Berlin’s Best: Lessons from Berlinale Winners
For emerging filmmakers, securing a spot at Berlinale—one of the world's most prestigious film festivals—can be a game-changer. Winning an award, however, is a whole different level of recognition. We spoke to two Berlinale winners, Petros Silvestros and Francisco Lezama, who triumphed a decade apart, to understand the context of their respective victories.
Petros Silvestros, a London-based filmmaker and a graduate of the London Film School, made history in 2015 by becoming the first director to win the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film twice in consecutive years with his short films Mike and A Confession. On the other hand, Francisco Lezama, an Argentinian filmmaker, won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at Berlinale in 2024 with his comedy-drama An Odd Twqurn. Despite their shared success at the festival, their approaches and reflections on the impact of these awards reveal fascinating insights about the evolving landscape of filmmaking and festival recognition.
Comparing Their Festival Strategies
When it came to festival strategy, Silvestros took a calculated and research based approach. He focused on submitting his films to festivals that had a history of selecting works similar to his, prioritizing those with established prestige while avoiding smaller, less reputable ones. His experience and knowledge of festival programming gave him an edge in placing his films where they were most likely to be recognized.
Lezama’s approach, on the other hand, was far less structured. His film, An Odd Turn, faced a long and uncertain journey to completion due to the pandemic, which altered the real-world locations where the story was originally set. The benefit of delaying the film's release to 2024 was that it became more thematically aligned with political events in Argentina and worldwide. With no strict roadmap for release, the film's festival trajectory was largely determined by its Berlinale selection, showing that sometimes external factors—such as global events—can unexpectedly shape a film’s path to success.
The Road to Berlinale Selection and Awards
Both filmmakers acknowledged the rigorous selection process at Berlinale, where thousands of submissions are gradually whittled down to a handful of contenders. However, their perspectives on what led to their films' selection diverged.
Silvestros noted that, while the process was long and meticulous, his prior win helped him bypass submission fees the second time around. He didn’t see any fundamental difference to how his two award-winning films were evaluated, emphasizing that selection ultimately depends on the festival’s internal committee and its vision for the short film program.
Lezama, on the other hand, speculated that the political climate in Argentina and the world played a crucial role in his film’s selection and resonance with the jury. The evolving sociopolitical context, he suggested, made An Odd Turn feel more relevant in 2024 than it would have been in earlier years. His view highlights how a film’s reception can be deeply influenced by the cultural and political moment in which it is seen.
The Impact of Berlinale Recognition on Their Careers
The two filmmakers had strikingly different views on how their Berlinale victories affected their careers.
Silvestros downplayed the long-term impact, stating that while winning awards might make people briefly pay more attention, they do not necessarily open doors in the industry. Instead, he emphasized that the most crucial factor for a filmmaker’s success is the quality of their next project and their ability to communicate their vision effectively.
Lezama, however, found Berlinale recognition to be a significant asset. He acknowledged that while awards do not eliminate the inherent struggles of filmmaking, they do help with networking, gaining access to development programs, and attracting potential producers. In his case, winning Berlinale made it easier to finance future projects, particularly in a genre like comedy, which can be difficult to pitch and fund.
Three Key Lessons from Berlinale Winners
From these two perspectives separated by a decade, three essential lessons emerge for filmmakers looking to navigate the festival circuit and build sustainable careers today:
Strategic Festival Selection Matters: While some filmmakers meticulously plan their festival submissions based on a film’s compatibility with past selections, others may find their festival journey dictated by external circumstances. Regardless of the approach, understanding a festival’s tastes and history can increase the chances of selection.
Timing and Context Can Influence a Film’s Success: As Lezama’s experience suggests, a film’s impact can be shaped by the socio-political climate in which it is released. Festivals don’t just evaluate artistic merit—they also consider cultural relevance, making timing a crucial factor.
Awards Are Tools, Not Guarantees: While recognition at Berlinale can open doors, as seen in Lezama’s case, it does not guarantee long-term success As Silvestros pointed out, what truly matters is the strength of a filmmaker’s next project and their ability to clearly articulate their creative vision.
Berlinale winners may take different paths, but their experiences offer valuable insights for any filmmaker hoping to make an impact on the global stage.