Kassel's Gloria Kino shines with a sustainability award for exemplary commitment!

Kassel's Gloria Kino shines with a sustainability award for exemplary commitment!

In Hesse, everything is currently about sustainable cinema! On June 11, 2025, the winners of the renowned “Hessian Prize for Sustainable Cinema” were announced at the Cinema Wolfhagen. This award is presented every two years and is a real highlight for cinemas that are committed to the environment and society. The focus is on promoting and supporting cinemas on their way to sustainable orientation, such as HNA reported.

The main prize winners are the Saalbau Lichtspiele in Heppenheim, which was awarded 5,000 euros for their exemplary and sustainable operation. Their concept includes the use of heat pump technology and a future-oriented waste reduction concept, while they also offer a free “Cinema of Cultures” open to all. This mix of ecological responsibility and social components convinced the jury.

Other award winners and criteria

A further five cinemas were also recognized for their sustainable approaches: The Gloria Cinema in Kassel (2,000 euros), the FilmBühne in Bad Nauheim (2,000 euros), the Lichtspielhaus in Lauterbach (1,000 euros), as well as the Traumstern cinema in Lich and the Harmonie in Frankfurt, which both received honorable mentions. The cinemas were selected according to strict criteria, including resource management, waste management and the promotion of economic, social and cultural sustainability, according to the statement Arthouse cinema.

The jury consisted of three experts from the creative and media industries and praised the broad regional spread of the applications. The managing director of the Hesse Film and Cinema Office emphasized how important such initiatives are for cinemas, especially in times when creativity and responsibility have to go hand in hand.

supporting initiatives

The future of cinema could become even greener thanks to numerous funding programs. On platforms like Cinema Guide You can find comprehensive information about government funding that supports cinemas in implementing sustainable measures. These range from cheap loans to grants for environmentally friendly renovations.

For example, the film funding agency supports modernizations with up to 50% of the total eligible costs. Grants of up to 60,000 euros are also available for individual projects as part of the future cinema program. This shows that sustainability in cinema is not only a matter of the heart, but also economically feasible.

Overall, the award ceremony shows that Hessian cinemas are on the right path. The awards set an example for an environmentally friendly cinema experience that can remain exciting and relevant in the future. So something needs to be done to make the cinemas of tomorrow sustainable and innovative!