How To Apply

The call for applications for Berlinale Talents 2023 will open in July 2022.

Berlinale Talents is aimed at emerging film actors, audience designers (i.e. curators, cinema or festival makers), composers, cinematographers, directors, distributors, editors, film critics, producers, production designers, sales agents, screenwriters and sound designers with an existing portfolio of work. Please find out if you are eligible and get a quick overview of the application process for the summit and our project development labs below.

For any further questions, you can also check out our FAQs.

General Application

Choose a field of work

1. Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if you have worked as on at least two short films (all lengths, all genres) OR one feature length film (min. 60 minutes, all genres) that have been officially invited to film festivals (no markets, local events, or student film festivals). Alternatively you also qualify if you have had a major role in the production of at least one high-quality drama series (2 or more episodes of at least 20 minutes length each) that was broadcast on a TV channel or streaming platform.

You are eligible to apply if you have worked as an actor in a leading or supporting role on at least two short films (all lengths, all genres) OR one feature length film (min. 60 minutes, all genres) that have been officially invited to film festivals (no markets, local events, or student film festivals) OR at least one high-quality TV movie or drama series (2 or more episodes of at least 20 minutes length each) that was broadcast on a TV channel or streaming platform. Also additional experiences as an actor e.g. in theater can be taken into account.

You are eligible to apply if you professionally and regularly contribute reviews, essays or interviews to a print, audiovisual or online publication related to cinema and the film industry.

You are eligible to apply if you have had a major role in the distribution, sales or audience design for at least two feature length films (min. 60 minutes, fiction, documentary, hybrid). As an audience designer, i.e. curator or cinema owner, you should have worked in a responsible position for a festival, VOD platform, or cinema space for at least two years.

2. Application Form

Complete the application form, including:

your personal data
your filmography (optional)
your biography (including education, work and/or social engagement)
questionnaire

What are you currently working on? What challenges are you facing and how will you solve them? (max. 750 characters)

Please describe your style of work and how you collaborate with others. (max. 750 characters)

Please give us an idea of the systemic circumstances in which you find yourself. How do you deal with structural disadvantages, i.e. regarding representation, gender diversity etc.? (max. 750 characters)

For what kind of outlets are you working? Do you have future job plans? (Please add an approximate percentage to each outlet. / max. 750 characters)

How would you describe your general job-related situation as a film journalist? (Please let us know what’s best and what could be improved.)

What are for you the challenges in writing that you’d like to discuss at Talent Press? (max. 750 characters)

Which up to three writers or texts have inspired you or influenced your work, and why? (max. 750 characters)

In addition to your profession as a film critic, were/are you involved in a film festival or other organisation/company, e.g. as a programmer, jury member, press coordinator, teacher? (Please give us some details about your activity, the duration of your involvement and especially the experiences you took/take from it. / max. 750 characters)

What is a pressing subject for you right now? With whom would you like to discuss in Berlin? (max. 750 characters, or 1 min. video)

Please name three artists (at least one from your own country) whose work have influenced you. What would you like to ask each of them?

What recent distribution, sales or audience development strategies have inspired you for your future work, and why?/You can name up to three examples. (max. 750 characters)

Beyond your own discipline, what other profession(s) would you like to connect with at Berlinale Talents?

What’s your greatest talent or specialist knowledge in the field of film or from a side job that you could contribute to Berlinale Talents? (max. 750 characters)

Last but not least, please make up your own question… and answer it the way you like!

3. Sample of Work

Your sample of work can contain up to two separate scenes (either from the same film or two different films). In total the sample should be around 3 minutes long.

Your sample of work should be a continuous scene of up to 3 minutes.

Your sample must correspond to your main field of work. It should be in English or subtitled in English. Please only upload excerpts from the original film/s (no showreels, trailers or teasers). Please ensure that you are the copyright owner and/or have obtained the consent of any other copyright owner/s to use the material. We do not accept commercials.

In addition to your film sample, you may upload a PDF with photos or sketches of your designs for the respective production(s). Please include a short description of the context for each photo/sketch.)

