Sold out FMX 2023 celebrates success + focus on sustainability and diversity

Work it, everyone! An important aspect of FMX, which was certified as a climate-friendly event for the first time this year, was the topic of sustainability. Not only did sustainability-themed content move into the limelight, including BAFTA Games Award winner ENDLING - EXTINCTION IS FOREVER – production and working conditions were also reexamined in the light of sustainability. One panel, for example, took a self-critical look at the technical perfectionism of the entertainment industry, delved into the possibilities for institutions and companies to minimize their own ecological footprint, and proposed to think about sustainability with the start of every content conceptualization process.

For Arne Braun, State Secretary in the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Arts, FMX has thus again proven its importance for the region: "FMX is not only one of the world's most important trade conferences for film and media production, but is also a significant event in our state. After all, animation has been strongly tied to Baden-Württemberg for more than three decades now. The securing and strengthening of the field in our region is crucial for the state government, and the creative industries are a key focus for our future. I am particularly pleased that this year's conference focused on sustainability – a priority for us – and that FMX itself could be organized as a climate-friendly event."

Talking about change: FMX was also a lot about transforming work cultures. Julie Ann Crommett, founder and CEO of Collective Moxie, curated the Cultivating Inclusion track that revolved around diversity and equal opportunity - another important matter of debate. She sums up her take-aways: "To cultivate inclusion it takes day to day intention, strategic operational design, deep empathy, and consistent accountability. In order for the global VFX and animation industries to continue to exist and to thrive creatively and economically, it is necessary to treat DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) not as a check list but rather as an essential, deep cultural shift that values people of all backgrounds equitably and insists on disrupting the biases that have impeded the industry from being the best it can be."