Berlinale Talents

Talents Alumni, don't miss your chance to come back to Berlinale Talents! That's right, you can apply to take part in Berlinale Talents 2025 as an alumni! How? If you are developing a project, you can submit it to one of our Labs, OR, if you've already participated in a Lab then you can reapply to attend our Summit!

You can apply through your alumni profile. For all the info: bit.ly/BT_HowToApply
Deadline: September 4, 2024, 12:00 noon (CEST)

🌍🖊💻Attention emerging film critics around the globe 🌍🖊💻

Applications for Berlinale Talents 2025 Talent Press are now open! Apply by September 4, 2024 and join us to critique the films of the Berlinale, explore the future of film journalism itself and connect with fellow critics and cinephiles from around the world!

Find all the details here: bit.ly/BT_HowToApply

Need a boost for your pitching skills?
Check out the fourth edition of PITCH_IT - a workshop programme for emerging directors, writers, and producers based in the Republic of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Serbia, and the Slovak Republic which aims to support your first steps in the film industry.

The programme offers selected filmmakers the chance to:

🎬 Learn from the best in the industry how to best present your project

🎬 Travel to Budapest, Prague and Berlin to advance your material in workshops on production, distribution and storytelling

🎬 Present your material to a select, highly decorated film audience on the fringes of the Berlinale

Applications open until July 31, 2024! Check out more at bit.ly/pitchit2025.

Congratulations to Talents alumna Maria Stanisheva on receiving the Bloomberg Green Docs competition award in Seattle! The money will go into the development of the Finding Home series, the pilot of Maria developed with us when she was selected for our Short Form Station in 2019. The whole series is currently under development with the support of Redford Centre and Creative Europe. We very much looking forward to seeing it become a reality!

Filmmaker Tells Stories of Climate Migrants Through Animation Global warming has caused 23 million displacements a year over the past decade. “Finding Home” documents the tales of these refugees.

Berlinale Talents is seeking a new Programme Manager!

Would you like to play a pivotal role in the talent development programme of one of the world's top film festivals? We are looking for someone experienced, engaged and energetic to join Project Manager Nikola Joetze as co-head of Berlinale Talents.

The full-time position offers suitable candidates the opportunity to:
- develop a programme of talks, workshops, scholarships, networking events and more, engaging the participation of top-class guests and experts
- play a leading curatorial role in the selection process of participants and their projects
- take the strategic conception, further development and analysis of Berlinale Talents on board alongside Nikola
- work in close cooperation with the other Berlinale Pro* initiatives EFM, WCF and Berlinale Co-Production Market
…and more!

❓ For full details, requirements, information & application: short.sg/j/46941528
⏰ Application deadline: July 28, 2024

Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin GmbH

💻 Keyboards at the ready – it's time to apply for Berlinale Talents 2025! 🌟

Film professionals across the globe, we invite you to apply and seize the chance to join us at the next edition of Berlinale Talents as one of the world's top 200 emerging filmmakers. Taking place February 15-20, 2025, it will be a bustling week of discipline-specific workshops, talks with world-renowned guests, think-tanks, networking and more. Incomparable, inspiring and eye-opening, the Summit week is only the beginning of your possible life-long relationship with Berlinale Talents and the Berlinale as a whole.

For all things application-related, including questions on eligibility, tips and much more:
- head to our How to Apply page: bit.ly/BT_HowToApply
- check out our FAQs: bit.ly/BerlinaleTalents_FAQ

Deadline: September 4, 2024, 12:00 noon (CEST)

If you want to receive all the latest Berlinale Talents news directly into your hands (or inboxes), then make sure to sign up to our newsletter!
📨📨 bit.ly/BT_NewsletterSubscribe

After 10 inspiring editions of Berlinale Talents, Florian Weghorn will become the Berlinale’s first Chief of Staff.

It is with lots of fond memories and gratitude that we wish Florian all the best for his new role. We look forward to continue working together in an exciting new way!

Florian starts as Chief of Staff on July 1 and the Berlinale will also soon begin a recruitment process for the role of Programme Manager at Berlinale Talents.
Chief of Staff is a key position within the Berlinale's executive team and will support Tricia Tuttle in communicating the festival’s strategies internally as well as with key external stakeholders.

⚡️ Opportunity alert: IDM Film Commission Südtirol has a brand new professional training programme for the development of short films - MASO ⚡️

Aimed at aspiring talents as well as professionals, it gives creative groups the possibility to develop and fund their short film project with the supervision of international film professionals. Creative duos consisting of a writer/director and a producer can submit a project concept for a short film.

