Quick links

Two Black Boys in Paradise (2025)

BAFTA award-winning film (2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards), Two Black Boys in Paradise shows how sustainability can be embedded into a production from the outset, even on a tight budget. The team approached sustainability as a responsibility, building it into the ethos of the project across all departments.

Low-budget filmmaking, high-impact sustainability

Why is it effective?

01.

LED lighting and energy efficiency

Almost all lighting used was LED, including custom-built LED cyc lights made from LED strips and upcycled guttering. Studio lighting was also adapted so only active spaces were lit, reducing energy use.

02.

Collaboration across departments

Sustainability was a shared effort across the crew. Departments minimised waste through approaches such as mixing No VOC paints in-house and using upcycled and second-hand materials for costumes.

03.

Remote working to reduce travel

Production meetings, editing and VFX were largely conducted remotely. Music recording in Budapest required no travel from the film team, significantly reducing travel between Manchester, London and Loughborough.

The Impact

01.

Energy use

LED lighting and improved control systems lowered electricity consumption.

02.

Travel

Remote collaboration significantly reduced travel-related emissions.

03.

Waste

Costumes and materials were largely sourced through upcycling and second-hand items.

04.

Costs

Sustainable choices also reduced costs across energy, materials and travel.

05.

Influence

Trees were planted on behalf of the crew, with many inspired to continue the practice beyond the production.

“For independent studios working on a tight budget, sustainable production can sometimes feel like an unaffordable luxury. But for us it was important to build it into the ethos of the production from the start and to see it as a responsibility, not a luxury. Albert certification helped us make that responsibility a reality. It gave us a framework and a shared language for making practical, measurable changes across every department. Everyone on our crew shared a passion for doing things properly and thinking about the wider impact of our work, and achieving Albert certification is something we are all very proud of. It demonstrates the power of collaboration when a team is aligned around shared values and long-term thinking. We believe meaningful change in the industry will only happen if productions of every scale commit to embedding sustainable practice as standard, and we hope being part of that movement contributes, even in a small way, to lasting change. ”

Ben Jackson, Producer