Festival Success Despite Creative Challenges: Lessons from Berlinale 2025’s Silver Bear Winner
The journey of Iván Fund’s “Message” from development to winning the Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlinale 2025 offers complex insights into festival strategy, while also raising questions about how films with notable creative limitations can achieve major festival recognition.
The Path to Success
Producer Laura Mara Tablón’s strategic development of “Message” demonstrates effective festival positioning:
- Strategic Development Pipeline
- Initial presentation at San Sebastian co-production forum (2023)
- Progression through Berlinale’s work-in-progress section
- Ultimate world premiere and competition selection at Berlinale 2025
- Culminating in the Silver Bear for Best Director
Creative Challenges vs. Festival Appeal
Industry observers have noted several creative elements that reportedly fall short of festival-level expectations:
Narrative Structure
- Unclear protagonist definition, with the allegedly secondary guardian character emerging as the more compelling lead
- The child protagonist reportedly lacks agency, clear desires, or internal conflicts
- Absence of clear character arcs or transformative journey
- Limited dramatic tension or conflict development
Technical Execution
- Black and white cinematography that, while ambitious, reportedly lacks the contrast and lighting sophistication expected at this level
- Controversial sound design choices, particularly the use of solo trumpet during quiet moments
- The trumpet’s strong military associations (The Last Post, battle songs) create unintended thematic confusion
- Volume levels reportedly disrupt the film’s contemplative moments
Industry Standards and Ethical Considerations
Beyond creative concerns, the film raises questions about consistency in festival selection standards regarding child performer protection. In particular, the film features top nudity of a pre-pubescent female child. While displayed in a non-exploitative way, the shot itself is rather gratuitous according to some viewers.
The Context Factor
Several elements potentially influenced the film’s festival success despite these reported limitations:
- Timing and Context
- Arrives during Argentine cinema funding crisis
- Represents resilience in challenging production circumstances
- Carries cultural significance beyond its creative execution
- Strategic Development
- Strong producer advocacy
- Effective use of co-production forums
- Built industry relationships during development
Lessons for Filmmakers
Strategic vs. Creative Elements
- Festival success may depend more on strategic positioning than flawless execution
- Industry relationships can help overcome creative limitations
- Context and timing can outweigh technical perfection
Industry Implications
The film’s success raises important questions:
- Selection Criteria
- Balance between artistic achievement and strategic positioning
- Role of industry relationships in festival selection
- Impact of cultural context on technical standards
- Professional Standards
- Need for consistent ethical guidelines
- Equal scrutiny across all productions
- Balance between supporting emerging voices and maintaining quality standards
Moving Forward
While “Message”‘s festival success demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic development, it also highlights several industry concerns:
- Creative Standards
- Need for stronger emphasis on fundamental storytelling elements
- Importance of purposeful technical choices
- Balance between artistic vision and basic craft
- Industry Responsibility
- Maintaining consistent standards across all productions
- Supporting emerging voices while upholding professional practices
- Ensuring ethical guidelines apply equally to all films
Recommendations for Emerging Filmmakers
- Focus on Fundamentals
- Clear narrative structure
- Strong character development
- Purposeful technical choices
- Sound design that serves the story
- Strategic Development
- Build industry relationships
- Understand festival preferences
- Create compelling project narratives
- Professional Standards
- Maintain high ethical standards
- Consider international guidelines
- Prioritize performer protection
Conclusion
The success of “Message” at Berlinale 2025 demonstrates how strategic development and context can sometimes outweigh creative execution in festival selection. While this offers hope for emerging filmmakers working with limited resources, it also raises important questions about maintaining consistent standards across the industry. The challenge moving forward is to support diverse voices while ensuring both creative and ethical excellence.
Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).
