Alice Johnson Selected for Berlinale Talents Press 2026.

Ghanaian cultural journalist and multimedia producer Alice Johnson has been selected for the prestigious Berlinale Talents Press 2026, marking yet another milestone in her rising career as one of Africa’s most dynamic film critics.

Alice Johnson’s invitation to Berlinale Talents 2026 follows her celebrated win at the Durban FilmMart 2025, which was held under the theme “Bridges Not Borders, Stories That Unite”, where she won the Talent Press Award after participating in the Talents Durban Programme for 2025.

The award earned her international visibility and a sponsored membership with FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics), setting the stage for her next chapter as a rising figure in film journalism for Africa and beyond.

Alice Johnson is the founder of AJ4short, a digital platform dedicated to reviewing and celebrating cinema and theatre from Africa and its Diaspora. Through essays, reviews, interviews, and vlogs, she has consistently championed underrepresented voices and offered a grounded lens on African storytelling.

Her work has already been showcased at major cultural institutions, including the British Museum’s 2024 British Empire Exhibition Conference, and she is an alumna of both the Multichoice Talent Factory West Africa and the Inside Nollywood Film Journalism Fellowship (2023).

At Berlinale Talents,  Alice Johnson will join a cohort of eight critics and journalists selected from across the world for the Talent Press programme, supported by the Goethe-Institut and FIPRESCI. The initiative recognises the vital role of critics in sparking dialogue, fostering reflection, and broadening conversations about cinema’s place in society.

The eight selected critics were chosen by a dedicated selection panel, which included FIPRESCI president Ahmed Shawky and Manfred Stoffl, Head of Division Film, Television, Radio, Goethe-Institut.

Her selection underscores the growing influence of Ghanaian voices in shaping global film discourse and reflects the increasing recognition of African film criticism as a vital part of the international industry.

Sharing the Berlinale Talents news on her social media, she wrote, “Grateful beyond words! Excited for all that is to come! Ghana to the wiase! ”

Now, with Berlinale Talents, she steps onto one of the world’s most influential film stages, continuing her mission to amplify Ghana and Africa’s cultural footprint in global cinema. All the while reaffirming the importance of criticism and journalism as creative disciplines, integral to the filmmaking ecosystem.

Berlinale Talents will be happening from 13th February to 18th February 2026 in Berlin under the theme ‘Creating Confusion’.