Festival

Ιn 2005, the Agora was launched, establishing a productive and unique form of helping and introducing professionals visiting Thessaloniki from Southeast Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the rest of the world, to the industry professionals, consultants, tutors, and potential collaborators invited to the Festival. All necessary information for the Agora can be found in the Agora Manual, including all the participating Crossroads Co-production Forum and Agora Works in Progress projects, the Agora Film Market titles, the company profiles of all the attending film professionals, as well as all other Agora events. The Agora takes place on the ground floor of Warehouse C (Thessaloniki Port) between 2–9 November 2019.
This year’s Agora Ambassador is actor and director Yorgos Pirpassopoulos.
The Agora includes the following activities:

Agora Film Market
2–9 November 2019
The Agora Film Market, in collaboration with Cinando, promotes the majority of the feature films participating in the official sections of the 60th TIFF. Additionally, more titles from the countries that the Agora focuses on will be presented, even if they are not part of the festival’s main program. In this way, they will have the opportunity to find their way to other international film festivals, sales agents and distributors. The Agora Film Market also includes previous films by the Crossroads participants and a selection of Greek films produced within the last year.

Crossroads Co-production Forum
5–9 November 2019
Crossroads chooses projects based on the quality of the script, the creative team and the likelihood of their being produced. Crossroads aims to support the producers of feature-length film projects that are linked to Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries.
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Agora Works in Progress
7 November 2019
This industry activity gives the opportunity to selected sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers from all over the world to be the first to discover feature films from the Mediterranean and Balkan countries, in the stage just before completion.
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Agora Talks
5 November 2019 (Takis Kanellopoulos Theater, Cinema Museum, Port, 10.00–18.00)
New directors and producers get the opportunity to learn from renowned film professionals. A day full of discussions where people, who wish to establish themselves in the industry, can exchange ideas, methods, and approaches about the development of the audiovisual sector.

European Women's Audiovisual Network (EWA) Mentoring Program
5–8 November 2019
The Mentoring Program of EWA (European Network for Women in the Film Industry) is aimed at women cinema producers, who already have a relevant experience at a national level and wish to evolve further at a European/international level. In most cases this growth also involves a strategic and business development of their company. Business mentoring is a one-to-one relationship focused on the needs of the mentee to develop/reinforce specific competences, skills, and a problem-solving attitude, as well as on the availability and capability of the mentor to provide advice on those issues. It is a scheme where the experience and competences of the mentor match the specific needs of the mentee. The program runs for 12 months, starting from Trieste, and will be completed at the 60th Thessaloniki International Film Festival with the meeting between the mentors and mentees.

Europa Cinemas: Innovation Day Lab
2–3 November 2019 (Takis Kanellopoulos Theater, Cinema Museum, Port, 10:00–17:00)
Thessaloniki IFF and Europa Cinemas co-organize the Europa Cinemas Innovation Day Lab with the topic “How to make the most of our own resources: Improving skills and renewing practices for audience development.” The Workshop is dedicated to cinema exhibitors. Directed by Iris Praefke (Exhibitor, Moviemento cinema, Germany) and Hrvoje Laurenta (Executive Director, Zagreb Film Festival, Croatia) the Innovation Day Lab will take place on Saturday, November 2, from 14:00 to 17:00, to Sunday, November 3, from 10:00 to 17:00.

EUandME Discussion: Cinema and the European Union: Opportunities and Prospects                                  6 November (Museum of Photography Thessaloniki, 15:00–16:30)                                                                          How can a film professional explore the tools provided by the European Union in order to make their dreams come true and complete their work? What can the European funding Creative Europe, and its sub-program MEDIA offer to a young artist? A discussion on cinema and the creative prospects for arts in contemporary Europe.

