How Do We Reach and Engage with Young Audiences?

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by Curator and Impact Producer Nadia Denton, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.

What defines a young audience, what attracts a young audience and how can film professionals engage the audience of the future? In this episode of Industry Insights, guest speakers Melika Gothe and Yaron Volk reflect on these questions, shedding light on the younger generation and their perspective on cinema culture and film (festivals). This conversation shows the relevance of giving a voice to people of all ages and backgrounds, and shares ideas on how to make the film industry more accessible and sustainable.

Melika Gothe has been section manager of Berlinale Generation since 2022, a position that was newly created, aimed at strengthening film education and cultural participation. She joined the Generation team in 2014 and worked as project coordinator and Head’s assistant. Melika graduated in film studies, French and cultural mediation (Kulturvermittlung/Médiation Culturelle de l’Art) in Mainz, Dijon, Hildesheim and Marseille. Her focus is on supporting and engaging with young cineastes, in various jury programmes, as moderator and film educator.

Yaron Volk is a 16-year old film enthusiast, about to graduate. He is part of the Youth Film Jury Berlin and the European Film Club. Being an avid Berlinale person, Yaron feels that the festival played an important part in shaping his identity in terms of taste in films and in a way made him who he is today.

The host Nadia Denton is a film industry specialist with over a decade of experience as a Curator, Impact Producer and Author. Her focus has been on cinema of the African diaspora, she specialises in Nigerian Cinema and is author of two books The Black British Filmmakers Guide to Success and The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood. Nadia is also an official V&A African Heritage Tour Guide.

This podcast episode has been developed in collaboration with Berlinale Generation.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market is the first international film market of the year, where the film industry starts its business. Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast puts a spotlight on highly topical and trendsetting industry issues, thereby creating a compass for the forthcoming film year. The year-round podcast is produced in cooperation with Goethe-Institut and co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

In this episode Melika mentiones the film Summer 1993 by Carla Simón.