Due to the pandemic, the 2021 Berlinale is being held as a digital industry event and a “Summer Special” with audience appeal. Among other things, the Goethe-Institut is involved with two podcasts.
For the first time in its history, in 2021 the Berlinale will take place as two parts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a physical gathering could not be carried out in February. Instead, there will be a digital “Industry Event” from 1 to 5 March 2021 and a “Summer Special” from 9 to 20 June 2021. The long-term collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and the Berlinale will be continued at various levels in 2021 covering the following areas: European Film Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund.
European Film Market
As the first major international meeting of the global film industry each year, the European Film Market is a central platform and trend gauge for the international film industry. Producers, rights dealers and curators meet, trade in film rights and exchange ideas about the trends of the year. The “Diversity & Inclusion” initiative is an integral part of the European Film Market. As a partner institution, the Goethe-Institut supports numerous programmes in this initiative. The Goethe-Institut also cooperates with Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast, which deals with current trends and developments in the global film industry and highlights key topics such as the boom in documentary series or the question of the balance of power in global film production.
Decolonising Cinema
As one of the world’s chief forums for young international filmmakers, Berlinale Talents offers an important platform for networking and training young talent. With “Berlinale’s House of Talents” the Goethe-Institut and Berlinale Talents present a podcast that focuses on selected perspectives from renowned filmmakers and international participants in the Berlinale Talents. The podcast picks up on the atmosphere of this platform for young talent and offers insights into global production conditions, artists’ creative processes and the personal lives of filmmakers from all over the world. In addition, the Goethe-Institut supports the annual World Cinema Fund Day. In 2021 this event will be titled Decolonising Cinema.
