67th TIFF: AGORA Crossroads Co-production Forum Unveils 2026 Selection: 14 projects from 15 countries

AGORA, the industry section of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, is set to host the 22nd edition of the Crossroads Co-Production Forum from November 8-12, 2026.

This year, AGORA has selected 14 promising film projects from 15 countries across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. During the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (November 5-15), 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.

TIFF 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.

This year’s Crossroads Co-production Forum Jury consists of Ioanna Bolomyti, Producer and Founder of Atalante Productions SA (Greece), Fred Burle, Producer at One Two Films (Germany) and Linda Mutawi, Producer at Fikra (Sweden) as well as the Arte Kino Prize International Juror, Remi Burah, CEO of Arte France Cinéma (France).

This year’s Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Agora, are proud to introduce a new award in partnership with FRENEL Post Lab, who will offer the FRENEL Post Lab Post-Production Award, including post-production image services to one awarded project participating in the Crossroads Co-production Forum.

More in detail, the Crossroads Co-production Forum Awards, include:

Jury Awards

FRENEL Post Lab Post-Production Award
Post-production image services

CNC Award - Centre national du cinema et de l’image animée
€8,000 for script development

ArteKino International Award
€6,000

Finos Film Award
€3,000 to a Greek project

Producers’ Network - Marché du Film Award
Free accreditation

MIDPOINT Consulting Award
An in-depth online script consultancy with one of the MIDPOINT Institute experts

Independent Awards

Onassis Film Award
€10,000 to a Greek project participating in the AGORA
(Crossroads Co-production Forum or AGORA Works in Progress)

Greener Screen Consultancy Award
Consultation services on green production

Sofia Meetings of the Sofia IFF Award
Project selection

Mediterranean Film Institute - George Kalogeropoulos Award
Script 2 Film Workshops scholarship

THESSALONIKI EAVE Marketing Workshop Scholarship 2027
Scholarship to one participant powered by Thessaloniki International Film Festival

The 2026 lineup of the Crossroads Co-production Forum presents projects from established and emerging filmmakers such as Nikola Ležaić and Gemma Blasco. The selection highlights contemporary themes such as representation, manhood and human connection while also bringing forward contemporary takes on folk stories, vampires and the complex reality of growing up.

Selected Crossroads Co-production Forum projects 2026:

A PAIR OF SHOES IN THE DARK CORNER OF THE MOON

Director: Ayman El Amir, Production: Nada Riyadh - Felucca Films, Egypt

THE ARAB OF YOUR DREAMS

Director: Patrick Tass, Production: Annabella Nezri - Kwassa Films, Belgium

Mediterranean Film Institute project

A TOUCH OF PARADISE

Director: Houcem Slouli, Production: Sarra Ben Hassen - Instinct bleu, Khaled Henchiri - Upper Echlon, Tunisia

BOYS OF SUMMER

Director: Emilios Avraam, Production: Tonia Mishiali - Boycott Films Ltd, Co-production: Marinos Charalambous, Cyprus

FUORISTAGIONE

Director: Isabella Rinaldi, Production: Joana de Freitas Ginori - Ulalà Film & Co., Italy

IN THOSE DARKEST NIGHTS

Director: Gözde Kural, Producer: Titus Kreyenberg - unafilm, Türkiye, Germany

Sofia Meetings project

KOUKITSA

Director: Christina Koutsospyrou, Aran Hughes, Production: Jacob Moe - Archipelago Network, Greece

LAVA LOVE

Director: Steve Krikris, Production: Nicholas Alavanos, Stelios Mavrodontis - Filmiki, Greece

PETROLI

Director: Gemma Blasco, Production: Mireia Graell Vivancos - Ringo Media, Spain

RELIGION OF NIGHT WALKS

Director: Nikola Ležaić, Production: Siniša Juričić - Nukleus film, Co-production: Jelena Mitrovič - Baš Čelik, Croatia, Serbia

TETTIX

Director: Stella Serefoglou, Production: Alexandros Tiliopoulos - OPEN BORDERS PRODUCTIONS, Co-production: Zorana Musikic, May Odeh - MAYANA Films, Greece, Germany

THE LAST ANGEL OF BEIRUT

Director: Valentin Noujaïm, Production: Manon Messiant - Iliade et films, France

THEY BLOOM AT DAWN

Director: Angela Dimeska, Production: Ognen Antov - Dream Factory, North Macedonia

MIDPOINT Institute project

THIS IS NOT A SET

Director: Yumna Marwan, Production: Rula Nasser - Imaginarium Films, Jordan

The selected projects have the opportunity to participate in a preparatory workshop focused on the presentation of their project with tutor and moderator Amanda Livanou, founder and seasoned producer of Neda Films.

FOCUS sessions are Agora’s most recent initiative, launched during the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. As part of its ongoing support for Greek cinema, Agora supports three shortlisted Greek projects from this year's Crossroads Co-production Forum, inviting them to participate in the FOCUS sessions, giving them an opportunity for further networking and development of their projects. The selected teams will have consultation meetings with experienced industry film professionals from Greece and abroad, such as Sergina Stavroulaki, Acquisitions at Heretic (Greece), Thibaut Bracq, Program Manager at La Fabrique - Cannes (France) and former Head of Agora, Angeliki Vergou - Project Development and Script Consultant (Greece) who will offer practical advice on how to best position their film within international co-production markets, while scouting for future partners and further developing their project.

The participating projects in the FOCUS sessions are:

BEAST

Director: Giannis Haritidis, Production: Connie Zikou - Blinding Lights Productions, Greece

GRACELAND

Director: Faidon Gkretsikos, Production: Marina Danezi - Laika Productions, Greece

THE PASSED PAWN

Director: Alexandros Tsilifonis, Production: Katerina Kaskanioti - Central Athens Film Productions, Co-production: Alain De Levita - Levitate Film, Greece, Netherlands

Recent Crossroads Co-production Forum alumni projects include: I MATTER - Alina Șerban (Venice Film Festival - Audience Award), HOLD ONTO ME - Myrsini Aristidou (Sundance 2026 - World Cinema Dramatic Competition - Audience Award), ON OUR OWN - Tudor Cristian Jurgiu (Berlinale Forum 2026), 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),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), LUZZU - Alex Camilleri (Sundance - World Cinema Dramatic Competition 2021 - Best Actor), 200 METERS - Ameen Nayfeh (Venice Days 2020 - People’s Choice Award), GHOSTS - Azra Deniz Okyay (Venice FF International Film Critics Week - Grand Prize), ALL THIS VICTORY - Ahmad Ghossein (Venice FF - International Film Critics Week 2019 - Best Film & Audience Award), THE FATHER - Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov (Karlovy Vary IFF - International Competition 2019 - Crystal Globe), PARK - Sofia Exarchou (San Sebastian FF - New Director’s Award 2016), AS I OPEN MY EYES - Leyla Bouzid (Venice FF - Venice Days 2015 - Label Europa Cinemas Award & LUX Prize Nominee), MUSTANG - Deniz Gamze Ergüven (Cannes FF - Director’s Fortnight 2015 - Label Europa Cinemas, LUX Prize Winner, Oscar Nomination for Best Foreign Film).