Particular attention will be paid to reaching filmmakers from underrepresented social groups (the aim is to make the world of film and television more inclusive, colourful, and diverse).

The IDM Film Commission Südtirol will also set up a grant for two international projects (applications can be sent worldwide).

⏰ Submissions are open until June 30th!
More information is available on the website: bit.ly/4edt8ON

IDM Film Funding

Opportunity alert! MIDPOINT Institute currently has four open calls, focusing on writing, project development, short-form and web series and editing!

Writers' Room: Series-orientated programme with simulation of collaborative and creative writers' room environment for writers and producers
Deadline: June 24, 2024
Info: midpoint-institute.eu/en/detail/midpoint-writers-room-2024-3kCL6S

Shorts: Script- and project-development and networking platform for professional or graduation fiction shorts
Deadline: June 17, 2024
Info: midpoint-institute.eu/en/detail/midpoint-shorts-2024-2025-3zBHCg

Smash Cut: Creative incubator for fresh new voices developing short-form or web series (up to 20 mins. per episode)
Deadline: July 8, 2024
Info: midpoint-institute.eu/en/detail/midpoint-smash-cut-2024-3xqStq

Editing Room: Feedback through a combination of online consultations and a residential program for feature projects in the rough-cut stage
The application deadline is ongoing.
Info: midpoint-institute.eu/en/detail/midpoint-editing-room-2024-0mnlBz

And that's a wrap on the 77th Festival des Cannes! The Talents alumni didn't disappoint, with 83 presenting work across the various sections, from Official Selection to Semaine de la Critique and Quinzaine des Cineastes, to ACID, La Fabrique and beyond.
Though the festival is over, the good news continues as we celebrate those among the award winners! Eight of the awarded films were made by, or contained the work of, thirteen alumni. Congratulations to all.

✨ OFFICIAL SELECTION ✨
COMPETITION
Winner of the Grand Prix: "All We Imagine As Light" – writer & director Payal Kapadia (BT 2019), producer Thomas Hakim (BT 2020), producer Frank Hoeve (BT 2010)
Winner of Special Award and FIPRESCI Award: "The Seed Of The Sacred Fig" – sound Hassan Shabankareh (BT 2012)

UN CERTAIN REGARD
Winner of the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Award: "L’histoire de Souleymane" – co-writer Delphine Agut (BT 2010)
Winner of the Caméra d'Or: "Armand" – co-producer Sol Bondy (BT 2016), co-producer Derk-Jan Warrink (BT 2011), cinematography Pål Ulvik Rokseth (BT 2015)

THE SHORT FILMS COMPETITION
Winner of Palme d’or: "The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent" – producer Danijel Pek (BT 2015)
Special Mention: "Bad For A Moment" (Mau Por Um Momento) – sound design Ines Adriana (BT 2021)

✨ SEMAINE DE LA CRITIQUE ✨
COMPETITION
Winner of Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award: Ricardo Teodoro in "Baby" – writer, director & co-producer Marcelo Caetano (BT 2015)

✨ QUINZAINE DES CINEASTES ✨
Winner of the Audience Choice Award: "Une langue universelle" – writer & director Matthew Rankin (BT 2011), editor Xi Feng (BT 2020)

It's the final countdown for applications for Talents Tokyo 2024! Make sure to get yours in before May 31, 23:59 JST.
All further information at the link below.

5 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY!!
Last chance to apply for Talents Tokyo and NMSP 2024!!

It may be your chance to receive advice from experts on project presentation, lessons on filmmaking from auteurs, lasting friendship with fellow filmmakers and a trip to Tokyo. There's still time! Start your application today!

If you're in middle of filling out the application form, remember, selection committee cannot review your application unless you push the SUBMIT button!! So complete your application BEFORE the deadline!

Applications are open until May 31, 23:59 JST.
https://talents-tokyo.jp/application_2024

Lili Lea Abraham's latest work is currently competing for the Palme d'Or in Cannes. She is the Art Director of Andrea Arnold's highly anticipated latest feature "Bird", which premiered there on May 16. It's no big surprise given her incredibly exciting work over the years since being at Berlinale Talents in 2020, including Yorgos Lanthimos' incredible "Poor Things". She took some time to catch us up on her latest since we last met.

Read the interview here: bit.ly/BT_LiliLeaAbraham

Insightful interview by Variety with BT alumna Payal Kapadia (BT 2019), whose film "All We Imagine As Light" is in competition at Cannes. We are so pleased to follow Payal's progress, from the success of her experimental documentary "A Night of Knowing Nothing" which screened at Quinzaine des Cinéastes in 2021 to being the first Indian film in competition in 30 years.

