Lights, Camera, Sustainability: How the GreenLight Green Team Made the 2026 Skyfire Film Festival Greener

​The Skyfire Film Festival is a celebration of creativity, storytelling, and community — and in 2026, it was also a celebration of sustainability. Held March 27th–29th at the ASU MIX Center and Beth Hebrew Synagogue in Mesa, Arizona, this three-day conference brought together 500 attendees passionate about independent film and the arts. GreenLight Solutions (GLS) was proud to bring our Green Team to Skyfire, working alongside our sustainability partners to keep as much waste as possible out of the landfill.

​What We Accomplished 

​Three days. Five hundred attendees. A whole lot of material that could have gone straight to landfill — but didn't. 

​Here's what the GLS Green Team achieved at the 2026 Skyfire Film Festival:

• 123 lbs recycled
• 34 lbs composted — thanks to our composting partner, Denali
• 6 lbs of soft plastics diverted from the waste stream
• 163 lbs total diverted from landfill
• 63% diversion rate — nearly two-thirds of all waste stayed out of the trash
• 0.24 tons of CO₂ avoided

​For a conference of 500 people, that diversion rate is something to be proud of. Every cup, every wrapper, every film program that made it into the right bin represents a small but meaningful choice — and our team was there to make those choices easy.

​Our Goal

As we reiterate in every blog, the goal of GreenLight Solutions is to always follow the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #12, which focuses on Responsible Consumption and Production. With community and commitment, we can achieve this goal, as seen in the intense amount of progress we made with this event. 

​Our Partners 

None of this happens without the right partners in place. A huge thank you to Urban Farming Education for partnering with GLS to bring sustainability programming to Skyfire. Your commitment to education and environmental stewardship made this collaboration a natural fit. 

Thank you to our Sustainability Sponsor, Denali, for your sponsor providing composting services that helped us divert organic material away from landfill.

​Why Sustainability Belongs at Film Festivals 

​Film is one of the most powerful tools we have for telling stories that matter — including stories about our environment. Events like Skyfire are a chance to not just talk about sustainability, but to practice it in real time.

When creative communities lead by example, it sends a message: we care about this planet, and we're going to act like it. Providing clear, well-staffed recycling, composting, and soft plastics stations isn't just logistically sound — it's a statement of values.

​Our Green Team of 10 volunteers contributed 40 hours of service (a $1,340 value) alongside our paid staff to make sustainability seamless for every attendee. Our goal is always to make doing the right thing the easy thing. 

The GreenLight Mission in Action

​GreenLight Solutions is a Phoenix, Arizona-based sustainability consulting organization dedicated to reducing the environmental footprint of events, businesses, and communities across the Valley. From marathons to music festivals to film conferences, our Green Team shows up wherever there's waste to divert and a community ready to do better.

​To date, GLS has served 47+ events, helped divert over 145,000 lbs of material from landfill, and avoided more than 205 tons of CO₂ — and we're just getting started.

Get Involved

Hosting an event? Schedule a Discovery Session with GreenLight Solutions to bring sustainability initiatives to your next event — glsolutions.org 

Want to support the work we do? To sponsor GLS sustainability programs, reach out to our CEO, Ashley, at [email protected].

Want to make a difference at events like Skyfire? Volunteer for the Green Team!

Author

​Kathia is a student at Arizona State University, double-majoring in Digital Marketing and Business Data Analytics, with strong interests in graphic design and data strategy. She has experience supporting marketing efforts at GreenLight Solutions, where she creates social media content and infographics that communicate sustainability impact. Her sustainability journey began as a volunteer with the nonprofit, which later grew into a more active role in communications and outreach. On campus, Kathia is actively involved as a Business Ambassador and a member of adworks, where she works on real client campaigns, develops strategic marketing insights, and continues building her skills at the intersection of creativity and data-driven decision-making. 

Connect with Kathia on LinkedIn!