02. June 2023

Free Films for Everyone During EU Green Week

EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal Sends Austrian Films Around the World This Year

Under the patronage of EU Green Week, which takes place from June 3 to 11, 2023, film fans can look forward to excellent films produced and co-produced in Austria. All registered schools can watch them for free in partner cinemas or stream them from the classroom at www.euyc.green. Selected films will also be available free of charge to audiences worldwide this time.

The EU-funded project EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal once again commits to a sustainable Europe and presents the relevant European Green Deal goals within a cinematic context. It is not a coincidence that the new focus GREEN FILMS @AUSTRIA launches during the EU Green Week - this annual event is an opportunity to present current developments concerning EU environmental policy. Furthermore, at the suggestion of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the year 2023 has been declared the European Year of Competences.

"The European Year of Skills explicitly aims to promote innovation and competitiveness, give new impetus to lifelong learning and strengthen society on the path to green and digital transformation. With the help of the EU Green Deal, up to one million additional jobs can be created in the European Union by 2030. Young people are a primary focus of sustainable education programs," says Minister Leonore Gewessler, who is, together with the Ministry of Climate Protection, providing considerable support to the EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal project for the second time.

GREEN FILMS @AUSTRIA

Within this year's focus GREEN FILMS @AUSTRIA, eight exceptional films have been selected: AUSTRIA2AUSTRALIA (directed by Andreas Buciuman, Dominik Bochis), EATING DIFFERENTLY – THE EXPERIMENT (directed by Andrea Ernst, Kurt Langbein) GENERATION CHANGE – WHO SAVES THE WORLD? (directed by Vanessa Böttcher), MATTER OUT OF PLACE (directed by Nikolaus Geyrhalter), THE GREEN LIE (directed by Werner Boote), SAVE THE VILLAGE (directed by Teresa Distelberger), WELCOME TO SODOM (directed by Christian Krönes, Florian Weigensamer) and WOOD – GAME-CHANGERS UNDERCOVER (directed by Monica Lãzurean-Gorgan, Michaela Kirst and Ebba Sinzinger). Exciting discussions with inspiring guests and high-quality didactic materials for teachers complete the offer.

"Through outstanding films from Austria, young people in five countries will learn about ecological challenges, opportunities and perspectives, and sensitized to the issue of climate change and climate protection," say VAM managing directors Veit Heiduschka and Michael Kavouras, who contributed to the Austrian focus with their collecting society for audiovisual media.

Director Christian Krönes (WELCOME TO SODOM) sums up the core message of the EUYC project: "I hope for a change in thinking, especially among young people, who take their responsibility for the environment and resources more seriously than the generations before them."

Thanks to the generous support of partners, the entire program can be offered free of charge. As of now, Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) is also involved: "Climate change is now anchored in our minds with very real images, and it has an impact on every one of us and every region. That is why the European Green Deal of the EU Commission concerns us all - from young to old. For the Vienna Insurance Group, the leading insurance group in Central and Eastern Europe, sustainability has been an integral part of our strategy for many years. For our company, assuming social responsibility is a particularly important concern, which is why we support the EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal project, which makes an important contribution to understanding the EU climate strategy and raises awareness of climate change among the younger generation", says Elisabeth Stadler, CEO of the Vienna Insurance Group.