The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival is delighted to welcome the multi-awarded British writer Victoria Hislop as the Ambassador of Agora, the Festival’s developmental branch.
Taking on the role of the Agora’s Ambassador at the 65th TIFF, Victoria Hislop will promote the pivotal processes and activities that pave the way for the cinema of tomorrow, while stressing out the important role played by the Agora to the filmmakers, the journalists and the wider audience. “I am excited to be this year’s Agora ambassador and am hugely looking forward to this opportunity to meet and encourage the creators of tomorrow’s cinema. Story-telling is at the heart of a good film. That in itself is simple, but the process of creating it can be complex and daunting. I am very happy to be supporting Agora's aim to facilitate the aspirations and ambitions of future film-makers”, mentioned Victoria Hislop.
Victoria Hislop studied English Literature at Oxford University and afterwards worked in book publishing, PR and journalism. Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria wrote The Island in 2005. Τhe novel became an international bestseller, translated into 40 languages, with over 6 million copies sold worldwide. It was turned into a 26-part Greek TV series which achieved record ratings for Greece. In her third novel, The Thread, Victoria returned to Greece to tell the extraordinary and turbulent tale of Thessaloniki and its people across the 20th century. The book will find its way to the small screen as it is currently in development with the Greek TV production company, Heretic.
Her next book, The Sunrise, is set in Cyprus and was published in 2014. In 2021, she wrote Cartes Postales from Greece, which was adapted into a twelve-part TV drama in 2021. Those Who Are Loved, published in 2019, tells the story of Greece’s traumatic period of the Nazi occupation and the Greek Civil War. In 2020, came the sequel to The Island, One August Night, and Victoria serves as the executive producer on the adaptation aired on Greek television.
Apart from her prolific career as a writer, the multi-awarded Victoria Hislop has also a rich social work under her belt. She is an ambassador for Lepra, a UK charity that raises money for the leprosy sufferers worldwide, and is also an avid supporter of the National Literacy Trust, which promotes reading in the UK. Victoria is also Patron of Knossos 2025, which has raised funds to renew the British School of Athens research center in Crete, having been recently appointed Vice-President of the BSA. In 2019, Victoria was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Sheffield, and in 2020 she was given Honorary Citizenship by the Greek President of Democracy, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, for her promotion of Greece. Victoria is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
This year, Victoria Hislop will share her invaluable experience as the Ambassador of Agora, serving as the link between the professionals, the artists and the audience. The Agora of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, carried out from November 1st to November 9th, with the valuable support of the Creative Europe-MEDIA programme, offers a series of networking and co-production opportunities, within the full spectrum of the world film industry.
The events within the framework of Agora, which has consolidated its place as an international meeting and networking hub for the film industry professionals, will be carried out for yet another year in hybrid form, showcasing a wide range of industry activities, which foreground the countries from the wider region of Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Crossroads Co-Production Forum
AGORA, the industry section of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, is set to host the 20th edition of the Crossroads Co-Production Forum from November 3-7, 2024. This year, AGORA has selected 15 promising film projects from 17 countries across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. During the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (October 31st - November 10th), these projects will have the unique opportunity to participate in this prestigious forum, designed to foster networking, co-production, and creative collaboration within the global film industry.
Supported by the Creative Europe-MEDIA programme, AGORA continues to be a key platform for industry professionals, offering a hybrid format that includes both on-site and online activities. This format allows for broader participation and facilitates meaningful exchanges between filmmakers and industry leaders, particularly those from Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
The new initiative, Bridge to the North, aims at creating a collaborative bridge between the European South and the North. Each year, a different guest country from the Baltic and Nordic regions will be featured, exploring new opportunities in financing and artistic collaborations. This initiative is designed to foster co-productions, synergies, and cultural exchanges that can enrich the global film landscape. This year, in partnership with the Swedish Film Institute, the Göteborg Film Festival, the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden in Greece, a Swedish delegation of film industry professionals will attend AGORA. Their presence will provide an opportunity for further diversification of co-production possibilities and the exploration of new creative ventures.
The Crossroads Co-Production Forum will offer the selected participants a comprehensive experience, starting with a preparatory workshop mentored by producer Amanda Livanou (Neda Film). This workshop, conducted both online and on-site, is designed to help participants present their projects in the best possible light to industry stakeholders.
The 2024 lineup includes a mix of debut and sophomore feature films from emerging talents, as well as projects from established filmmakers. Among the notable projects is the latest feature film project by prolific Romanian film director Adrian Sitaru. Crossroads Co-production Forum includes sophomore film projects from talents such as Yorgos Goussis, Kaltrina Krasniqi, Diego Llorente, Nikola Mijović, Ahu Öztürk, Sonia Liza Kenterman and Ahmad Ghossein and highly anticipated debuts by Neritan Zinxhiria and Thelyia Petraki. The selected projects, hailing from countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Kosovo*, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Palestine, Romania, Spain, and Turkey. The selected projects tackle a wide range of themes such as family, identity, and roots, often blending genres like noir, fantasy, political commentary, absurdity, and dark comedy to create compelling and thought-provoking narratives.
