The presentation of the films participating in the Agora Docs in Progress of the 26th TiDF Agora took place on Tuesday March 12th, at Frida Liappa theatre. Agora Docs in Progress has established itself as the main meeting point for documentary films that are in the stage just before their completion. Directors and producers from the wider Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean have the opportunity to present their documentaries to buyers, co-producers, sales agents and international festival developers and attract their interest.
The event was introduced by Angeliki Vergou, Head of the Agora, who welcomed the audience to Thessaloniki and the activities of the Agora and wished pleasant meetings and screenings, before giving the floor to Orestis Andreadakis, the artistic director of the Festival: "Good morning, thank you for being present at this year's presentation of Agora Docs in Progress in the framework of the 26th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. We live, once again, in sad times, days of fragile balance and conflict. Though real hope blossoms in an audience like you. It is a great pleasure to see so many familiar and friendly faces gathering, celebrating the art of documentary, welcoming new talent and supporting all the wonderful projects we will be watching today. I wish you a wonderful Festival, many meetings and agreements."
Ms. Vergou, then, thanked the sponsors and partners of the Agora, especially the Municipality of Thessaloniki for hosting the Agora talks at the Music Center. She also thanked Anna Glogowski, the coordinator of the event, of long expertise and experience in the field of documentaries. Afterwards, she gave the floor to Thanos Stavropoulos, Agora's partner, who presented the program and the Agora awards.
The films participating in Agora Docs in Progress compete for a number of important awards: The Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Post-Production Main Award, the 119 Marvila Studios Award for sound mixing services, the Neaniko Plano Subtitling Award, as well as the Greek Film Centre Award of 3,000 euros.
The Onassis Foundation awards the Onassis Film Award, of 5,000 euros, to a Greek project of the Agora of the Festival that participates either in the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum or in Docs in Progress.
At this point, Elena Gaitanarou, associate of the Agora, presented the jury of Agora Docs in Progress:
Hanne Biermann, Festivals & Marketing Manager, Film Harbour - Germany / The Netherlands
Pierre-Alexis Chevit, Head of Cannes Docs, Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes - France
Kumjana Novakova, Filmmaker / Film curator, Pravo Ljudski & Medea - North Macedonia / Bosnia & Herzegovina
After the presentation of the jury, Anna Glogowski took the floor, starting the presentation of the 11 projects.
The Agora Docs in Progress films:
THE SECRETS OF THE OWL
Director: Eirini Vourloumis, Producer: Leonidas Liambeys - Long Run Productions, Co-producer: Eirini Vourloumis - Boulis Films
Greece
DARK WATERS
Director: Marianna Economou, Producers: Rea Apostolides, Yuri Averof - Anemon Productions, Co-producers: Paul Cadieux, Danae Elon - Filmoption International
Greece, Canada
DON’T WORRY SARI!
Director: Sári Haragonics, Producers: Sára László, Inez Mátis, Marcell Gero - Campfilm, Co-producer: Boris Despodov - Arthouse Blockbusters
Hungary, Bulgaria
DREAM COLLECTOR
Director/Producer: Sonja Djekić - KEVA, Co-producers: Tamara Babun, Matija Drniković - Wolfgang & Dolly
Serbia, Croatia
EDUARD
Director: Sophie Shevardnadze, Producers: Archil Gelovani, Sergei Yahontov - Independent Film Project
Georgia
THE FIRST LADY
Directors: Udi Nir, Sagi Bornstein, Producer: Udi Nir - udiVsagi production, Co-producer: Georg Tschurtschenthaler - Beetz Brothers Film Production
Israel, Germany
HAPPY YOU’RE HERE
Director: Lucas Habte, Producer: Isidore Bethel - Alice Films, Co-producers: Lucas Habte, Juan Carlos Malavé
France, United States, Puerto Rico, Ethiopia
LO
Director: Thanassis Vassiliou, Producer: Orlane Dumas - Les Films de l'Aube Sauvage, Co-producer: Konstantinos Vassilaros – StudioBauhaus
France, Greece
MAILIN
Director/Producer: María Silvia Esteve - HANA Films, Co-producers: Alejandra López - IKKI Films, Radu Stancu, Cristina Haneș - deFilm
Argentina, France, Romania
Ms. PRESIDENT
Director: Marek Šulík, Producer: Barbara Janišová Feglová - HITCHHIKER Cinema, Co-producers: Ivo Andrle - Aerofilms, Marek Šulík – Filmotras
Slovakia, Czech Republic
SUPER PARADISE
Director: Steve Krikris, Producers: Dafni Kalafati, Paul Typaldos - Filmiki Productions, Co-producer: Titus Kreyenberg – unafilm
Greece, Germany