Cannes Facetime: ‘All We Imagine as Light’ Director Payal Kapadia Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine as Light' is the first Indian film in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 30 years.

The Summer Berlinale is coming back! 💫

From June 10 to 13, 2024, the Summer Berlinale will return to the Freiluftkino Friedrichshain open-air cinema. (Re-)discover the winning films and audience favourites of this year's festival edition under the open sky.

Full programme:

Monday, June 10, 2024, 9:30 pm

"Love Lies Bleeding", directed by Rose Glass
USA / United Kingdom 2023, 104 min., in English with German subtitles, Berlinale Special Gala

Moderation: Knut Elstermann, radioeins
Presenter: Mariëtte Rissenbeek, former Executive Director of the Berlinale

Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 9:30 pm

"Un movimiento extraño (An Odd Turn)", directed by Francisco Lezama
Argentina 2024, 22 min., in Spanish with English subtitles, Berlinale Shorts
– Golden Bear for Best Short Film 2024

"Dahomey", directed by Mati Diop
France / Senegal / Benin 2024, 67 min., French, Fon, in English with English subtitles, documentary form, Competition
– Golden Bear for Best Film 2024

Presenter: Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck, section head of Berlinale Shorts

Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 9:30 pm

"All Shall Be Well", directed by Ray Yeung
Hong Kong, China 2024, 93 min., in Cantonese with English subtitles, Panorama
– TEDDY AWARD for BEST FEATURE 2024

Presenter: Michael Stütz, section head of Panorama

Thursday, June 13, 2024, 9:30 pm

"Keyke mahboobe man (My Favourite Cake)", directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha
Iran / France / Sweden / Germany 2024, 97 min., in Farsi with German subtitles, Competition
– Prize of the FIPRESCI Jury and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury 2024

Presenter: Mariëtte Rissenbeek, former Executive Director of the Berlinale

🌙 📽 ⭐

We are very pleased to share the selection of participants for the 17th edition of Talents Durban, taking place during the Durban FilmMart SA from 19 – 22 July. With participants from 15 African countries, the selection reflects the continent’s diversity of emerging film professionals, with 26 projects spanning features, documentaries, shorts, series and animation, and four film critics chosen from a record 499 applications. We welcome them to the Talents International family!

During Talents Durban, they will enjoy a series of project–oriented, hands–on skills development programmes, including project presentations to producers and financiers, alongside masterclasses and one–on–one mentorship opportunities.

The list of Talents alumni attending Cannes to present work keeps growing. Whether it's as a selected filmmaker or a programmer at ACID, those with first or second features in development selected for La Fabrique Cinéma, at the Marché du Film or beyond, there's no stopping the Talents!

ACID
Members of this year's panel of Filmmaker Programmers include Pascale Hannoyer (BT 2007) and Pamela Varela (BT 2010)
"Ce N’est Qu’un Au Revoir" – director Guillaume Brac (BT 2005)
"Kyuka - Before Summer's End" – cinematography Konstantinos Koukoulios (BT 2015)
"Mi Bestia" – composer Wissam Hojeij (BT 2018), producer Lionel Massol (BT 2018)

LA FABRIQUE 2024
"Moa" – director Marcel Beltrán (BT 2018)
"The Echo of the Leopard" – co-director & the co-producer Hanna Jalali (BT 2021)
"Spring Cleaning" – director Marija Apcevska (BT 2022), co-producer Michal Mikejla Kráčmer (BT 2017)
"Resistencia" – director Yanillys Perez (BT 2022)
"Tremble like a Flower" – director Pathompon Mont Tesprateep (BT 2009)
"Daughters of the Sea" – director Martika Ramirez Escobar (BT 2023)

MARCHÉ DU FILM
Fantastic Pavilion Elizabeth E Schuch (BT 2006)

CINÉMA DE DEMAIN, SHORT FILM CORNER, RENDEZ-VOUS INDUSTRY
"Juste Milieu" – composer Eduardo Vc (BT 2024)

The Directors' Fortnight in Cannes is known for highlighting the most singular forms of contemporary cinema, which is why we are incredibly happy to see that nine films in this year's selection feature the unique artistic contribution of fourteen Talents alumni.