This year’s selection was co-curated by an international selection committee and an esteemed Advisory Committee, featuring industry consultant Thibaut Bracq (France) and producer Rula Nasser (Jordan), who brought their extensive industry experience to the selection process.
AGORA continues to be a vital hub for connecting filmmakers from across the globe, providing a platform for storytelling that resonates with the complexities of the contemporary world.
The Crossroads Co-production Forum Awards include:
The newly established MIDPOINT Consulting Award
An in-depth online script consultancy with one of the MIDPOINT Institute experts
Selected Crossroads Co-production Forum projects 2024:
THE APPALLING HUMAN VOICE OF THE ANIMALS
Director: Neritan Zinxhiria, Production: Efijeni Kokedhima - Reconstructing Memories
Greece
A WHITE HOUSE
Director: Francesco Romano, Production: Raffaella Pontarelli - Amarena Film,
Co-production: Giovanni Donfrancesco - Bocalupo Films
Italy, France
AFRICAN GREY
Director: Yorgos Goussis, Production: Konstantinos Koukoulis - PLANKTON
Greece
BLEACH
Director: Kaltrina Krasniqi, Production: Ares Shporta - Vera Films,
Co-production: Ognen Antov - Dream Factory, Bojana Radulović - Code Blue Production
Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro
DYING BIRD
Director: Diego Llorente, Production: Lara González Lobo, Diego Llorente, Rubén G. Revilla - Failo Cine
Spain
FOG
Director: Denis Spiridonov, Production: Katia Khazak - Aurora Films, Co-production: Vanya Rainova - Portokal
France, Bulgaria
FOUR FUNERALS AND A WEDDING
Director: Nikola Mijović, Production: Maja Kecojević - Parangal Film, Co-production: Stefan Mladenović - Plan 9, Vladimir Anastasov - Sektor Film, Dagmar Sedláčková - Masterfilm Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Czech Republic
THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF
Director: Terézia Halamová, Production: Natália Pavlove - Other Stories, Co-production: Matej Sotník - Guča Films
Czech Republic, Slovakia
THE HUNCHBACK
Director: Ahu Ozturk, Production: Pinar Aydin - Leyla Film
Turkey
LA YOLI
Director: Sandra Reina, Production: Valérie Delpierre - Inicia Films
Spain
Mediterranean Film Institute project selection
NEARBY FARAWAY
Director: Sonia Liza Kenterman, Production: Myrto Stathi - BYRD, Co-production: Roshanak Behesht Nedjad - In Good Company, Alexandra Hoesdorff - Deal Productions
Greece, Germany, Luxembourg
THE PASSPORT
Director: Rakan Mayasi, Production: May Odeh, Zorana Musikic - mayana films,
Co-production: Abdallah Al Ramahi - Zenobia Productions
Palestine, Germany, Jordan
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUSTING LIFE
Director: Ahmad Ghossein, Production: Georges Schoucair - Abbout Productions
Lebanon
VIRGIN MARY
Director: Adrian Sitaru, Production: Iriana Adnana - 4 PROOF FILM, Co-production: Yohann Cornu - Damned Films
Romania, France
WAKE (AGRYPNIA)
Director: Thelyia Petraki, Production: Kostas Tagalakis - Out of the Box Films,
Co-production: Iraklis Mavroidis - Boo Productions
Greece
Recent Crossroads Co-production Forum alumni projects include: KYUKA - BEFORE SUMMER'S END - Kostis Charamoundanis (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2024), THE SUMMER WITH CARMEN - Zacharias Mavroeidis (Venice FF - Giornate degli Autori 2023), BLAGA’S LESSONS - Stephan Komandarev (Karlovy Vary IFF 2023), MEDIUM - Christina Ioakeimidi (Sarajevo FF 2023), INSHALLAH A BOY - Amjad Al Rasheed (Cannes FF - Semaine de la Critique 2023), BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY - Elene Naveriani (Cannes FF - Quinzaine des Cinéastes 2023), THE SEA AND ITS WAVES - Liana & Renaud (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2023), 20.000 SPECIES OF BEES - Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (73rd Berlinale International Competition 2023 - Silver Berlin Bear/Best Leading Performance), NIGHTSIREN - Tereza Nvotová (Locarno FF - Cineasti del Presente 2022 - Golden Leopard), HOW IS KATIA? - Christina Tynkevych (Locarno FF - Cineasti del Presente 2022 - Special Jury Prize, Best Actress), THE LAND WITHIN - Fisnik Maxville (Black Nights Tallinn FF - Best Film - Best First Feature) LUZZU - Alex Camilleri (Sundance - World Cinema Dramatic Competition 2021 - Best Actor), ZUHAL - Nazlı Elif Durlu (Black Nights Tallinn FF - International Competition 2021), 200 METERS - Ameen Nayfeh (Venice Days 2020 - People’s Choice Award), GHOSTS - Azra Deniz Okyay (Venice FF International Film Critics Week - Grand Prize), THE FATHER - Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov (Karlovy Vary IFF - International Competition 2019 - Crystal Globe).
