European Film Academy Documentary Chapter Think Tank Report

The report for the Think Tank of leading European documentary professionals, convened by the European Film Academy and held in collaboration with AGORA at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, records the challenges and expectations in the field of documentary filmmaking. The aim of the Think Tank was to help shape the future of documentary representation, as well as the vision and priorities of the European Film Academy’s Documentary Chapter, which is expected to launch in 2027.

The discussion, held at the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, was moderated by European Film Academy Executive Director Matthijs Wouter Knol, Documentary Association of Europe Director Brigid O'Shea, and filmmaker and President of the Hellenic Film Academy, Lefteris Charitos.

Through facilitated dialogue, participants were invited to co-create the vision and priorities for the Chapter's first phase (2027-2030), explore collaborative models with existing documentary organisations, and lay the groundwork in order to outline the reciprocal relationship between documentary practitioners and the Academy.