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How To Apply
Check back next week to review our updated application rules
Would you like to join the Berlinale Talents community? Use this page to find out if you are eligible and get a quick overview of the application process for the summit and our project development labs.
What is Berlinale Talents?
Berlinale Talents is the talent development programme of the Berlin International Film Festival, with a project development lab taking place digitally in late January and an onsite summit with panels, discussions, workshops and networking opportunities during the Berlinale each February.
Who can apply?
Berlinale Talents is aimed at filmmakers, series and XR content creators with with an existing track record of work. We are currently open to 15 film disciplines, which you can explore below.
Participation in Talents comes with the responsibility to share, and our entire programme is focused not just on what the experts have to offer, but what our Talents can bring to the group too. Each and everyone’s input and the interaction among the participants drive the sessions forward and are a valuable addition to the tapestry of the six days.
For questions related to eligibility, tips for completing the application and much more, check out our FAQs. You can also find out more about the selection process in general here.
The next application will open in July 2025.
Have you previously attended Berlinale Talents?
Talent Project Market
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. The 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 for your project.
1. Eligibility
Apply for Berlinale Talents as a producer and complete both the general application and the additional Talent Project Market application. Learn more about the eligibility requirements.
2. Project Presentation
Fill out the application form.
- Title
- Screenwriter
- Director
- Producer (production company, country)
- 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. 800 characters)
- Which positions are open to potential co-producers?
- Logline (max. 250 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?
- Other members of your cast or crew applying for Berlinale Talents this year
- Measures for an environmentally responsible and socially sustainable production
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.)
- 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.)
Upload a moodboard or pitchdeck for your project.
Additionally, please upload a sample of work from the project's director.
Feature length documentary
1. Project Presentation
Fill out the application form.
- Title
- Director
- Screenwriter
- 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 (max. 2000 characters)
- Topic Summary, Leading Themes or Background of the Story (max. 2000 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)
- Other members of your cast or crew applying for Berlinale Talents this year
- Measures for an environmentally responsible and socially sustainable production
2. Uploads
- Upload a mandatory video of your documentary project
- If available, upload:
- a max. 10-page treatment/exposé, in English or German (12 pt font, 1.5 spacing)
- for series: a 5-8 page project bible (protagonists, world, season overview)
- additional visual material to suport your presentation (e.g. images (maximum 25 stills)). If you choose to provide photographs, please upload also a short description of the context for each image as a PDF
Fiction feature film or a series concept
1. Project Presentation
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. 500 characters)
- Have you participated in any other training initiative, project development programme or workshop with this project? (max. 500 characters)
- Other members of your cast or crew applying for Berlinale Talents this year
- Measures for an environmentally responsible and socially sustainable production
2. Uploads
Upload a single PDF file, containing:
- your name and the title of the project
- 10-page treatment/exposé of the story, 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. All 10 participants selected for the Script Station will be asked to supply an updated English version of the script by end of December.
Short fiction, short documentary , Hybrids, VR
1. Project Presentation
Fill out the application form.
- Title
- Writer
- Director
- Producer
- 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)
- Audiovisual concept (incl. planned shooting style) (max. 1,000 characters)
- Director’s / writer’s statement of intent, theme and other backgrounds (max. 1,500 characters)
- Project status (max. 1,000 characters)
- Secured Financing
- Producer
- Production Companies
- Target audience (max. 500 characters)
- Why are you applying for Short Form Station and in what particular way do you think your project can benefit from participating? (max. 500 characters)
- What are your expectations for the Short Form Station?
- Have you participated in any other training initiative, project development programme or workshop with this project? (max. 500 characters)
- Other members of your cast or crew applying for Berlinale Talents this year
- Measures for an environmentally responsible and socially sustainable production
2. 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.
The Berlinale Talents Summit with its talks, workshops and think tanks in Berlin is the core of the event in February and attended by all 200 Talents together. All applicants must complete the General Application.
Choose a field of work
1. Eligibility
2. Application Form
Complete the application form, including:
- Personal Data
- Filmography (optional)
- Career Milestones (including education, work and/or social engagement)
- Questionnaire
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, please upload a single PDF file (max. 5 pages, max. file size 5 MB) with comments, photos, screenshots or sketches of your design for the respective production(s). Please include a brief description of the context for each photo or sketch.
Please upload an excerpt from one of your feature-length screenplays or a complete screenplay for a short film, containing at least one dialogue scene and marking a significant turning point in the story. It can (but doesn't have to) be the written counterpart to the scene from your uploaded video sample. Altogether, please include the following information in English:
- title, genre, logline
- introduction to the main characters
- synopsis with a maximum length of 1,000 characters (i.e. a summary of the plot of the entire film, including the ending. Not a teaser or a cliffhanger for marketing purposes)
- excerpt from the original feature-length script or> complete screenplay for a short film
- for feature-length screenplays: brief description of the excerpt's context within the film’s entire story
The maximum length of the entire document is 5 pages (max. file size 5 MB). Please compile all elements into one single PDF file (no other file types allowed) and make sure to add your name to the file name.
Upload a single PDF file (max. 6 pages, max. file size 5 MB) that comprises copies of 3 different film- and/or film-industry related reviews, interviews or longer essays that you have published over the last year. 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 done by yourself as a proof of your English writing skills. Please include the following information:
- 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. 5 pages, max. 5 MB) that visualises your mission and methods through at least two exemplary film sales, distribution, audience campaigns or film/cinema spaces (e.g. a community cinema, a festival, a VOD platform...) that you have recently been involved with. Please make sure you describe
- your role and responsibility and why you wanted to be involved, e.g. personal beliefs and professional ambitions,
- 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 campaigns please include the following film information: title, producer, director, cast, length, genre, rough production budget, distribution budget, festivals, theatrical and other releases.
For audience campaigns please add some details about your target groups, cooperation partners and the feedback you got from your audience.
For film/cinema spaces please add a rough team organigram, financial structure and general curatorial approach.
Additional upload (optional): You may upload or link 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 marketing professional, 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 selected as a , you will automatically become part of the Production Design Studio, our two-day workshop during the Talents week to collectively reimagine the rules between set design and narrative practices. learn more
