We are extremely proud to say that The Bottle Yard Studios has won the Sustainable Initiative Award at Screen International’s inaugural Global Production Awards!
The award was made in recognition of the innovative 1MWp solar rooftop array that powers our new TBY2 facility, which opened last year.
Launched by Screen and sister brands KFTV and Broadcast and supported by London-based screen consultancy firm Olsberg SPI, the awards herald outstanding and sustainable work from the world of film and TV production, locations and studios around the globe. The ceremony took place on 22 May during the Cannes Film Festival, at the Mademoiselle Gray D’Albion Plage.
Screen International’s article “Celebrating the winners of Screen’s inaugural 2023 Global Production Award winners” (26 May 2023) describes what made The Bottle Yard’s TBY2 solar rooftop stand out from the crowd in the category:
To secure the sustainable initiative award, a film commission, office or production studio/company had to detail an outstanding single green initiative, demonstrable by results in practice. The judges were tasked with looking for an individual initiative which was a big idea that made a difference to one area or element of the production process while making it more environmentally friendly with tangible results.
The winner Bottle Yard Studios and its TBY2 Studios’ solar rooftop array shone brightly for several judges, provided demonstrable evidence of how the studio facility initiative delivers measurable and defined benefits to the environment/community. “With their solar rooftop, Bottle Yard is putting in the work to maintain studio backlot and sustainability standards and they’re working with the community to make it happen,” noted one judge.
Judges also highlighted the work Bottle Yard had done to involve the local authorities and community at large to okay the development and partner on the development.
“When we have a film production, it’s all about the energy saving which is a big challenge and reducing transport footprints,” said one judge who manages large scale productions. “This is a scalable product so we could use it and do the same in other territories as well. I really like the community approach of being involved in it, and at the same time helping the film industry go green. We need to be replacing fossil fuels.”
According to the judges, Bottle Yard Studios displayed expansive thinking on a large scale. “I think that for any studio shed that’s being built, solar panels should be all over it. Bottle Yard’s initiative will have an impact now and into the future.”
Bottle Yard Studios also showed grassroots commitment to sustainability. “This is the sort of expansive thinking, large scale change we need in our industry to make real sustainable change,” one judge said, while another joked that the “the sheer bravery of trying to harness the sun in the UK should be applauded.”
On a more serious note, another judge suggested MWp Solar Rooftop Array sustainable energy is the only way forward for the industry. “The grassroots effort, quantifiable success, and clear benefit to both environment and filmmakers puts The Bottle Yard Studios in a class of its own.”
We’re grateful to our friend and fellow Bristol UNESCO City of Film colleague, Maddy Probst (Managing Producer, Watershed), who attended the ceremony to accept the award on our team’s behalf, sharing the following message from our Senior Film Manager Laura Aviles:
“The Bottle Yard team is hugely proud to accept this award. Receiving global recognition for our TBY2 solar array is an honour. By partnering with Bristol Energy Cooperative and Bristol Council’s Energy Services, we transformed a vast roof into an incredible renewable energy asset that produces clean power, not just for the facility and its production clients, but also the wider city of Bristol, helping it move towards its carbon neutral targets.
“The community ownership model is entirely replicable and benefits Bristol communities as well as the Energy Coop’s local shareholders. We think it’s a great example of what can be achieved when experts in different fields put their heads together to reach a shared sustainability goal.
“We hope TBY2 can inspire others who might be thinking creatively about how solar can be harnessed by studios on a bigger scale in their area. Studios can make a difference! Thank you to the Jury!”
For more information about TBY2’s solar rooftop array, click here.
(All images: source Theo Wood)