News

Berlin / Potsdam – The Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg has drawn a positive interim conclusion: The first round of its innovative program for talent development and workforce training in the media industry has exceeded expectations. Alongside high participant satisfaction, partner companies have shown increased interest in the pilot project.

The qualification program offers career changers and returning professionals aged 21 and older from Berlin and Brandenburg the opportunity to explore the diverse careers within the media industry through hands-on experience. Over the course of 10 months, participants first complete a theoretical foundation course focusing on film production, followed by a paid on-the-job training at a media production company in Berlin or Brandenburg.

"Our goal is to sustainably strengthen the media industry by fostering competency-based workforce development and increasing diversity in the sector. The success of the first round shows that we are on the right track," says Denise Grduszak, project lead at the Media Academy.

To achieve this, the project organizers rely on an anonymized and discrimination-free selection process: Applicants’ skills are matched with companies’ needs using an advanced skill-matching technology. During the traineeship, participants acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge in media production and receive tailored training and networking opportunities.

The results speak for themselves: Six out of nine participants from the first cohort received job offers from their partner companies. Both trainees and businesses praised the program’s strong practical orientation and well-structured theoretical components.

To further enhance the program’s success, additional coaching sessions and workshops have been introduced. In addition to industry-specific expertise, future training will also focus on communication and teamwork. These elements aim to strengthen the collaboration between trainees and companies, ensuring seamless integration into existing teams. At the same time, they promote an open feedback and onboarding culture that helps all stakeholders take their collaboration to the next level.

Kirsten Niehuus, CEO Medienboard:

"The Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg stands out for its hands-on approach and direct market training. It is also a great example of the excellent collaboration between the film hubs of Berlin and Brandenburg. Film is valued here as both a cultural and economic driver, leading to the creation of this tailored professionalization program. A practical focus, strong industry partnerships, and an anonymized application process result in highly skilled professionals while also boosting industry diversity! We are thrilled that so many trainees have already received job offers after just the first round. This is a clear win-win for new and career-changing professionals as well as production companies in the region."

The second cohort started on February 1, 2025, with 13 new trainees and 13 partner companies. Meanwhile, preparations for the third application phase, set to begin in May 2025, are already underway. More details can be found at: https://mediaacademy-bb.de/bewerbung/

The Media Academy is funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Energy & Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg, and the Berlin Senate Chancellery. It is implemented by the Erich Pommer Institute in collaboration with the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf.