AGORA Series: November 2-3
AGORA Series, ΤIFF AGORA’s recently introduced program, returns once again on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of November 2024. The successful new initiative was launched in 2022 and includes masterclasses by industry experts, insightful talks on the trend topics of the audiovisual industry such as AI, IP and social impact as well as co-production case studies.
The AGORA Series 2024 embraces creators. It invites them, along with broadcasters, producers and audiovisual professionals in the field of series production for TV and streaming platforms, to attend a program of masterclasses, insightful talks on trend topics of the audiovisual industry, and case study presentations.
The official program of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival embraces the initiative of AGORA by including screenings of new series episodes in its daily schedule.
AGORA Series creates the perfect networking environment creating a fertile ground for creative connectivity and new synergy opportunities between creators and executives in the local and regional series production world.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
09.00 - 10.30 AGORA Series Breakfast Meetings @ Green Room, 1st floor Olympion complex
Entry only to accredited guests upon online registration. Limited capacity up to 20 participants.
Presenters:
Dimitris Emmanouilides, Program Coordinator - Mediterranean Film Institute
Anna Kasimati, Head - Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Greece
Stefanos Mondelos, Officer, Cash Rebate TV Series - Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece
Dennis Ruh, Film and Media Industry Director - Seriesly Berlin
11.00 - 12.30 AGORA Series Masterclass - Running the Show @ Pavlos Zannas Theater, 5th floor Olympion complex
Anna Winger, Writer, Showrunner, Producer - STUDIO AIRLIFT
Moderator: Rachel Eggebeen, Chief Content Officer - Amplify Pictures
Τhe American title “Showrunner’’ is new in Europe, where most TV series are still made by non-writing producers. What is involved in showrunning a TV series? What does it mean for the screenwriter to sit in the driver's seat? What are the advantages—and disadvantages? Berlin-based Writer and Producer Anna Winger walks us through her experiences showrunning the European Netflix series, Unorthodox and Transatlantic. The masterclass is presented in partnership with Oxbelly, which holds the annual Oxbelly Retreat in Messinia for international storytellers in literary fiction, film and television.
In partnership with Oxbelly.
15.00 - 16.30 AGORA Series Case Study - Kabul, European Series Co-production in Action @ MOMus - Thessaloniki Museum of Photography (Warehouse A, Port)
On the occasion of the new drama series Kabul, producers Fabienne Servan Schreiber (Cinétévé), Matthias Weber (24 25 Films) and executive producer Sandrine Paquot meet with Faye Tsitsipi, Head of Strategic Analysis and Productions at COSMOTE TV, in a discussion about the challenges and opportunities of co-production financing, resources and expertise exchange, as well as the complexities of international collaborations. The upcoming series, which was filmed exclusively in Athens, is based on the true events of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 and will premiere in early 2025 on COSMOTE TV. The discussion is moderated by journalist Zac Ntim (Deadline).
Speakers:
Sandrine Paquot, Executive Producer
Fabienne Servan Schreiber, Producer - Cinétévé
Faye Tsitsipi, Head of Strategic Analysis and Productions - COSMOTE TV
Matthias Weber, Producer - 24 25 Films
Moderator: Zac Ntim, Journalist - Deadline
In partnership with the European Producers Club.
17.00 - 18.30 AGORA Series Talk - IP as a tool for fostering innovation & social change
Zac Ntim moderates a discussion between Emilie Blézat and Hyppe Salmi on content creation with social impact, supporting young talents, and developing a youth audience in the series world. During the conversation, the audience will have the opportunity to learn about the groundbreaking program War Room Content, a think tank that serves as a meeting hub for screenwriters, journalists, experts, and other stakeholders for the creation of innovative European series. At the same time, the innovative program Areena Stories will be presented, a mini-series on the Instagram platform produced by young creators, serving as a communication channel with the youth audience.
Intro: Anita Pócsová, Program Coordinator Junior - MIDPOINT Institute
Speakers:
Emilie Blézat, CEO, Producer, IP Creator - Dark Riviera
Hyppe Salmi, Executive Producer - Yle Drama
Moderator: Zac Ntim, Journalist - Deadline
In partnership with MIDPOINT Institute.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
09.00 - 10.30 AGORA Series Breakfast Meetings @ Green Room, 1st floor Olympion Complex
Presenters:
Maëlle Deffrenne, Pedagogical Coordinator - Series Mania Institute
Katerina Grammatikopoulou, Project Manager, The Future is Here - Audiovisual Works, Film Production Support Programs offered through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “GREECE 2.0”
Christina Mitropoulou, Head of Development, Athens Film Office - The Owl
Anita Pócsová, Program Coordinator Junior - MIDPOINT Institute
12.30 - 14.00 AGORA Series Masterclass - REAL IMAGINATION: Storytelling In the Age of AI @ Pavlos Zannas Theater, 5th floor Olympion complex
Tatjana Samopjan, Creative Film and TV Consultant
In the age of AI, the audio-visual creation will head toward limitless. Which storytellers will rise above the noise in a world where everyone has the tools to create? Will it be the most tech-savvy ones or those who are truly… alive? REAL IMAGINATION is about the relationship between the lives we live and the stories we tell. We will explore how the vibrancy of our experience and the quality of our perception influence the stories we create.Tatjana works as a creative consultant specializing in development of TV series, films and documentaries, and is the co-founder of Fractal Volcano creative retreats.
