Berlinale Talents
200 filmmakers from 120 countries – the Berlinale's talent program invites you to six days of workshops, talks, and public programming around Potsdamer Platz
2026
About Berlinale Talents
Berlinale Talents — edition 2026
The 2026 edition is marked by a dual curatorial movement: 'Creating (and) Confusion' asks how cinematic storytelling productively engages with political, social, and psychological uncertainty. The 200 selected talents are spread across 15 crafts and come from 120 countries – the greatest geographical diversity in Berlinale Talents history. For the first time in 2026, costume designers are part of the selection.
The Berlinale Talents Lab is an important program innovation for 2026: 20 alumni projects from fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental film will be supported in a collaborative workshop format to make the projects production-ready. In parallel, the Talent Project Market specifically presents 10 alumni projects to the Berlinale Co-Production Market and seeks co-production partners. The Public Programme at the HAU is aimed at the Berlin public.
Highlights Berlinale Talents 2026
- 200 Talents from 120 countries, selected from 3,438 applications
- 15 crafts (directing, screenwriting, production, cinematography, editing, sound, VR, animation, etc.)
- First time in 2026: costume design as a craft in the selection
- New: Berlinale Talents Lab with 20 alumni projects
- Talent Project Market with 10 projects at the Berlinale Co-Production Market
- The Dream Makers Short Film Contest – new short film award
Programme Berlinale Talents 2026
Friday, February 13, 2026 – Opening
- HAU Hebbel am Ufer – Official opening of the 23rd Talents program
- Welcome address to the 200 Talents and introduction of the selection
- Public Programme: first talks and masterclasses
Saturday, February 14 & Sunday, February 15, 2026
- Closed Talent sessions at the Berlinale Campus (workshops, studios, mentoring)
- Public Programme at HAU: public talks and masterclasses
Monday, February 16, 2026 – Berlinale Talents Lab
- Opening of the Berlinale Talents Lab with 20 alumni projects
- Mentoring sessions in workshop format (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental)
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 – Talent Project Market
- 10 alumni projects presented to stakeholders of the Berlinale Co-Production Market
- Co-production pitches and 1:1 sessions
- Public Programme: industry talks
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – Closing
- Mastercard Enablement Programme – Award ceremonies
- The Dream Makers Short Film Contest – Award ceremony
- Closing event and networking
Detailed daily schedule at berlinale-talents.de. Language of most sessions: English.
Prices Berlinale Talents 2026
Practical information — Berlinale Talents
Getting There
Public Programme: HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Stresemannstraße 29 / Hallesches Ufer 32 (U-Bahn U1/U6 Hallesches Tor). Berlinale Campus and accredited area: Potsdamer Platz (U2 Potsdamer Platz / S+U Potsdamer Platz). Arrival by public transport is strongly recommended.
Tickets
The Talents programs themselves are exclusively for the selected 200 talents and accredited industry guests. The Public Programme at HAU is accessible via the Berlinale ticket office and HAU ticketing. Prices vary depending on the format.
Organizer
Berlinale Talents, a program of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale Pro). Selection jury, mentoring, and curatorial direction change annually.
From Talent Campus to Established Industry Meeting Point
What began as 'Talent Campus' in 2003 is now one of the most renowned talent programs in the international film business. Each year, around 200 talents are selected from several thousand applications – divided among 15 crafts from directing to screenwriting, production, cinematography, editing, sound, to VR and animation. In 2026, 200 Talents (110 female, 81 male, three non-binary, six unspecified) were selected from 3,438 applications from 120 countries.
Creating (and) Confusion
The 2026 motto plays with the creative potential of discomfort. How does contemporary cinema deal with political uncertainty, social rupture, and psychological pressure? How can themes be told that deliberately challenge the audience? The thematic strands guide Talents and international industry audiences through workshops, studios, mentoring formats, and public talks.
Berlinale Talents Lab and Talent Project Market
New in 2026 is the Berlinale Talents Lab, where 20 selected alumni projects from fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental film receive a collaborative space – with mentors, international partners, and targeted workshop support. In parallel, the Talent Project Market presents 10 alumni projects to industry representatives of the Berlinale Co-Production Market, with the aim of finding co-production partners. For the first time in 2026, costume designers will be included in the selection – a reflection of the growing importance of this craft in global series and film production.
Public Programme
A wider Berlin audience can also engage with the festival: The Public Programme at HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Hallesches Ufer 32, Kreuzberg) is open, ticketed, and aimed at film enthusiasts and students. Live discussions, masterclasses, and workshop talks with renowned filmmakers – often in English – complement the closed Talent sessions.
Where it takes place Berlinale Talents
Berlinale Talents at a glance
History of Berlinale Talents
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