Fest Anča International Animation Festival acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis and the environmental impact of cultural events. As our festival and year-round activities are rooted in community, education, and creativity, we are committed to integrating sustainability into all aspects of our practice. We are the founding members of the Animation Festival Network (AFN) and we have all joined the Green Charter for Film Festivals, which marks our commitment to report our impact and strive for continuous improvement.
We believe that festivals can play their part as catalysts for change, modeling better practices and inspiring festival-goers and wider public. We consider our sustainability pledge to include not only environmental responsibility but also commitments to minimise social inequality and promote cultural accessibility, inclusivity, and fair working conditions across all aspects of the festival.
Therefore, we pledge to be:
Environmentally Responsible
- We optimise our waste management policy at festival venues – festival organisers and volunteers will be present to accompany and raise awareness among festival-goers about good recycling practices
- We minimise single-use plastics by avoiding unnecessary packaging and supporting returnable container systems
- We guide audiences to refill their own water bottles with tap water, since Slovakia has good-quality drinking water
- We prioritise public transportation, cycling, and walking for staff, guests and audiences, and offer incentives for green/low-carbon travel options
- For international guests, we promote longer stays and multi-programme engagement (or remote participation alternatives when feasible)
- Our partner venues commit to energy efficiency
- We partner with local suppliers, thereby supporting the local economy and reducing the environmental footprint associated with transportation. We have introduced a coupon system to help reduce single-use packaging waste and encourage more responsible food choices, which also helps prevent food waste. In our direct food offerings, we focus on meatless and/or plant-based alternatives to promote more sustainable eating habits.
- We minimise printed materials while also considering our digital impact
- We monitor and reduce our environmental impact through the use of appropriate carbon calculators, analysing stats such as the use of electricity, water, and resources during the festival
- Each edition we include sustainability into our programming through films, talks, and/or discussions that raise awareness of environmental and social issues – notably Tadeáš Žďársky held a lecture on the theory of De-growth (2023 edition); AFN distribution programme: Elephant Goes Green, a curated selection of animated films for children with underlying environmental topics, paired with our workshops for families with children on material reuse for stop-motion character design (2024 edition); and the Green panel Environmentally responsible Animation? open to the public (2025 edition)
Community-focused and Collaborative
- We work with local and international partners to exchange best practices, including green practices and hope to amplify our shared impact through collaborative networks, such as the AFN
- Our festival would not be the same without the help of our countless volunteers, who come to join the festival and learn more about the cultural organisation
- We educate our team, volunteers, and audiences about our goals and how they can contribute
Transparent and continually improving
- Starting this year, we are evaluating and reporting on our ecological footprint
- Set measurable goals and revise them each year to continuously improve
- Encourage feedback and dialogue to make our green strategy inclusive and participatory
Making everyone feel welcome at the festival
- Accessibility is part of our core values, regardless of social, age, gender, or national differences. We are developing inclusive programming to reach wider audiences.
Our (Green) Vision
We believe that environmental justice is inseparable from social and cultural responsibility. As we celebrate the power of animation and storytelling, we also celebrate our power to imagine and build a more sustainable future.
Fest Anča invites animators, audiences, partners, and institutions to join us on this journey toward a festival that is not only creative but also caring, conscious, and green.
Our sustainability team
Valentína Hučková – Sustainability Manager, Funding Manager, Fest Anča Edu Coordinator and Slovak Industry Day Coordinator
Contact: industry@festanca.sk
Post-festival survey
Are you a festival-goer? You are welcome to take our environmental impact survey.
