24th THESSALONIKI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL // 10-20/3/2022
The Agora of the 24th TDF Festival is returning more dynamic than ever
11-19 March 2022, 10am-8pm, Warehouse C (Port of Thessaloniki)
More innovative and enriched than ever, Agora Docs of the 24th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, the most important film market in the wider area of Southeast Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, is returning for another dynamic edition. Having gone down in history as the first film festival market to be held online amidst the pandemic, Agora Docs is breaking ground once again, making use of all the available tools and new technologies so as to showcase new actions and enhance successful initiatives, in a hybrid festival that will take place both in physical spaces and online.
Agora Docs, as every year, hosts a series of actions, aiming to boost the Greek film industry production and strengthen documentary filmmaking in the wider geographical region. In addition, film industry professionals will take part at Agora Docs, aiming at discovering new films and projects, as well as crafting a network with filmmakers.
- Agora Doc Market: With more than 350 completed documentaries in its digital video-library (in collaboration with Cinando) available online for the Agora Docs accredited guests.
- Agora Docs in Progress: Films just before the stage of completion are presented to the invited industry professionals.
- Thessaloniki Pitching Forum: A co-production and co-financing platform for creative, television and new media documentaries in the development stage.
- Agora Lab: A workshop in which renowned documentary specialists offer guidance to the Greek filmmakers whose films are on the post-production stage.
- Meet the Future: A section that presents up-and-coming documentary filmmakers from our wider geographical region. This year, promising filmmakers from Georgia take center stage.
- Doc Counseling: One-on-one consultation meetings for filmmakers from Greece and abroad.
- Agora Talks & Masterclass: Each year, Agora Docs invites experts to share their best practices with the Festival’s accredited guests.
- EWA Mentoring Program: The mentoring program of the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA) supports women working in the European film industry.
- Creative Europe Media Desks joint event: How to Foster Sustainable Film Production for Documentaries: Challenges and Incentives. Tuesday March 15th, MOMus, Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, 1pm-2.30pm. Open to the public.
We are very happy to announce that 7 of the films that celebrate their premiere at the Official Selection of the 24th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, were presented and supported by Agora Docs.
International Competition:
Α Marble Travelogue by Sean Wang, MUYI FILM, Blackfin Productions, Little Big Story,
Anemon Productions,Netherlands, Hong Kong SAR China, France, Greece (International Premiere)
Participated in Docs in Progress 2020
Tilos Weddings by Panayiotis Evangelidis, Greece (World Premiere)
Participated in Docs in Progress 2021
Newcomers Competition:
Frugal Abundance by Frantzeska Romanou and Yorgos Savoglou, Neda Film, Greece (World Premiere)
Participated in Docs in Progress 2018
Open Horizons:
Broken Sound by Fivos Kontogiannis, Foss Productions, Greece (World Premiere)
Participated in Agora Lab 2021
Dead Sea Guardians by Ido Glass και Yoav Kleinman, Kleinman & Glass Productions, Israel (International Premiere)
Participated in Thessaloniki Pitching Forum 2020
Into the Land of Ice and Fire by Dimitra Zirou, Greece, Norway, Serbia (World Premiere)
Participated in Thessaloniki Goes to Cannes 2021
THESSALONIKI PITCHING FORUM
Monday March 14th (9.30am–2pm) / available also online for the Agora Docs guests
Thessaloniki Pitching Forum is the co-producing and co-financing platform of the TDF, offering the participants the opportunity to discuss their projects, to receive feedback and advice during an online two-day lab and prepare for pitching with the help of documentary professionals. Then, they will present their project at the one-day Pitching Forum to an international panel of experts and have individual meetings with top-notch film professionals. Onassis Culture, consistent in its support towards independent Greek cinema, and within the framework of its collaboration with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, bestows the Onassis Cinema Award to one of the Greek projects taking part in the 24th TDF’s Agora. The awards of the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum are: The Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award (2,000 euros), the ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award (2,000 euros) bestowed to a Greek project, the Mediterranean Film Institute Award (MFI Script2Film Workshop), that offers a 2,000-euro DocLab scholarship, as well as accommodation in the islands of Nisyros and Rhodes where the MFI takes place), DAE - Documentary Association of Europe Award (Consultation and free membership), the Aylon Productions Digital Services Award (Digitization by Aylon Productions) and the Beldocs Award (Accommodation and accreditation for the next International Documentary Festival Beldocs in May 2022).
