Agora, the industry section of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, has selected 14 film projects from 15 countries for the Crossroads Co-production Forum, which runs from Nov. 8-12.
The projects come from across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
The jury consists of Ioanna Bolomyti, producer and founder of Atalante Productions (Greece), Fred Burle, producer at One Two Films (Germany), Linda Mutawi, producer at Fikra (Sweden) and Remi Burah, CEO of Arte France Cinéma (France).
Agora has introduced a new award, the Frenel Post Lab Post-production Award, including post-production image services to one awarded project participating in the forum.
The lineup of the 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 projects:A PAIR OF SHOES IN THE DARK CORNER OF THE MOONDirector: Ayman El Amir, Production: Nada Riyadh – Felucca Films, Egypt
THE ARAB OF YOUR DREAMSDirector: Patrick Tass, Production: Annabella Nezri – Kwassa Films, BelgiumMediterranean Film Institute project
A TOUCH OF PARADISEDirector: Houcem Slouli, Production: Sarra Ben Hassen – Instinct Bleu, Khaled Henchiri – Upper Echlon, Tunisia
BOYS OF SUMMERDirector: Emilios Avraam, Production: Tonia Mishiali – Boycott Films Ltd, Co-production: Marinos Charalambous, Cyprus
FUORISTAGIONEDirector: Isabella Rinaldi, Production: Joana de Freitas Ginori – Ulalà Film & Co., Italy
IN THOSE DARKEST NIGHTSDirector: Gözde Kural, Producer: Titus Keunberg – Unafilm, Turkey, GermanySofia Meetings project
KOUKITSADirector: Christina Koutsospyrou, Aran Hughes, Production: Jacob Moe – Archipelago Network, Greece
LAVA LOVEDirector: Steve Krikris, Production: Nicholas Alavanos, Stelios Mavrodontis – Filmiki, Greece
PETROLIDirector: Gemma Blasco, Production: Mireia Graell Vivancos – Ringo Media, Spain
RELIGION OF NIGHT WALKSDirector: Nikola Ležaić, Production: Siniša Juričić – Nukleus film, Co-production: Jelena Mitrovič – Baš Čelik, Croatia, Serbia
TETTIXDirector: Stella Serefoglou, Production: Alexandros Tiliopoulos – Open Borders Productions, Co-production: Zorana Musikic, May Odeh – Mayana Films, Greece, Germany
THE LAST ANGEL OF BEIRUTDirector: Valentin Noujaïm, Production: Manon Messiant – Iliade et films, France
THEY BLOOM AT DAWNDirector: Angela Dimeska, Production: Ognen Antov – Dream Factory, North MacedoniaMidpoint Institute project
THIS IS NOT A SETDirector: Yumna Marwan, Production: Rula Nasser – Imaginarium Films, Jordan
Focus sessionsThree shortlisted Greek projects from the forum will be invited 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:
BEASTDirector: Giannis Haritidis, Production: Connie Zikou – Blinding Lights Productions, Greece
GRACELANDDirector: Faidon Gkretsikos, Production: Marina Danezi – Laika Productions, Greece
THE PASSED PAWNDirector: Alexandros Tsilifonis, Production: Katerina Kaskanioti – Central Athens Film Productions, Co-production: Alain De Levita – Levitate Film, Greece, Netherlands