In addition, please upload an example of your previous written work (max. 5 pages, saved as a single PDF file, we do not accept Word, Final Draft or any other file types, max. file size 5 MB). The file must include the following information:

your name
title, genre, logline, length
introduction to the main characters
synopsis of up to 1,000 characters (i.e. a summary of the entire plot, including the ending. Not a teaser or cliffhanger for marketing purposes)
excerpt from the script (in English, 1 page or longer) that includes dialogue and marks a significant turning point in the story
brief description of the scene’s context within the film’s overall story

Please submit a single document (PDF file, max. 6 pages) with 3 articles (at least one film review) that you have published in the last year, including:

date of publication
name of publication
circulation figures (for online publications, please include the number of monthly visitors)

Please include at least one film review and only choose interviews if your style and approach is clearly tangible e.g. through the structure or your questions. If the articles are not in English, please provide us with a good translation for each article done by yourself as a proof of your English writing skills.

Please upload a single PDF document (max. 4 pages, max. 10 MB), which visualizes your mission and methods by using at least two examplary film sales, distribution campaigns, or - as audience designer - the space or project (e.g. a community cinema, a festival, a VOD platform ...) you've been engaged with recently. Please make sure you describe:

your role and responsibility and why you wanted to become involved, e.g. personal beliefs and hopes
the precise goals, the resulting strategies and the challenges you had to solve along the way
to which extent your measures were successful: ticket sales, downloads, DVDs, revenues, social impact etc.

For sales or distribution please include the following film information: title, producer, director, cast, length, genre, production budget, distribution budget, festivals, theatrical releases.

For audience campaigns please also add some details about your target groups, cooperation partners and the feedback of your audience.

For film/cinema spaces please add a rough team organigram, financial structure and curatorial approach.

Additional upload (optional): You may upload further visual material, e.g. websites, artwork, marketing/press material, programme flyers, to exemplify your way(s) of working.

4. Additional Application

When attending as an actor, you will automatically become part of the Acting Studio, an intensive two-days workshop and networking opportunity during the Talents week. The Studio offers a variety of sessions with seasoned mentors to help actors to explore new techniques, develop communication and collaboration skills for the filmmaking process and to meet with international experts and filmmakers. learn more

When attending as a sound designer or composer, you will automatically become part of the Sound Studio, an intensive one-day workshop and networking opportunity during the Talents week. In the Studio you will focus on how sound is used in the filmmaking process, from designing a sound landscape to the intricacies of sound mixing and composing non-orchestral film scores. learn more

When attending as a distributor, sales agent or audience designer, you will automatically become part of the Market Studio, an intensive one-day workshop and networking opportunity during the Talents week. In the Studio you will take part in a collaborative exploration of the European Film Market, benefit from the experiences of your fellow Talents and learn from the input and case studies shared by seasoned industry represantatives. learn more

When attending as an editor, you will automatically become part of the Editing Studio, an intensive one-day workshop and networking opportunity during the Talents week. In the Studio you will tackle creative issues in the editing process, share your experiences with fellow Talents and acclaimed mentors, and discuss new ideas based on excerpts from your own work. learn more

When attending as a film critic, you will automatically become part of Talent Press, a six-days workshop and networking opportunity alongside with the summit programme. At Talent Press you become part of an editorial team of international critics and seasoned mentors, attend film screenings and events across the entire Berlinale and meet with renowned journalists, curators and filmmakers attending the festival. learn more

When attending as a cinematographer, you will automatically become part of the Camera Studio, an intensive one-day workshop and networking opportunity during the Talents week. In the Studio you can share your ideas with fellow Talents, mentors and seasoned industry experts and practically explore the aesthetics and mechanics of camera work, lighting and the impact of cinematography on the post-production process. learn more

When attending as a production designer or art director, you will automatically become part of the Production Design Studio, an intensive two-days workshop and networking opportunity during the Talents week. In the Studio you will meet with top-notch experts and artists and work on a tangible case study in an interdisciplinary, convergent and non-linear team process. learn more

In addition to the general application, directors, producers and screenwriters may submit a project to either Doc Station, Script Station, Short Form Station or the Talent Project Market. Please be aware that you need to complete the general application before submitting your project.

