Commission launches a video competition for schools: “Film4Energy Challenge”

On 1 October, the European Commission is launching the “Film4Energy Challenge”, a video competition that invites schools across the European Union (EU) to create a short film about the importance of saving energy. Open to 12-15-year-old schoolchildren across the EU, the competition is not only aimed at stimulating creativity, but also a deeper consideration of the importance of saving energy in the fight against climate change.  

To participate, students have to produce a video up to 1 minute long (with the help of their teachers) about how they can save energy in their daily lives, highlighting the benefits of energy efficiency and encouraging the use of energy-efficient alternatives. The winning videos will be disseminated on the social media channels of Directorate-General for Energy and other official social media channels of the Commission, and the best entry will also be awarded an “energy day”, organised at the winning school.

The competition will remain open until 15 February 2022, and the winners will be announced in March 2022.  

For more details, the rules and the terms and conditions on how to participate are published on the competition webpage (available in all EU languages, except Maltese and Gaelic).

Background

In the context of the EU ambition of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 (the European Green Deal), increasing our energy efficiency is essential. The more we can reduce energy consumption, the more we lower our greenhouse gas emissions – and save on our energy bills. In July the Commission published a proposal to revise EU energy efficiency rules, seeking amongst other things to set a headline target of reducing primary energy consumption by 39% by 2030 (and by 36% for final energy consumption, relative to a baseline scenario). But there are many different ways in which savings can be made.

Young students are already well aware of global warming and are keen to join the fight against climate change. However, the different ways in which we can save energy are not always obvious.  By discussing this at school – and planning a video on the subject – this competition is intended to raise awareness of what can be done to reduce consumption, and possibly change behaviour. It may even stimulate schools to review their own policies. The more schools that participate, the greater we can raise awareness across the EU.

In 2020, the Commission published a series of 5 animated videos and a quiz about different energy-related topics, such as energy efficiency, energy security and renewable energy. Also these products address primarily schoolchildren 12-15 year olds and their teachers.