WFC Day at the Berlinale 2025: A Platform for Resilience and Global Dialogue
Exploring the Intersection of Poetry, Politics, and Cinema in Challenging Times
February 06th, 2025
The World Cinema Fund (WCF) will host its annual WCF Day on February 19, 2025, at HAU2 in Berlin, providing a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of poetry, politics, and cinema production in the context of resilience and visibility. As part of the Berlinale, this gathering serves as an important platform for discussing the evolving challenges and strategies in global cinema, especially in the WCF regions.
WCF Day will feature a vibrant program focused on important topics including autonomy, decolonization, the professionalization of the film industry, and exposure for marginalized areas. As WCF-funded films continue to highlight the varied viewpoints and tenacity of filmmakers from nations facing political and cultural obstacles, these discussions are essential. Five WCF-funded films will be screened at the 2025 Berlinale, showcasing the WCF's continued influence and its contribution to the democratization and international acknowledgment of Global South cinema.
The day will feature several keynotes and director’s talks, providing insights into the unique production conditions in the regions supported by WCF. Iván Fund, director of the competition film El mensaje (The Message), will engage in a Director’s Talk about his film, which explores life as poetic resistance, set against the backdrop of Argentina’s current political and economic struggles. Other talks will delve into specific regions, such as the Arab World, with a focus on the region’s production, identities, and artistic evolution, and distribution strategies for WCF films, addressing the pragmatic need for visibility and audience engagement in these regions.
This year’s WCF Day will also feature a special focus on the African continent, where the WCF has secured unique funding to support films that might otherwise face significant challenges in reaching international audiences. Films such as Ancestral Visions of the Future by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese and Khartoum by Anas Saeed highlight the diversity and innovation of African cinema, which continues to rise despite complex socio-political landscapes.
The WCF’s ongoing support of filmmakers from challenging environments demonstrates its crucial role in fostering creative expression and global dialogue. Supported by the Federal Cultural Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Goethe Institute, the WCF’s initiatives underscore its commitment to decolonizing the film industry, creating platforms for voices from diverse regions, and ensuring that their stories reach a global stage.
As part of Berlinale Pro*, the WCF provides a comprehensive industry infrastructure that supports film development, production, and distribution, serving as an incubator for international collaboration. The upcoming WCF Day at Berlinale 2025 will continue to solidify its position as a key contributor to the global cinematic conversation, advocating for stronger ties between the Global South and the international film industry.
The event is open to the public and will be held in English at HAU2, Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 Berlin, starting at 2:30 p.m.
