1、Who can apply? Berlinale Talents is aimed at film and television professionals with an existing track record of work and who are willing to share their experiences with others. To be eligible, you need to have made at least one feature-length film OR two short films OR a high-quality drama series or TV movie that have screened in festivals or been widely streamed. Students are only admitted in very exceptional cases, e.g. if they have previously worked in the film business. If you don’t fulfill these criteria yet, don’t worry - simply apply for a future edition! If you wish to apply as a distributor, sales agent or audience designer, you should have been involved in either the distribution or sale of at least two feature-length films or be responsible for a cinema space or festival, e.g. as a curator. If you're applying as a critic, you should be publishing film-related articles, interviews or essays on a regular and professional basis.

2、Do you have special selection criteria?

Since "talent" is a broad term and ultimately a very individual characteristic, we don’t have hard selection criteria beyond the eligibility requirements set out under "Who can apply?". Nevertheless, there are several soft factors in the selection committee’s work. Their decision will take into account aspects such as “professionalism” (education, professional independence, track record etc.), “craftsmanship” (aesthetic capacities as shown e.g. in your work sample), “resonance” (relations with your local communities, acceptance among festival programmers, audiences and press etc.) and the “relevance” of your work (willingness to take artistic risks, to overcome internal and external boundaries, and to deal with individual and social issues etc.). We also look for innovative qualities in your work (new modes of collaboration, technical innovations and other fresh approaches in your field of work). However, please be assured that we don’t check boxes and truly believe in everyone’s individual strengths, including yours. We encourage you to honestly and fully present who you are as an artist and what you think is right to move your work forward, inspire others and impact the world that surrounds you.

3、Is there any restriction on age of applicants?

Berlinale Talents is aimed at working professionals with specific levels of experience behind them, rather than those taking their very first steps in the industry. At the core of Berlinale Talents are our values of inclusivity and equality, so of course we place no limits on the age of applicants.

4、Is there a quota, e.g. for specific countries or fields of work?

We like to ensure a reasonable balance between "hard" factors (e.g. age, gender, regions) and "soft" factors (e.g. creative and social diversity). It's worth noting that in past years, at least 50% of our participants have identified as female, which unfortunately is not yet the case throughout the wider film industry. Nevertheless, there is no specific quota at Berlinale Talents, especially not for countries, and quality and creativity are always the most convincing arguments.

5、How can I submit a project to the Doc Station, Script Station, Short Form Station or Talent Project Market?

Depending on your field of work, you may be eligible to submit your work to one of our four labs for project development. Directors with film or drama series projects at script level may apply for Doc Station, Script Station (also: screenwriters), or Short Form Station (also: VR, XR and crossmedia projects); producers with fully developed feature-length film projects may apply for the Talent Project Market. Please note that you may only apply for one lab per year and that you need to complete the general application as well to be able to submit your project. If you are a Berlinale Talents alumna/alumnus, please log in to your existing profile to apply (under the condition that you have not previously participated in the same lab).

6、How can I take part in one of the Studio programmes?

The Studios for directors, producers, actors, cinematographers, editors, production designers, digital set designers, sales agents, distributors, audience designers, sound designers and score composers do not require an additional application. Depending on the field of work you apply with, you will automatically become part of the corresponding one or two-day workshops during the Talents week.

7、How should I choose my sample of work for the general application?

The sample of work should be about 3 minutes long and must correspond with your first field of work in the application. It should contain a maximum of two scenes (not necessarily from the same film). Please choose a sample that is understandable without the full context of the film and that proves what you are capable of. The sample should highlight your creativity rather than a certain theme or message. All scenes that contain significant non-English dialogue must include on-screen English subtitles. A translated list of dialogue on paper is not sufficient. The sample’s sound/soundtrack should not be altered from the original film. Please make sure that you are the copyright owner and/or have obtained the consent of any other copyright owner(s) for the usage of the work sample. We do not accept showreels, trailers, teasers or commercials.

8、Which projects should I include to my filmography?

Please include all finished films and drama/web series as well as projects in development to which you have contributed or are contributing in a key crew position. You may leave out projects to which you have only contributed e.g. as an assistant, volunteer, intern or that have been handled by other colleagues in a company you are working for.

9、What should I share about me and my career in the Milestones section of the application?

As a creative, your talent is certainly not only to be found in your films. In order to get to know you and your background a bit better, we’d also love you to share some important milestones of your educational training and the film related companies and initiatives you are working at or even have founded. If you are teaching film classes at university or engage with others in a collective cinema space twice a week, this information helps the jurors to get the “full picture” of you. As an initiative dedicated to sustainability in four key fields – Gender Equality & Diversity; Quality Education; Peace, Justice & Understanding; Climate Action – we’d love to join forces with you once you come to Berlin. So if you are for example the founder of an association for female cinematographers in your country, the inventor of a solar powered mobile cinema, or the brain behind a social project reaching out to indigenous audiences, please mention that in the Milestones section (“Social Projects & Engagement”) of your application too. Once invited to Berlinale Talents, we can offer related grants and fellowships and connect you with others who share your commitments.