In a world that is fast-paced — where humans are expected to do more, absorb more, hustle harder, and take in as much information as possible — there’s a small but growing group of us who’ve cottoned on to something: in the end, stillness and slowing down might actually be more productive. More grounding, more interesting, and better for us overall.

And when it comes to storytelling, filmmaking, and the films I choose to watch, I feel the same way.

Give me long, quiet shots of absolute “nothingness.” Characters sitting in silence, looking out over cliffs, quietly applying makeup, moving through their room looking for a favourite pair of shoes. Couples glancing at each other with nothing left to say. And my personal favourite – Rooney Mara eating pie on the floor for six uninterrupted minutes — no music, no camera movement, no sound design — just grief, just time, just presence. 

Attending the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin as part of the Berlinale Film Festival this month was an experience, to say the least. Even after making my rounds at the Cannes Short Film Market and the American Film Market, I was stepping into unfamiliar territory.

In the weeks leading up to my flight, I stressed myself out — not just with logistics but mentally too. I overprepared, overthought, and overbooked meet-and-greets, all while worrying about how it would pan out.

Here’s what I learned.