The YTF Young Talent Foundation Berlin (YTF Berlin), founded in early 2022, is a non-profit organisation aiming to financially support young film talent in Germany of all nationalities and mentor them on their way into a professional career in the film industry.
Our primary objective is to support students at film schools as well as independent filmmakers. We are predominately focusing on passion projects of young film talent who do not have sufficient public or private funding. We are in direct touch with film schools all over Germany, film students and independent filmmakers. In doing so, we want to ensure that we not only financially support the projects but consult with the young filmmakers to give them the expert help they need.
Another focus of our work is the funding of advancement awards to honour film students and independent filmmakers for an outstanding project. This monetary prize will be earmarked for a specific future film project.
The YTF Berlin also participate in scholarship programmes for film schools. We want these programmes to provide an opportunity for exceptional students who, without financial assistance, would be unable to participate on selected programmes locally and abroad.
To achieve these ambitious goals, the privately funded YTF Berlin will predominantly depend on donations. We will ensure that all funds will be used wisely and effective in support of film talents.
The founder and managing director of the YTF Young Talent Foundation Berlin, Armin Schneider can look back on a successful career in the German and international film business that has lasted for more than 30 years. For the last 20 years he was the Head of European Publicity for Warner Bros Pictures in its headquarters in London. There he played a key part in the publicity campaigns of films by such iconic film directors like Stanley Kubrick, Clint Eastwood, Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan. Not to mention the eight films in the “Harry Potter” film series.
In 2017 Armin decided to step back from the professional film business and look for new opportunities. Supporting young film talent has always been one of his long time wishes and by launching the YTF Berlin he is hoping to fulfill this wish and help young people in the film industry to fulfill their dreams.