This year’s panel of financiers include among others:
Natalia Arshavskaya, Current Time TV, USA
Magdalena Borowska, TVP, Poland
Devin Karambelas, WGBH/PBS, USA
Hanka Kastelicova, HBO Europe, Czech Republic
Adel Ksiksi, Al Jazeera, Qatar
Jenny Westergard - YLE, Finland
Soleil Gharbieh - AFAC - Arab Fund for Arts & Culture, Lebanon
Daphne Bechtsi, CINOBO, Greece
Frédéric Pfyffer - RTS, Switzerland
Fiona Lawson-Baker - Al Jazeera English, Qatar
Per Erik Gilsvik - Sörfilm, Norway
Sanam Gharazoglou - MUBI, UK
Lucie Kon - BBC Storyville, UK
Sabine Bubeck-Paaz - ZDF, Germany
The Thessaloniki Pitching Forum International Jury is consisted of:
Krishan Arora, International Content Consultant, SBS, Australia
Stephanie Fuchs, Festivals Manager, Autlook Film Sales, Austria
Angelos Kovotsos, film director, Greece
The tutors for the online project enhancement workshops are:
Flora Gregory, International Documentary Consultant, UK
Peter Jaeger, documentary expert and consultant, Jaeger Creative, Austria
Ove Rishøj Jensen, TPF project manager and documentary and consultant,
Paradiddle Pictures, Denmark
Mila Turajlić, director-producer, Dribbling Pictures, Serbia
Τhe projects of the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum are the following:
- CAUTION, RISK OF FALLING EXHIBITS!
Directors: Jana Durajova & Lena Kusnierikova, Producers: Zuzana Mistrikova, Lubica Orechovska, Arkaitz Basterra – PubRes, Slovakia - DECEMBER
Director: Grzegorz Paprzycki, Producer: Maciej Kubicki – Telemark, Poland - THE FLOATING WORLD
Director: Fernando Souza, Producer: Mo Scarpelli – Rake Films, Co-producer: Jorge Thielen Armand – La Faena Films, Italy | USA | Canada - THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Director: Jamie Goldrick, Producer: Kevin Brannigan – PushPull, Ireland - HARVEST MOON
Director: Rama Ayasra, Producer: Mariam Salim – New productions, Co-producer: Asmahan Bkerat, Jordan - HONEYDEW
Directors: Marco Bergonzi, Michael Petrolini, Producer: Simone Catania – Indyca, Co-producer: Costanza Julia Bani - Fellonica Film, Italy | Sweden - LAND OF SAR
Director: Petra Seliskar, Producer: Victor Ede – Cinéphage, Co-producers: Petra Seliskar - Petra Pan Films, Sara Ferro - PPFP Doel, Slovenia | France | North Macedonia - MUMS
Director: Ariadna Seuba Serra, Producer: Maria López – Intactes Films, Spain - RUNNING FOR ANNA
Director-producer: Tomaso Aramini, Italy - SUPER PARADISE
Director: Steve Krikris, Producer: Paul Typaldos – Filmiki Productions, Co-producer: Dafni Kalafati, Greece - PEOPLE IN MY HOUSE
Director: Tatjana Bozic, Producer: Magdalena Petrovic – LEWA productions, Co-producer: Frank Müller – DOPPELPLUSULTRA FILMPRODUKTION, Jacob Gesink - Spacedust production, Wout Conijn - Conijn Film, Croatia | Germany | The Netherlands - QUIXOTE'S CAMERA - 10 Letters from Beyond Light
Producer: Cordelia Dvorák - Paloma Films, Co-producers: Daniel Hočevar – Vertigo, Leonidas Liambeys – Long Run Productions, Germany | Slovenia | Greece - SUNKEN
Director: Dimitris Gkotsis, Producer: Mina Dreki – Marni Films, Greece
AGORA DOCS IN PROGRESS
Monday March 14th, 2.30pm-5pm / available also online for the Agora Docs guests
The Agora Docs of the 24th TDF presents the Agora Docs in Progress: 10 projects from Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean region participate in closed sessions exclusively for Thessaloniki’s invited industry professionals, sales agents, distributors, producers and festival programmers.
