Berlin, Germany – November 28, 2023: Güler Sabancı, the Chairperson of Sabancı Holding, is slated to be honored with the esteemed EUROPEAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – Prix FILM4CLIMATE 2023 during the upcoming 36th European Film Awards on December 9. This prestigious accolade, marking a significant expansion from traditional environmental sustainability, underscores the broader scope of sustainability, encompassing initiatives aimed at societal enhancement and the future welfare of the film industry.
The recognition is a testament to Güler Sabancı’s exceptional philanthropic endeavors, not just within Turkey but across Europe and beyond. Her contributions have been acknowledged through various distinguished accolades including the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, the Clinton Global Citizen Award, the Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy, and the European School of Management Responsible Leadership Award.
In response to this recognition, Güler Sabancı emphasized, “Building a more sustainable world requires collective effort and conscientious action from us all. Cinema possesses the profound ability to touch hearts and catalyze change. This award reaffirms our commitment to promoting sustainability to a wider audience through the medium of film.”
Mike Downey, Chair of the Board, expressed, “Through the EUROPEAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – Prix FILM4CLIMATE, the European Film Academy continues its steadfast dedication to fostering a more sustainable film industry in Europe. By broadening the sustainability horizon beyond environmental aspects, we believe that individuals like Güler Sabancı, who serve as inspirations and catalysts within this sector, deserve recognition and gratitude for their endeavors.”
The EUROPEAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – Prix FILM4CLIMATE seeks to honor a European entity—be it an institution, company, or film—that has made an outstanding contribution to sustainability in film. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the European Film Academy and the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program, which focuses on creative communications and climate action.
Connect4Climate, operating as the largest multilateral financier of climate action in developing nations within the World Bank Group, leverages its network of over 500 global partners to execute creative campaigns, amplify impactful narratives, empower youth voices, and mobilize audiences. Film4Climate, a specific initiative under Connect4Climate, collaborates with filmmakers, producers, and organizations to champion climate and environmental action within the film industry, both in content creation and production.
The EUROPEAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – Prix FILM4CLIMATE aims not only to commend films produced under cutting-edge sustainable standards but also to encourage the film industry to leverage its influential capacity toward a sustainable approach encompassing the economy, society, and environment, thereby effecting tangible changes in individuals’ lives. The recipient of this award will be presented with a native tree from the host country of the European Film Awards ceremony, symbolizing a commitment to sustainability and will be planted locally following the ceremony.
The European Film Awards celebrate the pinnacle of achievements in European cinema, presented by the European Film Academy and European Film Academy Productions, signifying the most esteemed recognition in the realm of European film.
