AGORA CO-PRODUCTION FORUM

The AGORA Co-production Forum (previously known as Crossroads Co-production Forum) selects projects in development and its objective is to support fiction films which have a link to the Mediterranean regions and Southeastern Europe, introducing them to a network of financiers, co-producers and leading industry specialists from all over the world, during a 4-day event in Thessaloniki.

Films that have participated in previous editions of the AGORA Co-production Forum include:

HOLD ONTO ME - Myrsini Aristidou (Sundance 2026 - World Cinema Dramatic Competition - Audience Award), ON OUR OWN - Tudor Cristian Jurgiu (Berlinale Forum 2026), ΚYUKA - BEFORE SUMMER'S END - Kostis Charamoundanis (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2024), THE SUMMER WITHCARMEN - 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), 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), CHARLESTON - Andrei Creţulescu (Locarno FF - International Competition 2017), HEAVEN SENT - Wissam Charaf (Cannes FF - ACID Cannes 2017), SECRET INGREDIENT - Gjorce Stavreski (Black Nights Tallinn FF - International Competition, Thessaloniki IFF - Audience Award 2017), 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), EVERYBODY IN OUR FAMILY - Radu Jude(Sarajevo FF - Heart of Sarajevo 2012), BEYOND THE HILL - Emin Alper (Berlinale 2012 - Caligari Film Award), WHEN I SAW YOU - Annemarie Jacir (Toronto FF, Berlinale - Netpac Award 2012), AJAMI - Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani (Cannes FF - Director’s Fortnight - Caméra d'Or - Special Distinction 2009, Oscar Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film) and many more.

• Projects should be feature-length fiction films (over 60 minutes) from, or set in, the Mediterranean regions or Southeast Europe.
• Projects should be produced or co-produced by a country in these regions, or contain narrative elements that link them to these regions.
• Projects should have a producer and a director attached, and may be in all stages of development.
• The selection committee will evaluate projects according to their possibility of being realized, overall quality of the application and artistic/creative vision.

Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo*, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

Guest country: TBA

* 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.

Countries not mentioned in the above list can still apply if they are co-producing with a country within these regions or contain elements in the story that link them to these regions. Projects not coming from one of the above-mentioned countries who think that AGORA Co-production Forum is a good springboard for them, may still apply. All submitted projects will be reviewed and evaluated.

Submissions must be received by June 10, 2026.
The application and additional material should be submitted in English.

The application must include:

• AGORA Co-production Forum Application Form:

Applicants should submit the Application Form (in English) in order for the project to be considered for selection. Please make sure to complete the form thoroughly. Once you have completed the online form you cannot make changes. Elements from the application form will be used for catalogue information should your project be selected.

• Project’s File - one PDF:

Materials must be in one PDF file and attached to the online application form.

The PDF must include:

1. One (1) page synopsis.
2. The latest treatment in English (and Greek - for Greek projects).
3. The script in English (and Greek - for Greek projects). In case a script is not available yet, one can submit a treatment.
4. Biography/filmography of the director.
5. Biography/filmography of the producer.
6. Director’s statement addressing the story and the visual style.
7. Producer’s statement about the financial strategy and audience outreach.
8. Budget topsheet.
9. Financing plan: a document in which you specify the amount of money you need to finance your project, in this case a feature film, and how you’re going to obtain (or you have already obtained) said amount. You should also indicate the source of finance, as well as if it is confirmed, pending or to be applied.
10. Rights agreement between the director and the producer or a letter from the director stating that the particular producer will be representing the project.
11. Previous film of the director (online in a secure link with password).
12. Mood board / Mood video (if available).

• Open Call: May 7, 2026
• Submissions Deadline: June 10, 2026
• Notification date: Early September, 2026
• Online Workshop: Mid September, 2026
• AGORA Co-production Forum: November 7-12, 2026
• Online Meetings: November 13, 2026

AGORA Co-production Forum is open to a variety of projects and is flexible when considering its aspects. It has no rigid rules and each individual project will be considered on its own merits. Nevertheless, there is a list of general rules and guidelines:

1. Application materials and subtitles, for all projects, should be in English. Greek projects may also provide a script and treatment in Greek.
2. We accept only feature film projects (over 60 minutes).
3. We accept submissions of all genres, except feature documentaries.
4. All submissions are reviewed and evaluated equally. Nevertheless, it is to the projects’ advantage to have secured national (development/production) funding or third-party investment.
5. Projects should present an original artistic vision.
6. Projects can combine arthouse and mainstream appeal, targeting diverse audiences while demonstrating strong festival and audience potential.
7. A production company or producer may submit up to two projects.
8. A production company or producer may re-submit a project that was previously not selected, if there have been substantial changes to the script and the overall presentation package.
9. The application should mention any other workshops and markets where the project has previously been presented and when, as well as any pending applications.
10. The budget of the film should not exceed 3 million euro.
11. Projects are evaluated by at least two readers. The final selection is the result of the decision of each year's Advisory Committee together with the Head of AGORA in accordance with the Festival administration.
12. In the final selection we strive to maintain a balance between represented countries, regions, genders and addressed themes.
13. The AGORA Co-production Forum collaborates with the programs: MIDPOINT Institute, MFI Script 2 Film Workshops and Sofia Meetings, selecting projects that have participated in these programs. In order for a project to be considered, they must apply to the AGORA Co-production Forum. The final selection is decided in accordance with the selection criteria of our program.
14. Each year, the AGORA Co-production Forum selects up to fourteen (14) projects.

• Once a project has been selected, the director(s) and producer(s) are invited to participate in the preparatory online workshop in September. The workshop is mandatory and includes one-to-one pitching training, as well as feedback on the project's materials (synopsis, director’s notes etc), pre-recorded pitch and mood video for both the online use and the live presentation.
• The director(s) and producer(s) are both advised to be present during the five days of AGORA Co-production Forum (November 7-12, 2026). At least one representative of the project should be present.
• The AGORA Co-production Forum offers accommodation for 5 nights (in case both the director and the producer attend, we can cover one double room) and can reimburse part of the travel expenses per project team (receipts are required).
• Your project’s meetings schedule will be sent to you a few days before the AGORA Co-production Forum begins. The schedule will be based upon requests from the invited industry professionals. Additional meetings are scheduled and curated by the AGORA team and upon availability.
• Finished film projects sprung from the Co-production Forum agree to mention their participation in the AGORA Co-production Forum by adding the program’s logo in their credits. The following sentence should be mentioned in the credit list: "[film title] has been presented at AGORA Co-Production Forum of the [festival edition] Thessaloniki International Film Festival [year]". The AGORA Co-production Forum logo will be sent to the filmmakers upon selection of the project.

Jury Awards

• 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
  (AGORA Co-production Forum or AGORA Works in Progress)
• Greener Screen Consultancy Award
• 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

For inquiries please contact: Errika Zacharopoulou, zacharopoulou@filmfestival.gr