Apply with a Project

In addition to a completed general application, directors, screenwriters and producers may submit a project to one of our Stations or the Talent Project Market. Applicants with drama series projects can also apply to all three Stations; participants working on crossmedia and extended reality (XR) projects find their home at the Short Form Station.

Choose a Talents Lab application

If you are currently in the advanced development stages of a feature-length documentary, the Doc Station mentors and experts can help you improve the narrative structure of your project, tackle creative issues concerning further development and production, and present your project to the industry.

1. Eligibility

Apply for Berlinale Talents as a director and complete the general application first. The Doc Station application will be available on your profile once your general application is submitted.

2. Project Presentation

Fill out the application form.

Title
Screenwriter/ director
Country of production (all countries that contribute to the financing)
Running time
Genre
Logline (max. 230 characters)
Synopsis incl. main protagonists (max. 2,500 characters)
Writer's / director's statement of intent, theme and other backgrounds (max. 1,500 characters)
Audiovisual concept (incl. planned shooting style) (max. 1,000 characters)
Project status: Please indicate if you have a producer, confirmed protagonists, crew and/or the financing status (max. 1,000 characters)
Target audience
How do you think your project can benefit from participating in Doc Station, and what are your expectations? (max. 500 characters)
Have you participated in any other training initiative, project development programme or workshop with this project? (max. 500 characters)

3. Uploads

Upload a single PDF file, containing:

your name and the title of the project
10-page treatment/exposé, in English or German (12 pt font, 1.5 spacing)

If your audiovisual work sample for the general application is not a suitable reference for the project you apply with for the Doc Station, please upload additional video material for the documentary you intend to make (trailer/footage, approx. 5 minutes, file size max. 1 GB).

You may also upload additional visual material to support your presentation. Please include a short description of the context for each visual.

Present your fully developed feature-length film or high-quality drama series project to experienced co-producers and financiers in pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings. This 3-day programme in cooperation with the Berlinale Co-Production Market offers various possibilities to gain insights into the world of international co-productions and to meet with potential partners.

1. Eligibility

Apply for Berlinale Talents as a producer and complete the general application first. The Talent Project Market application will be available on your profile once your general application is submitted.

2. Project Presentation

Fill out the application form.

Title
Screenwriter
Director
Producer
Format
Running time
Genre
Target audience
Expected shooting start
Shooting language(s)
Main cast
Project status
Total budget
Secured financing
Attached partners
Financing status
Why should this film be an international co-production?
What are you looking for at the Talent Project Market? (max. 500 characters)
Which positions are open to potential co-producers?
Logline (max. 230 characters)
Synopsis (max. 2,300 characters)
Producer's and company profile + credits
Director's note (max. 2,300 characters)
Producer's note (max. 2,300 characters)
Have you participated in any other training initiative, project development programme or workshop with this project? (max. 500 characters)

3. Uploads

Upload a single PDF file, containing:

your name and the title of the project
5-page treatment/synopsis of your project, telling the whole story from beginning to end, in English (12 pt font, 1.5 spacing)
5-page excerpt from the project’s script, in English (Please note: An advanced draft of the script must be available at the time of application. In case of selection, a full English version of the script must be available by end of December 2021.)
1-page financing plan (How much money is secured from whom and how much money is still in negotiations with whom? Where do you intend to apply for additional funding and when? Please list amounts and names of funding institutions, financiers, production companies and countries.)

Additionally, please upload a sample of work from the project's director.

Optional: Visual material to provide the jury with a visual insight into your project, e.g. mood photos (with a short description of the context for each photo).

If you are in the advanced development stages of a feature-length fiction film or a high-quality drama series, the Script Station mentors can help you improve the script’s narrative structure, tackle creative issues in the writing process, and present your project to the industry.

⚠️ If your project was previously rejected from Script Station, please refrain from submitting it again.