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Agora Works in Progress
AGORA, the industry section of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, proudly announces its selection for the AGORA Works in Progress program. From November 3 to 7, 2024, nine films from fifteen countries across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region will be showcased, offering an exciting look into the future of cinema from these vibrant areas.
Supported by the Creative Europe-MEDIA programme, AGORA provides a unique platform for filmmakers, offering extensive networking and co-production opportunities within the global film industry. As an international meeting point, AGORA operates in a hybrid format, featuring a range of industry activities that emphasize collaboration across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean.
The AGORA Works in Progress focuses on films in the post-production stage that have a connection to the Mediterranean region and Southeastern Europe. These selected films are presented to key players in the industry, including sales agents, distributors, producers, streaming platforms, and festival programmers. The aim is to help these films secure finishing funds, attract sales agents, schedule festival premieres, and establish crucial partnerships.
This year’s AGORA Works in Progress lineup showcases a diverse range of storytelling, with four debut films and five works from seasoned directors. The selected films challenge traditional cinematic forms, reinventing familiar narrative paths and presenting original, fascinating stories. Audiences can expect a variety of films that are entertaining, adventurous and suspenseful, intertwining films rooted in political and realistic themes with those that incorporate genre elements. Each film is articulated through a strong, contemporary cinematic language, promising to captivate viewers with innovative approaches and fresh perspectives on filmmaking.
Selected AGORA Works in Progress films 2024:
BEARCAVE
Directors/Scriptwriters: Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna Papadakis, Production: Emily Sky Hickin - PUCCI Productions, Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna Papadakis, Arsinoi Pilou, Thanasis Michalopoulos - Pameligo Collective
Greece, United Kingdom
CINEMA JAZIREH - In collaboration with Sofia Meetings
Director/Scriptwriter: Gözde Kural, Production: Gözde Kural - Toz Film Production, Milad Khosravi - Seven Springs Pictures, Bulut Reyhanoğlu - Koskos Film, Svetla Tsotsorkova - Front Film
Turkey, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania
DIRTY LAND
Director/Scriptwriter: Luis Campos, Production: Luis Campos, Ana Almeida - Matiné, Co-production: Luigi Chimienti, Alessandro Amato - Dispàrte, Mario Patrocínio - Bro Cinema, Humberto Rocha, Pedro Medeiros - Um Segundo Filmes, Marta Lima - Agente a Norte, Nuno Tavares - Anticyclone Productions
Portugal, Italy
LIFE IN A BEAT
Director: Amerissa Basta, Scriptwriters: Amerissa Basta, Dimitris Nakos, Production: Ioanna Soultani, Dimitris Nakos - Soul Productions, Co-production: Despina Mouzaki - Breaking Wave Productions, Ivan Tonev - Ars Digital, Dejan Krajcevski-Krug Film, Marko Jaćimović - Videa Production
Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro
LIFELIKE
Director/Scriptwriter: Ali Vatansever, Production: Selin Vatansever Tezcan, Oya Özden Özdemir - Terminal Film, Aytun Aktan Bahçeci - Aktan Görsel Sanatlar, Co-production: Antigoni Rota-Foss Productions
Turkey, Greece
MY FATHER'S SHOES
Director: Hristo Simeonov, Scriptwriters: Petar Krumov, Hristo Simeonov, Production: Katya Trichkova - Contrast Films, Co-production: Jean-Laurent Csinidis, Jérôme Nunes - Films de Force Majeure
Bulgaria, France
OTTER
Director: Srđan Vuletić, Scriptwriter: Stefan Bošković, Production: Ivan Đurović - Artikulacija Film, Co-production: Katarina Prpić - 365 Films, Ishak Jalimam - Realstage, Daniele Segre - Redibis Film, Fatmir Spahiu - Buka Production
Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Italy, Kosovo*
PATTY IS SUCH A GIRLY NAME
Director/Scriptwriter: Giorgos Georgopoulos, Production: Stefanos Koutsardakis - Chaotic Good Productions, Co-production: Christos V. Konstantakopoulos - Faliro House Productions, Fenia Cossovitsa - Blonde Productions
Greece
THEY COME OUT OF MARGO
Director/Scriptwriter: Alexandros Voulgaris (The Boy), Production: Nicholas Alavanos, Christina Stavropoulou - Filmiki Productions
Greece
The AGORA Works in Progress Awards include:
Authorwave Post-production Award
Creative image post services
119 Marvila Studios Award
Sound mixing services
Onassis Film Award
€10,000 to a Greek project participating in the AGORA (Crossroads Co-production Forum or AGORA Works in Progress)
ERT AGORA Works in Progress Award
€2,000 to a Greek project
