The ISO 20121-Certified Convention Center
The Deauville International Center (C.I.D.) has been ISO 20121 certified since 2018. This international standard, dedicated to the responsible management of event activities, aims to mitigate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of events and places Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the heart of its operations.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Each edition of the Festival marks a new step forward in improving its practices. Following this year’s event, the Festival will conduct its first carbon footprint assessment to identify the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions associated with its organization. This assessment will enable the Festival to develop an action plan aimed at gradually reducing its carbon footprint in future editions, in collaboration with all its partners and service providers.
Festivalgoers are also invited to contribute to this effort by choosing, whenever possible, modes of transportation that produce the fewest greenhouse gas emissions, such as trains, carpooling, or public transit. They can estimate the carbon impact of their trip using the Impact CO₂ tool, developed by ADEME, which allows users to compare different modes of transportation.
Environmental Commitment :
- All travel between the train station, hotels, restaurants, the Deauville International Center, the Casino Cinema, and the Morny Cinema can be easily done on foot, thereby limiting the need for motorized transportation.
- C.I.D. service providers working at the Festival are committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and adhere to the C.I.D.’s responsible procurement charter.
- The C.I.D.’s approved caterers at the Festival Bar prioritize short supply chains, local producers, and seasonal products. The tableware used is recyclable or reusable, and beverages are served in eco-cups.
- The Deauville International Center recycles 89.7% of its waste through a 7‑stream sorting system*.
- The red carpet remains in place for the entire duration of the Festival, thereby avoiding the generation of excessive amounts of carpet waste.
- BYD, an official partner of the Festival, provides a fleet of electric vehicles to transport performers.
- The approved printers are certified by Imprim’Vert, PEFC, FSC, and HQE. At the same time, the Festival continues its policy of reducing printing, with a 20% decrease in printed volumes since 2018.
- The Festival program is available online, and the general public ticketing system is entirely digital, thereby eliminating the use of PVC, cardboard, and fabric materials.
- Thanks to its energy conservation plan, the C.I.D. reduced its energy consumption by 16% between 2024 and 2025.
- The 18,000 m² of the Deauville International Center (C.I.D.) benefit from a sustainable energy loop: a shared boiler room supplies the C.I.D., the Olympic-size swimming pool, and the thalassotherapy center.
*Of which 59.5% is material recovery and 30.2% is energy recovery
Economic and Social Commitment
- 73% of the Palais des Congrès’ service providers are based in Normandy (2024 report).
- 70% of the products sold in the Festival Boutique are made in France; the rest are produced in Europe.
- The Festival generates the equivalent of 558 full-time local jobs (created or sustained) *.The Festival’s economic impact is estimated at over 34 million euros in revenue for the region*.
- The C.I.D. received a perfect score of 100/100 on the Gender Equality Index.
- Each year, the Festival expands its outreach to young students by welcoming some twenty school groups from Normandy, representing nearly 1,800 students from high schools, universities, and other institutions of higher education.
*Data from the Cleo 2023 calculator
Accessibility Designed for Everyone
The Festival is committed to welcoming all audiences and continues to improve the accessibility of its services.
Venue Accessibility
- The Deauville International Center (C.I.D.), as well as the Casino and Morny movie theaters, are accessible to people with limited mobility. All screening rooms are accessible (with the exception of Morny 3).
- The C.I.D. staff is trained to welcome and assist people with limited mobility.
Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Individuals
- All films in the program are shown with closed captions (with the exception of the children’s screening).
- The opening and awards ceremonies are also closed-captioned (subject to the content provided by the speakers).
- The use of a smartphone in the theater is permitted when it is used with a transcription app.
Digital Accessibility
- The Festival is also continuing to improve the accessibility of its website. The site is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the leading digital accessibility standards to facilitate access to online content and services for as many users as possible, with a focus on continuous improvement.
A Collective Effort to Promote Sustainable Tourism
Deauville is recognized for its commitment to sustainable tourism, particularly through the “Innovative and Sustainable Destination” label. This label is a national standard created by the France Congrès et Événements association, whose goal is to highlight concrete initiatives undertaken by public and private stakeholders in a destination in the area of sustainable development.
Deauville was one of the first five French cities to obtain this certification in 2020.
Deauville’s approach to sustainable tourism is characterized by open governance, involving a steering committee composed of local governments and private-sector stakeholders. Among the partners involved are the City of Deauville, the Deauville International Center, the Cœur Côte Fleurie Community of Municipalities, the Barrière Deauville Group, the Bertout Deauville Group, Les Franciscaines, the Longines International Equestrian Center — Deauville, the Union des Métiers de l’Industrie Hotellière (UMIH), and the ACAPARS merchants’ association.
The certification emphasizes the protection and enhancement of the region while respecting environmental, societal, and economic balances. The initiatives carried out by both Destination Deauville and the Deauville American Film Festival cover various aspects such as sustainable mobility, responsible consumption, energy efficiency, heritage preservation, and inclusion. New criteria for recertification specifically include strategies for eco-responsible events, reducing the use of carpet, promoting sustainable food practices, improving conditions for seasonal workers, and reducing the carbon footprint.