The 2|35 post-production company offer the main award (post-production services). The MuSou company offers an award for music and sound services and the Greek Film Centre offers a cash prize of 3,000 euros to a Greek project. Finally, Neaniko Plano will bestow an award for subtitling in English or in French.
The Docs in Progress International Jury is consisted of:
Martin Horyna, programmer, Karlovy Vary IFF, Czech Republic
Phaedra Vokali, producer, Late Bloomers, Greece
Jeffrey Winter, distributor, The Film Collaborative, USA
The movies of the Docs in Progress section are:
- #METISOFIA
Director: Vania Turner, Producers: Onassis Culture, Maria Sidiropoulou (Research, Journalistic Supervision, Creative Producer), Amanda Livanou (Associate Producer for Onassis Culture), Greece - CITIZEN MIKO
Director: Robin Kvapil, Producer: Martina Strunc – Silk Films, Czech Republic - THE FORTRESS
Directors: Shorena Tevzadze, Giorgi Pridonishvili, Producers: Shorena Tevzadze – Diafilm, Tamar Mshvenieradze - Actmedia, Georgia - I HAD A LIFE
Director: Octavio Guerra, Producer: Elisa Torres - Calibrando Producciónes, Spain - λESVIA, THE HERSTORY OF ERESSOS
Director - Producer: Tzeli Hadjidimitriou - Anemos Dimiourgias, Greece - THE LOVE ROOM
Director-Producer: Suzana Dinevski - Suzi Kju Production, Co-producer: Vladimir Stojcevski - Award Film and Video, Bonnie Bojana Dinevski - Suzi Kju Production, North Macedonia - PANELLINION
Directors: Spyros Mantzavinos, Kostas Antarachas, Producer: Leonidas Konstantarakos – Alaska Films, Greece - THE SOUL OF THE BOSSALES
Director: François Perlier, Producers: Odile Méndez-Bonito, François Perlier - Corpus Films, France
- TIMEKEEPER
Director: Kristina Paustian, Producers: Paolo Maria Spina - Revolver, Margarita Amineva-Jester - Voices Films, Co-producers: Tamara Bogdanova – KinoKult, Yanna Buryak- Mimesis Productions, Italy | Germany | Russia
- TOWARD HAPPY ALLEYS
Director: Sreemoyee Singh, Producer: Boris Despodov - Arthouse Blockbusters, Sreemoyee Singh – Happy Alley Films, Bulgaria | India | Germany | Finland
AGORA LAB
The Agora Docs initiative strengthens the films that are in the post-production stage and offers guidance and advice from experts. The selection is made via the Docs in Progress submissions of the Greek films. One project will be awarded by the tutors with the Guidance Award by Paradiddle Pictures - Denmark.
