Film Criticism Route
A pathway from first festival reviews to the most competitive international criticism programmes. Start with mentorship schemes for unpublished writers, build your portfolio at emerging-level programmes, and work towards the most selective platforms.
- Entry
BFI London Film Festival Critics Mentorship Programme
British Film Institute (BFI)
Explicitly designed for unpublished writers: you must not have been published nationally. Paid mentorship with a leading critic at the BFI London Film Festival.
London, United Kingdom
- Entry
GoCritic!
Cineuropa
A training programme for emerging critics. Write reviews at Karlovy Vary with editorial support and no entry fee.
Various Central and Eastern European animation festivals
- Foundation
FIPRESCI Warsaw Critics Project
FIPRESCI / Warsaw Film Festival
For critics starting their professional career (under 30, Central/Eastern Europe). Serve on an international critics jury at Warsaw Film Festival.
Warsaw, Poland
- Intermediate
Locarno Critics Academy
Locarno Film Festival
Highly competitive, with hundreds of applicants for 10 places. Write for MUBI Notebook and Variety at one of cinema's most prestigious A-list festivals.
Locarno, Switzerland
- Advanced
Berlinale Talents Press
Berlinale Talents / FIPRESCI / Goethe-Institut
The capstone: only 8 critics selected from thousands of applicants. Requires a professional track record. The most prestigious festival criticism platform.
Berlin, Germany