🎥 Feature
"East of Noon" – photography Abdelsalam Moussa (BT 2007), sound design Abdalrahman Mahmoud (BT 2020)
"Mongrel" – actor Wanlop Rungkumjad (BT 2014)
"Savanna and the Mountain" – writer, director, editor & production design Paulo Carneiro, writer & editor Alex Piperno (BT 2012/13)
"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed" – cinematography Joaquin Neira (BT 2018)
"To a Land Unknown" – writer & director Mahdi Fleifel (BT 2014), writer Fyzal Boulifa (BT 2008), editor Halim Sabbagh (BT 2006)
"Une langue universelle" – writer & director Matthew Rankin (BT 2011), editor Xi Feng (BT 2020)

🎥 Short Film
"Our Own Shadow" – photography Constanza Sandoval (BT 2021)
"When the Land Runs Away" – by Frederico Lobo (BT 2008)

Directors’ Factory 2024: the Philippines in the spotlight: "Cold Cut" – co-writer & -director Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan

berlinale-talents.de/bt//page/c/quinzaine-2024

As soon we read that 2021 Berlinale Talents alumni Umuhire Eliane had been selected to sit on the Jury of the 63rd Semaine de la Critique, we knew it was going to be a good one! Add that good news to the 12 films in selection featuring the work of 19 alumni, and we can be sure it is. Among those selected for Competition is "Locust" by KEFF, which was developed at our Script Station in 2022.

🌟 COMPETITION

🎥 Feature Films
"Baby" – writer, director & co-producer Marcelo Caetano (BT 2015)
"Locust" – writer, director & editor KEFF (BT 2022) SCRIPT STATION PROJECT 2022
"Rafaat einy ll sama" (The Brink of Dreams) – co-director & -writer, editor Nada Riyadh (BT 2022)

🎥 Short Films
"Alazar" – writer, director & production design Beza Hailu Lemma (BT 2019), producer Tamara Mariam Dawit (BT 2015)
"A menina e o pote" (The Girl and The Pot) – writer & animation director Nara Normande (BT 2020), writer & editor Eva Randolph (BT 2014)
"As minhas sensações são tudo o que tenho para oferecer" (My Senses Are All I Have to Offer) – cinematography Marta Simões (BT 2014), sound Joana Niza Braga (BT 2020), producer Catarina de Sousa (BT 2023)
"Αυτο που ζηταμε απο ενα αγαλμα ειναι να μην κινειται" (What we ask of a statue is that it doesn’t move) – producer Jasmina Sijercic (BT 2023)

🌟 SPECIAL SCREENING

🎥 Opening Film - "Les Fantômes" – producer Lionel Massol (BT 2018)
"Les Reines du drame" (Queens of Drama) editor Gabriel Gonzalez (BT 2018)

🎥 Short Films
"Las novias del sur" (Southern brides) – writer, director, cinematography & sound Elena López Riera (BT 2017), cinematography Agnès Piqué (BT 20223), editor Anna Pfaff (BT 2018)
"Sannapäiv Sauna Day" (Sauna Day) writers & directors Anna Hints & Tushar Prakash (BT 2024)

🌟 Invitation - International Film Festival of Morelia
"Xquipi" – producer Louise Riousse (BT 2024)

Congratulations to the four Berlinale Talents alumni selected to take part in this year’s 25th anniversary edition of European Film Promotion’s (EFP) promotion and networking platform Producers on the Move.
Tibor Keser from Croatia (KOMPOT), Tonia Mishiali from Cyprus (Bark Like a Cat), Fabian Driehorst from Germany (Fabian&Fred) and Evan Horan from Ireland (Keeper Pictures) will join sixteen more of the most dynamic emerging producers from across Europe for the progamme at the Cannes International Film Festival.

producers on the move – EFP ONLINE producers on the move

The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival is only a matter of weeks away, and we've been busy researching the selection for Berlinale Talents alumni! As the festivities draw nearer, we are happy to share that there are 27 Talents alumni who have worked on 31 films in Official Selection. Stay tuned for updates on other selections!

