15 film projects from 17 countries chosen for Thessaloniki Film Festival’s AGORA forum
The Thessaloniki International Film Festival is back with its 20th edition of the AGORA Co-production Forum.
This part of the festival is focused on helping filmmakers develop their movies by connecting them with others in the industry, like producers and investors. For this year’s forum, 15 film projects from 17 countries have been selected.
The filmmakers come from countries in southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean, and their movies are in different stages of development. Some directors, like Adrian Sitaru from Romania, are experienced, while others are working on their first or second films.
Directors like Yorgos Goussis, Kaltrina Krasniqi, Diego Llorente, and others are returning with their second feature films. Meanwhile, first-time filmmakers like Neritan Zinxhiria and Thelyia Petraki will present their debut projects.
The selected films come from countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Kosovo*, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Palestine, Romania, Spain, and Turkey.
This year’s selection process was led by two industry experts, Thibaut Bracq from France and Rula Nasser from Jordan, who helped pick the best projects for the forum.
Additionally, Sweden is the guest country for the 2024 Bridge to the North program, which is part of the Thessaloniki Festival. This program aims to connect filmmakers and financiers from the Baltic and Scandinavian regions.
Sweden was chosen this year, and a Swedish delegation will attend the AGORA forum. The Thessaloniki festival has teamed up with the Swedish Film Institute, the Gothenburg International Film Festival, and the Swedish Institute to make this happen. Last year, Lithuania was the guest country for the same program.
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The Crossroads Co-production Forum, which runs from November 3 to November 7, has helped many films gain international attention in the past. Some films that were developed at Crossroads have gone on to show at prestigious film festivals.
For example, Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry by Elene Naveriani and Inshallah A Boy by Amjad Al Rasheed both made it to Cannes. Another film, 20,000 Species of Bees by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, competed at the Berlin Film Festival after being developed at Crossroads.
The Thessaloniki Film Festival itself runs from October 31 to November 10. The AGORA forum is one of its most important parts because it helps filmmakers from different countries work together and find funding to bring their films to life.
As the forum celebrates its 20th anniversary, this year’s edition is expected to be one of the most exciting yet.
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