Speakers:
Tina Zournatzi, Head of Unit, DG COMM, European Commission
Helene Skikos, Program Manager, CREATIVE Europe
Vassiliki Diagouma, Head of Communication and International Relations Department, EKOME
Anna Kasimati, Contact Person in Greece for Creative Europe MEDIA Program
Vasilis Kekatos, film director

Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy International
4–9 November 2019
Thessaloniki International Film Festival in collaboration with the Locarno FF launched in 2016 the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy International in South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. The fourth edition will take place in Thessaloniki from November 4–9, in the context of the 60th TIFF’s Agora. The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy International is a training program created to help young professionals of the cinema industry – sales agents, distributors, and new media professionals – to extend their experience and networking in the fields of international sales, marketing, distribution and programming. The program is sponsored by Faliro House Productions.
The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy International is part of the Locarno Industry Academy International network which, includes Morelia IFF in Mexico (Morelia – Imcine Locarno Industry Academy International), Australab in Chile (Valparaiso – Locarno Industry Academy International), Cinema do Brasil (Sao Paulo – Locarno Industry Academy International), Film Society of Lincoln Center / New Directors New Films Festival in the USA (NYC – Locarno Industry Academy International), Metropolis / MC Distribution in Lebanon (Beirut – Locarno Industry Academy International).

Meet the Future
8 November (Agora Hub, Warehouse C, 18: 00–19:00)
A new initiative of the Thessaloniki IFF and the Agora that focuses on the younger generation of Greek filmmakers. Film directors, whose films have participated in important festivals all around the world will come to the 60th Thessaloniki IFF to present their debut feature film, which either has not arrived at the shooting stage, or hasn’t been completed yet. An opportunity for foreign professionals to meet in person the new representatives of Greek cinema. In collaboration with the Onassis Foundation.                                                                                                      A new TIFF initiative turns its gaze to the future of cinema. The new “Meet the Future” section, inaugurated at the 60th Anniversary of the Festival, will focus on young professionals from different fields of filmmaking and different countries or geographical regions each year.
The first year of Meet the Future will present directors of Greek films whose short films have been selected in the past five years for the programmes of the thirteen most notable Film Festivals worldwide (Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, San Sebastián, London, Rotterdam, New York, Tribeca, Toronto, Sundance, Busan) or been nominated for the Academy Awards, but who have not yet made their first feature film.
The directors will present drafts of their debut feature film projects in development at the 60th Thessaloniki International Film Festival Agora. This is an opportunity for professionals to meet the new blood of Greek cinema. The project is a collaboration between the Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Onassis Foundation.

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival continues to share the magic of cinema with all viewers without exception for yet another year during the 59^th TIFF, in collaboration with the Onassis Foundation and the Onassis Cultural Centre as accessibility sponsors. Accessibility conditions are implemented in collaboration with the Movement of Disabled Artists.

The 59^th TIFF will host two accessibility format screenings with audio description [AD] for the blind and visually impaired and SDH [Subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing] (curation and certification by the Movement of Artists with Disabilities). The project is collaboration between TIFF with the Onassis Foundation and the Onassis Cultural Centre as accessibility sponsors. Accessibility conditions are implemented in collaboration with the Movement of Disabled Artists.

In addition, more than 15 Greek films will be also screened with Greek subtitles based on the dialogues for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing, supported by the technical and scientific expertise of the Movement of Disabled Artists. Moreover, guide dogs for the blind are of course welcome in TIFF’s theatres. The festival’s program will be available in Braille, as well as in a big font, while the opening and closing ceremonies and the two universally accessible screenings will have a simultaneous interpretation in Greek Sign Language [GSL].

Following this year’s edition, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Onassis Cultural Centre and the Movement of Disabled Artists will offer, as in last year, all processed subtitles and audio descriptions to the films’ producers. The aim is to maintain the films’ accessibility in their future screenings or DVD releases, with the perspective that through TIFF’s support the films will be distributed in their accessible formats in movie theatres as well as home distribution, so that everyone can watch them. 

The Film Library operates within the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum – Cinematheque. Its opening took place in March 2013 during the 15th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - 21st Century Images.

The collection comprises a variety of publications (on the History of Cinema, Dictionaries, Annual Film Catalogues, Director's Monographs, Actors' Biographies, publications on Film Aesthetics and Theory, on National Cinemas, Script-Writing etc.) as well as Greek and foreign film journals and periodicals some of which since their first publication (such as Cahiers du Cinéma, Sight and Sound, Contemporary Cinema etc.).