COMPETITION
"Motel Destino" – producer Janaina Bernardes (BT 2021), co-producer Guilherme Coelho (BT 2015), co-producer Cécile Tollu-Polonowski (BT 2016)
"The Apprentice" – producer Daniel Bekerman (BT 2013), producer Jacob Jarek (BT 2007)
"Bird" – art director Lili Lea Abraham (BT 2020), executive producer Mollye Asher (BT 2017), associate editor Chiara Armentano (BT 2018)
"The Girl With The Needle" – director & co-writer Magnus von Horn (BT 2011), co-writer Line Langebek (BT 2007)
"All We Imagine As Light" – writer & director Payal Kapadia (BT 2019), producer Thomas Hakim (BT 2020), producer Frank Hoeve (BT 2010)
"The Seed Of The Sacred Fig" – sound Hassan Shabankareh (BT 2012)

UN CERTAIN REGARD
"Norah" – production design Rand Abdul Nour (BT 2023)
"September Says" – co-producer Cécile Tollu-Polonowski (BT 2016)
"The Village Next to Paradise" – writer & director Mo Harawe (BT 2022)
"L’histoire de Souleymane" – co-writer Delphine Agut (BT 2010)
"On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" – writer & director Rungano Nyoni (BT 2010)
"Viet and Nam" – director Minh Quy Truong (BT 2016), producer Bianca Balbuena (BT 2012), producer Bradley Liew (BT 2015)
"Armand" – co-producer Sol Bondy (BT 2016), co-producer Derk-Jan Warrink (BT 2011), cinematography Pål Ulvik Rokseth (BT 2015)

OUT OF COMPETITION
"She's Got No Name" – composer Natalie Holt (BT 2007)

CANNES PREMIERE
"Everybody Loves Touda" – co-producer Katrin Pors (BT 2008)
"EN FANFARE" – production design Mathé (BT 2018)

THE SHORT FILMS COMPETITION
"Across The Waters" - by Viv Li (BT 2021)
"Les belles cicatrices" – composer & sound designer Pierre Oberkampf (BT 2024)
"The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent" – producer Danijel Pek (BT 2015)
"Sanki Yoxsan" – cinematographer Konstantinos Koukoulios (BT 2015)
"Bad For A Moment" (Mau Por Um Momento) – sound design Ines Adriana (BT 2021)

LA CINEF
"Praeis" - cinematographer Tamás A. Méder (BT 2024), editor László Dunai (BT 2015)

Berlinale Talents offers so much for our Talents and audiences to take away from the week, from new skills and new collaborators, to new ways of seeing and new friends, the list goes on. One undeniable takeaway however, that we hear time and time again, is the feeling. The combination of place, people, programme and everything in between makes for something magical that often combines to create a life-changing experience for our filmmakers. It's the very specific magic of Talents ✨

Berlinale Talents 2024 | The Magic of Talents This is "Berlinale Talents 2024 | The Magic of Talents" by Berlinale Talents on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

If community is one foundation stone of Berlinale Talents, then the craft of filmmaking is another. Whether it's in hands-on, practical workshops tailored to your discipline, in the outstanding guidance of our expert mentors, or in tips and advice from the film world's biggest names, you will always come away with new insights, skills, lessons and ways of thinking about your craft. 🎥🎬

Berlinale Talents 2024 | Encouraging Craft This is "Berlinale Talents 2024 | Encouraging Craft" by Berlinale Talents on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

We've spent the weeks since Berlinale Talents 2024 recovering, wrapping things up and reviewing, and now it's time to reflect! It's no secret that one of Berlinale Talents' most vital and vibrant focuses is creating and connecting community, and the power that it brings to our filmmakers. That sense of connection may take hold during the Summit in February but it stays with you throughout the years. Once a Talent, always a Talent 🌟

Berlinale Talents 2024 | The Power of Community This is "Berlinale Talents 2024 | The Power of Community" by Berlinale Talents on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Lei Lei, a Chinese animator, filmmaker and artist gives colour to history through his imagination. "In my working process I try to collect different kind of materials from second hand markets, or from my father or grandfather's generations. I cut them out and project those images in the cinema and bring new life to the image," he tells DW.
In his feature film, "Silver Bird and Rainbow Fish", he uses his unique techniques to portray previously unknown stories of his family. Using archive and imagination together, he brings together three generations of his family, saying that imagination together with love is what sets us apart from AI.

Berlinale Talents 2024: Lei Lei Lei Lei, a Chinese filmmaker and artist gives color to history through his imagination. In his feature film, Silver Bird and Rainbow fish, he used unique techniques…

"For the roles I go for, I try to go for things that are light and sincere and have a bit of life. The world needs more light, it's already heavy enough." Rwandan actress, writer and fashion designer Aline Amike is glad that the film industry in Rwanda is evolving, growing and beginning to tell stories about life beyond the country's terrible and tragic history. She wants to be part of the people moving forward, still living with those events, but also looking ahead. Find out more about her work and approach in her portrait with DW Culture.

Berlinale Talents 2024: Aline Amike Observation is at the core of Aline Amike’s work. Growing up in Rwanda, she developed a keen eye for the unspoken things of everyday life, which inspire her…