Three hundred talents from all over the world are invited to the Berlinale Talents 14th edition annual cinematic event, with two Egyptians on the list.

The two Egyptian candidates – film distributor Ahmed Sobky and film critic and journalist Rasha Hosny – are among 300 emerging film and drama series professionals from 79 countries, according to the Berlinale Talents press release.

The nominated talents were chosen from a group of 2,648 applicants from 118 countries.

The candidates are selected by an international committee on the basis of prior achievements, the resonance and relevance of their work, as well as exceptional promise.

The 2016 group, who will take part in a six-day programme featuring over 100 events, is comprised of professionals from the fields of directing, producing, acting, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, production design, film criticism, sales and distribution, sound design, and score composing.

The Berlinale press release reveals that "the great variety of personal and professional backgrounds and accomplishments is one of the characteristics of the Talents.

The 2016 group exhibits a multiplicity of perspectives as seen in the Talents’ documental or fictional storytelling, from the point of view of filmmakers in queer and experimental cinema as well as those from ethnic minorities and indigenous backgrounds.

In addition, many are innovators exploring novel techniques and distribution models for film and drama series, or practitioners pioneering interdisciplinary working."

The jury president of the competition is American film star Meryl Streep.

The three-time Academy Award winner will be one of around 150 internationally renowned experts holding seminars and workshops.

Berlinale Talents 2016 takes place on 13-18 February 2016. It is an initiative by the Berlin International Film Festival funded by the German Government Commissioner in cooperation with Creative Europe MEDIA. 

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