AGORA Talks & Parallel Events: March 10 - 14
The TiDF AGORA Talks & Parallel Events feature stimulating and thought-provoking discussions on documentary filmmaking and the audiovisual industry aiming to offer best practices and practical information to AGORA and Festival accredited guests.
Subjects are diverse and touch upon new documentary practices, XR documentaries, diversity and inclusion, equity and innovative funding practices.
AGORA Talks
The AGORA Talks are held in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
All AGORA Talks are open to accredited guests on a first-come-first served basis.
MONDAY, MARCH 11 | 17.00 - 18.30 @Central Events Hall of the Music Center of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
Animarchiving Reality: Exploring the Transformative Role of Animation and Unearthed Archives in Documentary Filmmaking
Speakers:
Kesmat Elsayed - Producer, See Media Production
Johan Grimonprez - Filmmaker, Multimedia Artist & Curator
Aris Kaplanidis - Director, Screenwriter, Music Producer & Illustrator, BrosInArts
Elias Roumeliotis - Director, Screenwriter, BrosInArts
Moderator: Marineta Mak Kritikou - Agora Coordinator, ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival)
Animation and archival footage in documentary filmmaking are well-established narrative tools. Used properly, they convey the truth that a documentary seeks to present. These techniques, forms and artistic language of expression have evolved and grown in ways that have led to the creation of an entirely different genre. As we look to the future, the evolution of these documentary techniques sparks anticipation. Technological advancements and the ethical use of AI continue to offer new possibilities for animation and archival exploration. The evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking holds the promise of broadening perspectives, offering filmmakers innovative ways to convey truth and evoke emotional responses.
TUESDAY, MARCH 12 | 15.00 - 16.30 @Central Events Hall of the Music Center of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
XR Curious
Speakers:
Mario Adamson - Producer, Sisyfos Film Production
Dimitris Delinikolas - Film Director, Producer, Academic
Stella Ntavara - Manager - CPH:LAB & INTER:ACTIVE Symposium - CPH:DOX
Sebastian Sorg - Producer & Project Developer, Sebastian Sorg Creative
Ellen Kuo - Head of XR Market, NewImages Festival
Moderator: Karen Cirillo - Cultural Producer, non-fiction creator, Writer
Intro Speaker: Markos Holevas - Filmmaker, President of the Greek Film Centre
XR documentaries constitute a captivating and rapidly evolving genre. A growing community of filmmakers is emerging and traditional storytelling modes are continuously challenged. In this AGORA Talk, we delve into the realm of immersive and interactive documentary filmmaking, focusing on the challenges and processes of production and distribution. We examine creative decisions, risks and compromises that creators must navigate in order to realize the outcomes they envisioned.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 | 17.00 - 18.30 @Central Events Hall of the Music Center of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
We Care A Lot!
Speakers:
Laura Bari - Film Director, Producer
Annika Mayer - Film Director, Producer & Editor, Majmun Films
Nina Maria Paschalidou - Film Director, Producer
Elina Psykou - Film Director
Moderator: Serra Ciliv - Psychotherapist, Producer, Film Curator & Associate Therapist, Film in Mind
Women filmmakers in a patriarchal society face unique challenges that permeate both their professional and personal lives. Balancing the demands of a project with navigating personal trauma requires a delicate dance, as they strive to protect themselves and their characters while delving into sensitive subjects. The evolving landscape of storytelling has shifted the power dynamics, amplifying the importance of the female experience in filmmaking. As they navigate through traumatic events in both their own lives and those of their subjects, women filmmakers employ various strategies to safeguard their well-being and the integrity of their stories. Shedding light on these often overlooked and silenced experiences is essential, fostering open dialogue and support for those affected, and paving the way for a more inclusive and empathetic industry.
Supported by MEDIA Desk Greece.
Parallel Events
SUNDAY, MARCH 10 | 15.00 - 18.00 @ Central Events Hall of the Music Centre of the Municipality of Thessaloniki
AGORA Workshop - Paths To Funding Your Documentary
Speakers:
Arkaitz Basterra - Investor's Committee Member, Moby Dick Film Capital / Producer, Director & Screenwriter, Spain
Caroline Von Kühn - Executive Director, Oxbelly / Director, Faliro House, USA
A comprehensive workshop on documentary funding that provides an overview of the current distribution landscape and the funding models documentary filmmakers can pursue, with a focus on Europe and the US and from the perspective of producers and funders. Experts will share case studies of films they have produced, financed and sold, and help to demystify what funders are looking for and how to develop your film’s plan.
The AGORA Workshop is held in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
Open to all accredited guests on a first-come-first served basis.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 | 11.00 - 13.00 @Pavlos Zannas Theatre, Οlympion Complex
Talking Heads - Citizen Queer: Moving Beyond Trends and Box Ticking - On & Off the Screen
AGORA is introducing a new program strand, Talking Heads: a dynamic platform reshaping the original form of masterclasses to foster inclusive and safe collective conversations, directly addressing the industry's needs. Join us for engaging discussions where diverse voices converge, creating an environment for collaborative exploration and innovation.
Speakers:
Fatih Abay - Diversity & Inclusion Officer, European Film Academy
Panayotis Evangelidis - Film Director, Writer
Gugi Gumilang - Program Director, In-Docs & Film Programmer, Hot Docs
Rico Johnson Sinclair - Skills & Training Director, Warner Bros Discovery, Programmer, Writer
Iris Zachmanidi - Film Director
Moderator: Marion Schmidt - Co-director, Documentary Association of Europe (DAE)
Queer experiences represent a multitude of narratives and perspectives on and off the screen. Their voices in the film industry are not pedagogical tools or checkboxes for diversity, but an authentic reflection of our society and its diverse intersectional identities. They enrich the film landscape with their stories. Representation and inclusion are big words that we like to use, but what does the documentary film industry really look like, and what needs to be done to create spaces where queer filmmakers feel safe to tell their authentic stories?
The event is accessible to the audience on a first come first served basis.
Other Industry Events
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 | 13.30 - 14.30 @Warehouse C, Greek Film Centre stand
The Greek Film Centre launches five new funding programs offered through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0.
Presentation by Katerina Grammatikopoulou - Project Manager
The presentation is in Greek.
Organised by the Greek Film Centre.
THURSDAY, MARCH 14 | 11.00 - 13.30 @John Cassavetes Theatre (Warehouse 1)
Documentary and Artificial Intelligence: A Connection Under Question
Prompted by the rapid developments related to AI applications in audiovisual productions, Hellas Doc (Greek Documentary Association) is organizing a discussion on the subject in collaboration with the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.
Speakers:
Manolis Andriotakis - Journalist, Author
Georgia Koutrika - Research Director, Athena Research Center
Nicole Alexandropoulou - Film Director
Victoria Vellopoulou - Film Director
Moderator: Angelos Kovotsos - Film Director
The presentation is in Greek.
Co-organised with the Greek Documentary Association, Hellas Doc.
The AGORA Talks and AGORA Workshop are held in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
