Short Form Station
The Short Form Station invites ten participants to share their short form projects with a line-up of internationally acclaimed script consultants and storytelling experts. In a tailored combination of group work and one-on-one sessions, each project is dissected, discussed and developed, culminating in a public presentation under the keen eyes of industry players.
Who can apply?
Directors who have written and directed one feature film or at least two short films, mini-series or other forms of audiovisual narrative content that have been officially invited to festivals or released widely on TV, online or theatrically. The focus of the lab is on developing your story and finding creative collaborators, rather than on technical questions, budget, funding and co-production advice in the first place. The lab is also open to Berlinale Talents alumni who have not yet taken part in the Short Form Station.
What kind of project can I submit?
You can apply with a script for a short film, a high-quality mini series, web series, XR project or other form of narrative content that is in an advanced state of conceptual development (short films and XR projects: up to 30 minutes; serial content: up to 50 minutes in total). Eligible formats include fiction, documentary, animation and everything in between.
The most valuable input I had during the lab was related to the end of the film. For the main character, the decision to do what she does was not clear enough in relation to the metaphor of the film. That made me think that I should work a little bit more on her development; what she loses and what she gains by making that decision.Participant of the Short Form Station 2022
Mentors
What's the structure?
The Short Form Station is composed of two parts. Firstly, two individual mentorship sessions of 60 minutes each as well as a number of group meetings take place online prior to the festival period, in late January. The second stage takes place during the Berlinale, when the Short Form Station participants attend the six-day onsite Berlinale Talents Summit, and prepare themselves with a trainer to present their projects to industry professionals at the European Film Market.
What will I take away?
This is an opportunity to sharpen your project based on advice from industry professionals, the tutorship of dedicated mentors and feedback from fellow Talents alike. The ultimate aim of the Lab is to allow you to take your project to the next step, whatever that might be.
How do I apply?
Access to the additional application for the Short Form Station is available once you apply for Berlinale Talents as a director. Be sure to allow enough time to complete both applications. Alumni should apply through their existing online profiles. Any questions? Consult our How to Apply page, or you can also contact us at talents@berlinale.de or +49 30 25920 515.
Partners
The Short Form Station is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and runs in cooperation with Berlinale Shorts.
