Hessian cinemas shine: Award for sustainable commitment!

Hessian cinemas shine: Award for sustainable commitment!

In Hesse, a very special award is presented every two years that is dedicated to the sustainable commitment of cinemas. On June 11, 2025, the “Hessian Prize for Sustainable Cinema” ceremony took place at the Cinema Wolfhagen. This year, the Saalbau Lichtspiele in Heppenheim were the main prize winners and received a prize of 5,000 euros. The prize is endowed with a total of 10,000 euros and is awarded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture and the Hesse Film and Cinema Office. A unique competition in Germany in which cinemas are honored for their exemplary actions on environmental and social issues.

Timon Gremmels, the Media State Secretary, personally presented the award to the Saalbau Lichtspiele, who impressed with their commitment to sustainable energy and cultural projects. This includes, among other things, the use of a heat pump and a photovoltaic system, which significantly reduce energy consumption. The Lichtspiele are also involved in the free “Cinema of Cultures”, a format that promotes exchange about migration. So it's clear that not only films are shown here, but important social issues are also discussed.

Other prize winners and awards

The evening was not only a complete success for Heppenheim. Other cinemas also received valuable recognition. The Filmbühne Bad Nauheim and the Gloria Kino Kassel were each awarded 2,000 euros. The film stage focuses on cultural sustainability and inclusion, while the Gloria Kino in Kassel has distinguished itself through ecological renovation and women's political commitment. The Lauterbach cinema received an award of 1,000 euros for its commitment and cooperation with local suppliers. The Traumstern cinema in Lich and the Harmonie Filmtheater in Frankfurt were also praised for their social projects.

The initiators of the prize see such initiatives not only as an opportunity to promote artistic values, but also as a way to preserve cinemas as cultural, social places. In times when traditional cinema is under pressure due to digitalization, the connection between sustainability and cinema is more relevant than ever. Walter Spruck, head of the Institute for Sustainability in Culture and Tourism, said that cinemas in particular can do good business with sustainable concepts and become sustainable through their commitment.

The Green Cinema Initiative

The aim of the award and the “Green Cinema” initiative is to support cinemas nationwide on their way to a sustainable future. Cinemas should not only be advised on how to implement environmentally friendly measures, but also supported in forming networks and adopting best practice solutions. This is all the more important because the first prize for sustainable cinema was awarded in Frankfurt am Main in 2016 and has been receiving ever-increasing attention since then.

Between the awards, the Hessian cinemas can rely on support in the form of workshops and training courses in order to realize and further develop their sustainable projects. This shows that cinemas are not alone, but are integrated into a network of solutions and ideas that works nationwide. This approach not only gives the cinemas perspectives, but also ensures that the cinema as a place of culture and social exchange does not die out in the future.

Overall, the awarding of the “Hessian Prize for Sustainable Cinema” shows that a courageous step is being taken in the green direction. Every award is not just an award, but also motivation and incentive for all cinemas to make their contribution to sustainability.