A study conducted in 2023 by a team of scholars funded by the University of Glasgow (UofG) Glasgow Centre for International Development in partnership with the UPLB Foundation, Inc. noted a high level of climate change awareness among QCinema audiences.

Other significant findings include: Seventy percent of respondents were highly aware of climate change issues, while almost 86 percent rated climate change as an essential issue.

Also, 72.92 per cent strongly supported climate change efforts despite less than half (48.03 per cent) being moderately involved in activities contributing to climate change solutions. It also found out that 64.63 per cent of respondents were willing to pay a sustainability fee on top of the ticket price.

On the ecological impact, the data showed that some 60 per cent  of the audience consumed food bought from establishments at the venues, and 76 per cent  consumed mostly water and soda, generating solid waste from popcorn, chips, water bottles, and soda cans.

The research paper, "Setting the Stage for Sustainability: An Environmental Impact Baseline Study of QCinema International Film Festival" is the first study of its kind in the Philippines to examine how cultural and creative industries impact on sustainability.

The project was presented June 28 at a Quezon City restaurant to local government officials, representatives from academia, entertainment industry stakeholders, and media professionals.

A total of 229 individuals responded to the survey. It sought to profile QCinema audiences, their festival viewing habits, level of awareness on climate change issues, willingness to act towards climate action, and perception of the festival's economic and cultural impact.

Lead researcher Michael Kho Lim of the University of Glasgow said that this initiative to establish baseline data is the first step towards creating a possible environmental management plan and sustainability framework for the festival. This can form the basis of similar plans and frameworks for other cultural and creative activities in the country.

"There is an urgent need to adopt sustainable festival practices, especially since we are a country that celebrates thousands of festivals. Many studies have shown that mounting these events considerably negatively impacts our environment. It is high time other organizers followed suit and took significant steps that could drive the cultural and creative industries towards a greener and more sustainable future," says  Kho Lim.

The study also examined the festival's impact on the entertainment industry. Over 84 percent view the event as a pivotal educational platform. A total of 92 percent highly rated the festival's contribution to appreciation of the art and craft of filmmaking. More than 85 percent of the respondents highly rated QCinema's contribution to producing high-quality films.

The study also revealed that film festivals are perceived to have a significant impact on the country's economy. Seventy-three percent of the respondents underscored the festivals’ significant role in economic stimulation, potentially boosting local spending, tourism, and employment opportunities generated by the event.