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Mastercard Enablement Programme

Dedicated to doing well by doing good, the Talents Footprints Mastercard Enablement Programme provides three selected fellows with mentoring, financial support and public awareness for their film-related initiatives, networks or platforms that contribute to their local communities in an inclusive and impactful way.

The 2023 Fellows

Mastercard Enablement Programme 2023

For the 2023 selection, actor Honor Swinton Byrne (The Souvenir), Marene Arnold (Vice President Marketing & Communications Mastercard DACH) and Hania Mroué (Director Metropolis Cinema Beirut) were appointed to the jury. The trio selected three fellows from applicants from the international Berlinale Talents Alumni Community who, beyond their cinematic projects, have initiated social organisations, cultural networks or educational programmes themselves and are thus actively committed to gender equality, ecological sustainability and inclusion in the film industry in the long term. The announcement of the fellows took place in the presence of the jury during the Dine&Shine dinner on 19 February 2023.

Left to right: Hania Mroué, Honor Swinton Byrne and Marene Arnold
Left to right: Hania Mroué, Honor Swinton Byrne and Marene Arnold

Who can apply?

Initiators of and activists with film-related social initiatives, who participated as officially invited Talents at our previous two editions. Berlinale Talents alumni from other years can run for a limited number of wild cards upon individual request.

What kind of project can I submit?

You can apply with a film-related social initiative focusing on inclusive, innovative and impactful solutions in one of the following four key domains: Gender Equality and DiversityQuality Education and Work; Peace, Justice and Understanding; Environmental Awareness and Climate Action. This can be for example a stakeholder group with film-related social goals, training institution, lab or hub, community film venue, festival or distribution platform, or environmental initiative. The development, production or post-production of singular film projects is not fundable. 

What’s the structure?

Selected fellows receive 5,000 Euro financial support for project-related investments and practical support action, as well as the equivalent in mentorship. A personalised mentorship support package is developed with each fellow at the beginning of the programme. Once goals have been identified through the individual plans, the Berlinale Talents team will help each fellow to reach the aim of their social initiative. In order to increase sustainability beyond the duration of the programme, the fellows can apply for additional support along with their final reports.

What will I take away?

This is an opportunity to develop your initiative based on the tutorship of dedicated mentors, public awareness and financial support. The aim of the Mastercard Enablement Programme is to allow you to take your project to the next step, improve your personal and professional capacities, and help to create sustainable change in the Talents community and beyond.

How do I apply?

The next application will be available on the Berlinale Talents website in September 2023.

Mastercard Enablement Programme 2022

The 2022 fellows of the Talents Footprints – Mastercard Enablement Programme were selected by a jury comprised of actor Zazie Beetz ("Joker"), Jeanette Liendo (Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications at Mastercard Europe) and producer Jonas Weydemann ("System Crasher"). The three fellows were announced on February 13 during the “Dine & Shine Goes Global” event. Their pragmatic proposals for change come in the form of three different approaches to sustainability in work on film sets and beyond, and are united by a commitment to create positive change and lasting impact in their local communities.

Mastercard Enablement Programme 2020

In 2020 a jury consisting of Wim Wenders, Jeannette Liendo and Dominga Ortúzar evaluated over 50 applications from around the globe and selected the following three projects. In addition, Wim Wenders offered insights and encouragement to all 250 participants during Berlinale Talents 2020.

Read more about the 2020 projects in these Mastercard editorials:
Sunshine Cinema
The Seed Project