They are the future of film

Young talents with big dreams – since 2003, the Berlinale Talents initiative has been supporting creative individuals from the film industry. This year’s development programme of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is bringing together young talents from 62 countries. Participants can look forward to a six-day programme of lectures, workshops, networking events and discussions. The aim is to foster exchange between young film professionals and give them access to expert knowledge and industry contacts. The initiative already has more than 10,000 alumni worldwide.  

We met four of 2025’s talents: 

Ifeyinwa "Ify" Arinze is a filmmaker from Lagos in Nigeria with a passion for stories and images. “I have always loved reading and photography - filmmaking allows me to combine my two passions and bring stories to life,” she says. She is currently working on a feature film that is set in a Nigerian girls’ boarding school and explores power dynamics. What she particularly values about Berlinale Talents is the international exchange with other filmmakers: “Filmmaking is an extremely collaborative process. The opportunity to network with talents from all over the world is incredibly valuable.” Through her work, Arinze promotes a more diverse and more easily accessible world of film – one that surprises and inspires people time and again. 

London-based sound designer Udit Dusejahas been working in the film and art scene for more than ten years. He grew up in India, where he was inspired by Hindustani classical music and the film scene of Mumbai. Following a degree in sound design in Edinburgh, he has worked on international independent films, documentaries and multimedia installations. “Sound is more than just something to accompany images - sound can completely reshape perception and meaning,” Duseja says of his passion. Taking part in the 2025 Berlinale Talents is a very special experience for him: “Berlin has always been a centre of sound innovation – from the electronic underground scene to avant-garde composition. This experimental energy is the perfect match for my approach, which involves questioning conventions and blazing new trails in sound design.” 

Alisa Kalyuzhna is a producer from Kyiv who works at the interface between film and marketing. She has worked on numerous Ukrainian and international productions. She ended up in the world of film by chance - and stayed because she loved it: “I love people and their stories and am happy if I can help them share these with an audience.” She sees her participation in Berlinale Talents as a chance to engage in exchange with other creative individuals and as a motivating acknowledgement of her work. Her advice to young filmmakers? Stick with it and don’t give up! “A river carves its way through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence.” 

Juliano Castro is a Brazilian editor who has already worked on more than 30 short and feature length films. As a teenager he already dreamt of making films - not only to entertain but also to open people’s eyes to new perspectives. “Films, their characters and their stories helped me to feel less alone when I was young,” he explains. He is currently working on a documentary film about the Brazilian actor Vera Valdez, while preparing himself at the same time for his directorial debut: the short documentary film “Moji” explores the colonial history of his home town Mogi Mirim in the state of São Paulo. Talking about the future of film, he would like to see more diversity both in front of and behind the camera, as well as more films that critically question our lives and our actions.