When 18 filmmakers from various regions of Germany come together in Erfurt, all with the shared vision of making films for children, then it's Talent Lab time again! 🤩

On June 3rd 2025, the collaborative event between us, the German Children's Media Foundation Goldener Spatz, and the Young German Film Board entered its second round. The program included expert input as well as individual real-life talks with experts and time for exchange and networking.

Workshop 1: "Storytelling for Children"

💬 In his workshop, dramaturg Dr. Rüdiger Hillmer discussed how a story needs to be written to inspire, touch, and surprise children. One key point: choosing the right narrative style for the right age group: "Children develop, and this also affects how they perceive the world." The dramaturg named friendship as an important topic for children across all age groups. In addition to the topics that concern children, emotions and a certain disgust factor should not be missing in a good children's film.

Workshop 2: "Filming with children"

🎥 Director and screenwriter Markus Dietrich (including "Sputnik," "Ponyherz") provided insight into filming with children. According to him, however, much of the process is decided before the actual on-set experience: "Casting is the be-all and end-all." Here, it's not just about finding a child who can act well, but also the ability to handle pressure is crucial. "No parents on set," is the second tip. Instead, the professional advises relying on media education specialists or coaches to supervise the child actors during breaks and prepare them for filming. Last but not least, it is of course mandatory for film productions with actors under the age of 18 to adhere to the relevant rules and laws, for example, regarding the number of hours – for the benefit of the children.

Workshop 3: Pitching

🎤 Pauline Mazenod, founder and managing director of the German-French global distributor WINDROSE, finally brought the perspective on the topic of "pitching content for children." Her recommendations: Start with smaller festivals. Start preparing early and rehearse your pitch repeatedly – ideally in front of others and with a clock. Be open to criticism, because every criticism only makes your pitch better. And: Consider using animal-based content! 🐥

The evening concluded with small discussion groups where participants could ask selected industry experts questions, followed by a shared dinner with the team and filmmakers.

Thanks to everyone who attended, the speakers, and of course, especially Elisabeth Wenk, Anne Schultka and their team, as well as the KdjF! 😊