Berlinale Talents 2025: 201 Filmmakers from 62 Countries Gather in Germany
The Berlinale Talents initiative, a cornerstone of the Berlin International Film Festival, will return from February 15 to 20, 2025, bringing together 201 filmmakers from 62 countries. Guided by the theme "Listen Courageously: Cinematic Narratives in Times of Dissonance," the six-day event will feature a dynamic program of workshops, public discussions, and networking opportunities.
This year’s participants were selected from a record 3,836 applications spanning 123 countries. The rigorous selection process underscored Berlinale Talents’ commitment to diversity and equality. Nikola Joetze and Tobias Pausinger, Berlinale Talents’ leadership, emphasized the program’s role in amplifying varied narratives, stating, “To amplify their diversity of narratives and histories, we must approach each other with both courage and curiosity.”
The selected group represents a wide spectrum of creative disciplines, including directors, producers, screenwriters, sound designers, and film critics. Notable participants include Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich, whose work has been showcased at venues like La Biennale di Venezia and the Tate Modern, and Clare Weiskopf, whose documentary "Alis" won the TEDDY Award in 2022. Other participants, such as María Silvia Esteve and Luis De Filippis, bring a focus on social impact, with Esteve co-founding an audio-visual collective for Latin American women and De Filippis establishing a mentorship program for trans and non-binary youth.
In parallel, the Talents Footprints – Mastercard Enablement Programme will return for its fifth edition, emphasizing sustainability and social inclusion. This year’s jury features German actor Sibel Kekilli (Head-On), filmmaker Dieu Hao Do, and Vincenza Cristina Saccà of Mastercard. They will select two fellows from the Talents alumni network who lead impactful cinema-related initiatives, offering them mentorship and financial support for a year.
The program also includes the Talents Labs, where 40 filmmakers will present new projects in genres ranging from feature films to virtual reality at the European Film Market.
Berlinale Talents, supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and others, remains a global incubator for cinematic innovation and collaboration. Full program details, including public networking events, will be announced in early February.