In 15 public talks, workshops and discussions, the Summit encourages exchange about films, their values for our society and how they came into being. For cinephiles and professionals alike, the HAU Hebbel am Ufer theatre becomes the home for encounters with artists and experts who can only be met here.
Featuring internationally acclaimed filmmakers and artists, the talks in HAU1 offer valuable insights into every possible aspect of filmmaking. Open-mindedness and a passion for discovery are the hallmarks of this creative hotbed of the festival.
Past editions have featured director Apichatpong Weerasethakul exploring the creative power of dreaming, Ava DuVernay leading a dialogue on new voices in cinema with Indigenous filmmakers, Meryl Streep discussing the role of women in Hollywood, director Raoul Peck giving a probing analysis of institutional racism, and Ryūichi Sakamoto improvising live on the piano. As always at the Berlinale, audiences can actively participate and contribute their own questions and experiences.
In smaller interactive gatherings and live workshops, experts dissect practical case studies together with the Talents, fellow guests and public audiences. Quite often, these sessions in HAU2 and HAU3 focus on specific disciplines, allowing participants to deepen their knowledge niche subjects.
Learn how to navigate virtual shoots with Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, get the inside scoop on the secrets of storytelling with Lav Diaz, or take a glance over the shoulder of Wes Anderson's prop and model maker Simon Weisse. The sessions reflect cutting-edge trends and equip filmmakers with the tools they need to stay on top of an ever-changing industry.
Creating new connections and forging strong relationships is one of the most important parts of Berlinale Talents. The entire week is a playground for networking on all levels, from casual lunch with other Talents to our more structured events.
Take, for example, our new Talents Tanks, which invite 200 Talents to an open exchange with guests and partners, discussing the current and future state of work in the creative world. Focused around one of our core sustainability themes, the Talents Tanks offer a place to jointly examine and condense shared visions of the future.
Dotted throughout the week we also have tightly-knit Meet the Expert and Dream Catcher sessions, giving you the chance to get personal with expert practitioners. Thanks to the intimate format, you'll be able to immerse yourself in topical discussions and exchanges with your fellow peers.
And we can't forget the legendary Dine & Shine, which hosts more than 400 guests and involves changing seats after every course, giving you the chance to meet a wide range of contacts from the industry reps and festival guests.
Ken Adam, Maren Ade , Ana Lily Amirpour, Harry Belafonte, Gael García Bernal, Juliette Binoche, Jane Campion, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Park Chan-wook, Christo, Isabel Coixet, Willem Dafoe, Josephine Decker, Julie Delpy, Claire Denis, Alexandre Desplat, Lav Diaz, Ava DuVernay, Olafur Eliasson, Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Frears, Nikolau Geyrhalter, Greta Gerwig, Agnès Godard , Hildur Guðnadóttir, Patricio Guzmán, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Uli Hanisch, Agnieszka Holland, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Hüller, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Holly Hunter, Bong Joon-Ho, Kirsten Johnson, Gaston Kaboré, Shah Rukh Khan, Ellen Kuras, Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, David Lowery, Erika Lust, Andie MacDowell, Lucrecia Martel, Ursula Meier, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brillante Mendoza, Walter Murch, Michael Nyman, Joshua Oppenheimer, Raoul Peck , Christian Petzold, Laura Poitras, Sandy Powell, Charlotte Rampling, Keanu Reeves, Carlos Reygadas, Max Richter, Isabella Rossellini, Ryūichi Sakamoto, Walter Salles, Roberto Saviono, James Schamus, Céline Sciamma, Howard Shore, Volker Schlöndorff, Paul Schrader, Ridley Scott, Ulrich Seidl, Abderrahmane Sissako, Tilda Swinton, István Szabó, André Téchiné, Tom Tykwer, Christine Vachon, Paul Verhoeven, Andrzej Wajda, John Waters, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Wim Wenders, Matthew Weiner, Wong Kar-wai, Jia Zhang-ke and many more.