Films that have participated in previous editions of the AGORA Works in Progress include: MEAT - Dimitris Nakos (Toronto IFF 2024), THE SUMMER WITH CARMEN - Zacharias Mavroeidis (Venice FF - Giornate degli Autori 2023), MEDIUM - Christina Ioakeimidi (Sarajevo FF 2023), THE SEA AND ITS WAVES - Liana & Renaud (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2023), HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WOMAN? - Dušan Zorić, Matija Gluščević (Venice FF - International Film Critics’ Week), PELIKAN - Filip Heraković (Tallinn Black Nights FF), HOW IS KATIA? - Christina Tynkevych (Locarno FF - Cineasti del Presente 2022 - Special Jury Prize, Best Actress), ROCK BOTTOM RISER - Fern Silva (Berlinale Encounters 2021 - Special Mention), MOTHER LODE - Matteo Tortone (Venice FF - International Critics’ Week 2021), MOON, 66 QUESTIONS - Jacqueline Lentzou (Berlinale Encounters 2021), SWEAT - Magnus von Horn (Cannes FF - Cannes Label 2020), LAST DAYS OF SPRING - Isabel Lamberti (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2020, San Sebastián IFF - New Directors Award), PAPICHA - Mounia Meddour (Cannes FF - Un Certain Regard 2019), AS HAPPY AS POSSIBLE - Alain Raoust (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2019) and more.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy (November 2-7, 2024)
This year, the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy welcomes nine outstanding young professionals from the cinema industry, including sales agents, distributors, and new media professionals. In partnership with the Locarno Film Festival and Locarno Pro, the Academy brings this prestigious training program to Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region for the ninth consecutive year.
The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy is a five-day tailor-made program offering participants the chance to deepen their expertise in international sales, marketing, distribution, and programming. The 2024 cohort, selected for their promising careers and potential, will participate in discussions, case studies, and collaborative work sessions led by top industry professionals.
This year’s selected participants include:
Paul De Beco | France | World sales | Playtime
Ambhur Burghall | United Kingdom | Film Marketing | MUBI
Charlotte Heusler | Germany | Digital Marketing | Alphapanda
Zeynep Naz İnansal | Turkey | Festival Coordinator | Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Annita Nitsaidou | Greece | Festival Director | WOW Film Festival
Kasia Siewko | Poland | Film distribution | Gutek Film
Léa Alia Triboulet | France | Acquisitions | Salaud Morisset
Vangelis Trichias | Greece | Assistant Coordinator| Mediterranean Film Institute
Linda Venturini | Italy | Sales Agent | Be For Films
The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy is part of a global network, connecting participants to academies in Latin America, New York, Beirut, South Africa, South Asia, and Switzerland, reinforcing its dedication to international film industry collaboration. Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy’s regional manager is Konstantinos Aivaliotis | Assistant Professor (University of Aegean), Producer & Festival Director (Ethnofest)
Selected participants of the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy will automatically join Launchpad, a new initiative in collaboration with four prominent European film festivals: Locarno Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, and Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Launchpad is designed to support the integration of emerging film professionals into the global film industry. It offers participants, who specialize in international sales, marketing, distribution (both traditional and online), exhibition, programming, as well as film funds and commissions, streamlined access to a valuable network of leading film festivals throughout the year.
AGORA Short Film Lab
The AGORA Short Film Lab, co-organised with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Drama International Short Film Festival, has also announced its 2024 cohort of emerging filmmakers. This three-day workshop includes discussions with experienced industry professionals, focusing on guiding short film directors as they transition into feature filmmaking.
This year’s participants represent a diverse array of talented directors whose award-winning short films have garnered acclaim at Clermont-Ferrand and Drama.
This year’s selected participants include:
Mohammed Almughanni, Palestine “An Orange from Jaffa”
Yorgos Fourtounis, Greece “MJ”
Valeria Hofmann, Chile “AliEN0089”
Lina Kountoura, Greece “Pop”
Dimitris Moutsiakas, Greece “Gekas”
Abbas Taheri, Iran “There is no Friend’s House”
Meni Tsilianidou, Greece “Driving Me Crazy”
These participants will gain invaluable insights from industry professionals and will benefit from opportunities to expand their international networks, helping to shape the future of their careers as they make the leap from short to feature filmmaking. AGORA Short Film Lab’s project manager is Christina Liapi | assistant producer and servicing manager at Heretic.
AGORA accredited guests can access the participants' films at the AGORA Film Market Video Library.
