offsetting (using the Albert calculator from the UK), and integrating sustainability into content. Their “Green Week” initiative promoted environmental awareness both in marketing and through planet placement, creatively embedding sustainability themes into fiction content.
Getting a new grid connection for a film production in Slovakia is challenging. A robust administrative process is required, and various legal entities need to approve the request. If a production wants a new connection point, it must request and pay for both the connection and the electricity generated, usually over a month in advance.
Alternatively, productions can rely on existing connections from location providers (e.g., businesses, building administrators), but generators are commonly used on set if this is not feasible.
Train
Score 3/5
The national rail service ZSSK is often criticized for its suboptimal services, slow speeds, and lack of infrastructure, reflecting slow renewal from the Socialist era. However, students and seniors can travel for free on trains, and a night train connects the West and East of the country, though part of the line is under renovation.
Filmmakers generally use train transport for individual crew members, but often carpool to locations where train and bus infrastructure are less efficient.
Electric cars
In Slovakia, the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is steadily growing, though it still faces challenges in terms of coverage and availability compared to other European countries. The number of charging stations has been increasing, particularly in larger cities like Bratislava and Košice, but rural areas and smaller towns may have more limited access to charging points.
The stations themselves typically include standard (AC) chargers as well as fast-charging (DC) options, with a focus on high-traffic areas, highways, and popular destinations.
List of charging stations in Slovakia
While waste separation is not mandatory, separation stations are available for households. Companies, however, must pay additional fees to separate their waste. Waste management systems vary by municipality, with Bratislava and Košice having incinerators, while other regions mainly rely on landfills.
As of 2024, it appears that 2-5 individuals are actively involved in productions as Green Consultants, with no official association or formal framework existing.
The Slovak Film Commission (SFC) provides a list of individuals who undertook the national-level sustainable filmmaking training in 2022 and have been certified to apply for additional funding through the Audiovisual Fund (AVF). These individuals can be found here, though most are not actively involved in the role: SFC Sustainability Manager List
The SFC maintains a “Green Platform” database, which includes Slovak and international service providers: Green Platform
Case Study
Calculators :
Country’s decarbonization strategy
Slovakia aligns with the EU’s climate goals and the European Green Deal, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. Its key policies are outlined in the Low-Carbon Development Strategy 2030–2050 and the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).
Key Focus Areas:
While Slovakia is committed to emission reduction, gaps in renewable energy and efficiency suggest a need for stronger policies and investments.
This factsheet was produced by Ecoprod, the leading association promoting ecological and sustainable practices in the audiovisual industry (cinema, TV, animation, advertising, web, podcast, radio), with the support of Valentína Hučková.