#METISOFIA
Director: Vania Turner, Producers: Onassis Culture, Maria Sidiropoulou (Research, Journalistic Supervision, Creative Producer), Amanda Livanou (Associate Producer for Onassis Culture), Greece
λESVIA, THE HERSTORY OF ERESSOS
Director - Producer: Tzeli Hadjidimitriou - Anemos Dimiourgias, Greece
INSIDE
Director: George Vitsaropoulos, Producer Fragkiskos Penidis - Fp Media House, Co-producer: Rea Apostolides - Anemon Productions, Greece
PANELLINION
Directors: Spyros Mantzavinos, Kostas Antarachas, Producer: Leonidas Konstantarakos – Alaska Films, Greece
TRUE TO OUR INNER DAEMON
Director - Producer: Tassos Gkoletsos - Kato Apo Tin Patission, Co-producers:
Klodiana Camati - Anapoda Theater, Vangelis Papoutsis, Greece
The tutors are:
Selin Murat, Markets Manager, IDFA - The Netherlands
Eleni Chandrinou, producer - Greece
Christina Pelekani, sales agent, Endorphin Films - Greece
Yannis Sakaridis, director, editor, Artistic Director of the Drama International Short Film Festival - Greece
MEET THE FUTURE
Casting a glance at the future, Agora Docs hosts a spotlight on up-and-coming documentary filmmakers from the Balkan and Southeast European region, who are at the beginning of their promising career. After successfully focusing on directors and directors from Serbia, this year the focus is on the upcoming talents from Georgia with the support of the Georgian National Film Center.
The participating directors are:
Tamta Gabrichidze
Next project: Mugamati, Production: Tamta Gabrichidze
Ketevani Kapanadze
Next project: Keren Batok, Production: Ketevani Kapanadze
Elena Mikaberidze
Next project: Blueberry Dreams, Production: Parachute Films (Georgia), Y.N Productions - La Cuisine aux Images (France)
Shorena Tevzadze
Next project: The Fortress, Production: Shorena Tevzadze
Maradia Tsaava
Next project: Performance, Production: OpyoDoc Production Company
Award winning producer Rea Apostolides (Anemon Productions) is mentoring the selected film directors.
AGORA DOCS MASTERCLASS
Wednesday, March 16, 10am- 12pm, Stavros Tornes
On the occasion of the publishing of his latest book, titled Order in Chaos- Storytelling and Editing in Documentary Films, internationally acclaimed Danish editor Niels Pagh Andersen is sharing methods and experiences from his longstanding career. Since 1979, he has worked as an editor in more than 250 fiction and documentary films, among which stand out the Oscar-nominated The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence. Andersen holds the role of teacher in numerous professional workshops and film schools all over the world.
European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA) Mentoring Program
March 15-18
The mentoring program of EWA (European network for women in the film industry) is targeted to women film producers who already have relevant experience at a national level and wish to evolve the strategic and business development of their company to an international dimension. EWA’s mentoring scheme allows mentees to develop/reinforce specific competences, skills and aptitudes much needed in their profession, such as financing solutions, negotiations, management and business development. EWA network is composed of a group of experienced women film producers who have a successful resume under their belt and have displayed consistent working practices in European/international co-productions, as well as in their overall business development.
Doc Counseling
March 12-18
Agora provides the chance for live and online meetings with professionals of the film industry. Among the topics discussed are: festival-oriented strategy, doc financing, distribution, media support office, social media and marketing. As every year, Agora Docs offers its full support to documentary films in every possible way.
Agora Talks and parallel events
March 14-17
As every year, Agora Docs is inviting experts to share practical advice and experiences with the Festival’s accredited guests. This year, we will focus on mapping out European documentary and its needs (in collaboration with the European Documentary Network DAE and the Greek Documentary Association, with a panel of speakers consisting of Józsa László - Speak Easy Project, Hungary, Marco Gastine - Greek Documentary Association, Lucia Pornaro - Doc/It, Italy, Martichka Bozhilova - Balkan Documentary Center, Bulgaria, and coordinated by Marion Schmidt, DAE, Germany), documentary crowdfunding with Evita Tsokanta (Kickstarter), skill development for appropriate and easy networking with Bonnie Williams (special consultant in public speaking), the challenges and incentives for sustainable documentary production (MEDIA Desk Greece), presentation of the online VoD platforms (EuroVOD, Cine Square, CINOBO etc.) and practical advice on the development of documentaries through European educational programs (MFI Doc Lab, Balkan Documentary Center, Dok Incubator, EURODOC and CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator), development financing through Creative Europe MEDIA programs and production support through the Cash Rebate system by the EKOME (National Center of Audiovisual Media and Communication).