Part of the collection exists in digital form, a fact that guarantees the preservation and safe maintenance of archival material while at the same time makes the collection easily accessible by the wide public. Moreover the digital collection contributes to the best possible organization and operation of the Library according to modern standards and ensures the interconnection with other libraries in Greece and abroad. The digitization of the rest of the collection is under way and funded by the European Commission.

The Film Library operates within the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum – Cinematheque, Warehouse A, Thessaloniki Port.

A Donation by Stavros Niarchos Foundation made possible the creation of the space hosting the collection.

This year, at the 59th Festival, we are going a step further with our established festival spots’ guide that informs you of all the discounts of our partners during the Festival dates. In the renewed festival spots’ guide, we have gathered the best restaurants and bars of Thessaloniki, because not only love, but also... cinema goes through the stomach.

To take advantage of the offers of the establishments mentioned, it is necessary to have with you the accreditation card, the CineΚάρταF card or a screening ticket issued for the specific date you are going to visit the establishment. In case of a reservation you must state that you are going to use the specified offer. The discounts mentioned are valid only during the duration of the 59th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (1-11 November 2018). The Festival is not responsible for discount and offer changes that happen after the official opening date (November 1, 2018).

Apple of my Eye - Director: Yaron  Shani, Producer: Michael Reuter
- The Post Republic, Saar Yogev, Naomi Levari - Black Sheep Films. Countries of production: Germany, Israel

Approach - Director: Tony Lykouressis, Producer: Iraklis Mavroeidis, Vicky Miha, Angelo Venetis - Boo Productions Country of production: Greece

Bronze Lotus - Director/ Producer: Vladimir Todorovic - Tadar Studio, Akanga Film Asia. Countries of production: Serbia, Singapore

Charlton Heston - Director/Producer: Andrei Cretulescu, Producer:
Velvet Moraru - Icon Production, Corduta Cretulescu - Kinosseur, Rani Massalha, Marie Legrand – Films Du Tambour. Countries of production: Romania, France. The project participated in the Crossroads Co- Production Forum in 2015.

Cosmic Candy - Director: Rinio Dragassaki, Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa - Blonde S.A., Co- producer: Patrick Sobelman, Agat Films. Countries of production: Greece, France. The project participated in the Crossroads Co- Production Forum in 2013.

Extinction - Director: Salomé Lamas, Producer: Luís Urbano - O Som e a Fúria, Michel Balagué – Mengamuk Films. Countries of production: Portugal, Germany

Genie FILM - Director: Florence Pezon, Producer: Damien Monnier - L’ Image D’Après, Jérôme La ont / Joachim Thôme- Les Productions du verger, Davy Chou – Vycky Film Countries of production: France, Belgium

Giants Don’t Exist - Director/ Producer: Chema Rodriguez, Producciones Sin Un Duro, Co- producer: Jerome Vidal - Noodles Production. Countries of production: Spain, Guatemala, France

The Miner - Director: Hanna Slak, Producer: Siniša Juričić - Nukleus Films. Countries of production: Slovenia, Croatia. The project participated in the Crossroads Co- Production Forum in 2011.

Occidental - Director: Neil Beloufa, Producer: Neil Beloufa, Jacques Dodard - Bad Manners. Country of production: France

A Promise of Cinema - Director: Filipa César, Producer: Olivier Marboeuf - Spectre Productions, Maria João Mayer - FilmesDoTejo Countries of production: France, Portugal

The Surface of Things - Director: Nancy Biniadaki, Producer: Christopher Zitterbat - Watchmen Productions GmbH, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Giorgos Karnavas - Heretic. Countries of production: Germany, Greece

Thorn - Director: Gabriel Tzafka, Producer: Panagiotis Kakavias
- Kakavias Film, Michael Bille Frandsen, Theis Nørgaard - Nitrat Film. Countries of production: Greece, Denmark