1. Eligibility

Apply for Berlinale Talents as a director or screenwriter and complete the general application first. The Script Station application will be available on your profile once your general application is submitted.

2. Application Form

Fill out the application form.

Title
Screenwriter/ director
Country / countries of production (all countries that contribute to the financing)
Running time
Genre
Logline (max. 230 characters)
Synopsis incl. main protagonists (max. 2,500 characters)
Writer's / director's statement of intent, theme and other backgrounds (max. 1,500 characters)
Audiovisual concept (incl. planned shooting style) (max. 1,000 characters)
Project status: Please indicate if you have a producer, confirmed cast, crew and/or the status of financing (max. 1,000 characters)
Target audience
In what particular way do you think your project can benefit from participating in the Script Station, and what are your expectations? (max. 1,000 characters)
Have you participated in any other training initiative, project development programme or workshop with this project? (max. 500 characters)

3. Uploads

Upload a single PDF file, containing:

your name and the title of the project
10-page treatment/exposé, in English or German (12pt font, 1.5 spacing).
5-page dialogue scene from the script, in English or German (12pt font, 1.5 spacing).

If your audiovisual work sample for the general application is not a suitable reference for the project you apply with for the Script Station, please upload additional video material for the film you intend to make (trailer/footage, approx. 5 minutes, file size max. 1 GB).

You may also upload additional visual material to support your presentation. Please include a short description of the context for each visual.

Please note: if your German treatment/exposé is pre-selected, you might be asked to supply an English version for the international jury by November 2021. All 10 participants selected for the Script Station will be asked to supply an updated English version of the script by end of December 2021.

If you are in the advanced development stages of a short film, a high-quality mini series, web series, VR or other crossmedia project, the Short Form Station mentors can help you improve the structure of your script, tackle creative issues concerning further development and production, and present your project to the industry. Eligible formats are fiction, documentary and animation.

1. Eligibility

Apply for Berlinale Talents as a director and complete the general application first. The Short Form Station application will be available on your profile once your general application is submitted.

2. Project Presentation

Fill out the application form.

Title
Writer / director
Country of production (all countries that contribute to the financing)
Running time (short films: up to 30 minutes; serial content: up to 50 minutes in total)
Genre
Logline (max. 230 characters)
Synopsis incl. main protagonists (max. 2,500 characters)
Director’s / writer’s statement of intent, theme and other backgrounds (max. 1,500 characters)
Audiovisual concept (incl. planned shooting style) (max. 1,000 characters)
Project status (max. 1,000 characters)
Target audience (max. 500 characters)
In what particular way do you think your project can benefit from participating in the Short Form Station, and what are your expectations? (max. 500 characters)
Have you participated in any other training initiative, project development programme or workshop with this project? (max. 500 characters)

3. Uploads

Upload a single PDF file, containing:

your name and the title of the project
3 page treatment, in English (12pt font, 1.5 spacing)
complete script / concept, in English (documentaries: please upload a detailed treatment which explains the structure and design of the project; XR: please provide descriptions in a free format that suits your project)

If your audiovisual work sample for the general application is not a suitable reference for the project you apply with for the Short Form Station, please upload additional video material for the film you intend to make (trailer/footage, approx. 5 minutes, file size max. 1 GB).

You may also upload additional visual material to support your presentation. Please include a short description of the context for each visual.

For documentaries: if available, please provide us with some footage of the documentary’s main protagonists or theme.

For animations: if available, please provide us with an animation sample of one scene and/or at least one of the lead characters of the project.

Please note: If you provide external links to additional visual material or stills, please make sure that these links are active and accessible for selection purposes until at least mid-December 2021.

Apply as Alumni

Directors, screenwriters and producers who have previously taken part in Berlinale Talents may apply again for one of our Talents Labs with a project in development. Before you apply, check the application criteria above to see if your project is at the right stage.

Former participants of the Stations or the Talent Project Market may reapply for the Berlinale Talents summit. Come and attend talks, films and workshops to round off your Berlinale Talents experience!