Leverage Point Entertainment Launches To Help Producers Build Sustainability Into Budgets & Scripts

EXCLUSIVE: The TV and film production sustainability sector is welcoming a new player.

Zsófia Szemerédy, formerly International Manager at BAFTA’s environmentally-focused arm Albert, has launched Leverage Point Entertainment (LPE). Her London- and Budapest-based boutique sustainability agency aims to close space between artistic vision and environmental responsibility in film, TV, commercial and entertainment production.

Szemerédy said it was aiming to “help the industry see sustainability not as a constraint, but as a creative force.”

As such, LPE will seek to help creatives and production companies find their ‘leverage point’ for change by building sustainability considerations into storytelling and budgets. It will help with decarbonization strategies, and work with companies to revise their slates and policies around long-term sustainability practices.

Among other services, LPE will help embed sustainability values in scripts through consultations, and provide training, panels and courses to up-skill industry works. It will also help with building sustainable elements into funding applications and provide broader strategic advice.

The likes of Cate Blanchett and Arnold Schwarzenegger are among big-name Hollywood stars who have been advocating for more sustainable production methods, while BBC Director General Tim Davie said last year that content focused on climate change and sustainability offers a “huge opportunity.” Most major studios and production houses have made commitments for greener production, though it’s complicated to measure whether this has had a last effect.

Szemerédy, an expert in the field, will work primarily across the UK, and Central, Eastern and Western Europe at launch, including in Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Czechia and Bulgaria, and on a bespoke basis for the rest of the world.

“After over a decade in film and TV, I’ve seen firsthand how storytelling can shift culture,” said Szemerédy. We’re at a tipping point, and each of us has a unique leverage point to drive real change.

“With Leverage Point, we’re here to help the industry see sustainability not as a constraint, but as a creative force. From development to distribution, we want to support filmmakers and stakeholders in embedding sustainability into every slate, budget, and story.”

Besides working at Albert, Szemerédy was co-founder and CEO of a specialised sustainability consultancy. where she led global training efforts such as the International Screen Institute’s course. She has delivered lectures at the National Film and Television School and speaks at industry events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the EFM.

Her credits include Apple TV+ drama Hijack, Marvel TV drama Moon Knight, Sky’s Lee, Emma Stone feature Poor Things, Netflix’s Death by Lightning, NBCUniversal movie Nosferatu, Disney’s Alien: Romulus and Max series Dune: Prophecy.

“We believe that transformation comes from partnerships, not prescriptions,” said Szemerédy. “Whether it’s a feature film, episodic series, or industry training, our goal is to meet teams where they are and help them build momentum toward a more sustainable future.”