How Thessaloniki’s Industry Arm Stays True to Its Mission to ‘Nurture Talents’ and Remain a Vital Launching Pad for Region’s Filmmakers

As I delve deeper into the world of international film festivals and markets, I find myself increasingly captivated by the stories of the individuals who bring these events to life. Among them is Angeliki Vergou, the industrious head of Agora, Thessaloniki Film Festival’s industry arm, who embodies a relentless passion for nurturing emerging filmmakers and fostering collaborations across borders.


For the 20th anniversary of Agora, the industry branch of Thessaloniki Film Festival, organizers aim to preserve a harmonious blend, ensuring that the event’s growing prestige is maintained without losing the thoughtfully crafted, almost personal atmosphere it’s known for.

For this purpose, Angeliki Vergou, an experienced professional in the industry who took up her position in 2022, is adopting a practical stance regarding Thessaloniki event and its role within the wider market. While a multitude of exhibitors and industry experts are set to attend a revamped AFM in Las Vegas next week, Vergou emphasizes that Agora remains committed to preserving its friendly, personal touch.

Vergou shares with EbMaster, “We’re keen on maintaining this ideal size for our market – neither too large nor too small. We need just the right number of experts interacting here. Our strength lies in fostering talent and providing them with their initial exposure to a market. This experience should feel secure and inviting enough for them to express themselves openly without inhibition.

In that regard, Agora serves as a bridge for budding filmmakers and local industry experts who might not have ventured into events like the Cannes Marché or EFM yet. As she puts it, “Our goal is to welcome them, support them, and guide them so they can eventually expand to larger markets and wider networks.

One notable platform that has seen many successful launches is the Agora’s Crossroads Co-Production Forum. This forum has backed various titles in recent years, such as Tereza Nvotová’s “Nightsiren,” which won the Locarno Golden Leopard, Elene Naveriani’s “Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry” selected for Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, and Amjad Al Rasheed’s “Inshallah a Boy,” screened at Cannes Critics’ Week.

This year, the forum will feature 15 projects hailing from 17 different nations. Among them is a fresh offering by Adrian Sitaru of Romania, known for “Fixer”, as well as second films from Kaltrina Krasniqi of Kosovo (“Vera Dreams of the Sea”), Yorgos Goussis of Greece (“Magnetic Fields”) and Ahmad Ghossein of Lebanon (winner of Venice Critics’ Week, “All This Victory”).

Nine movies, hailing from 15 different countries within Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region, will be presented in the works-in-progress segment. These include the newest work by renowned Greek filmmaker Alexandros Voulgaris (“Winona”), as well as the debut feature of up-and-coming Bulgarian director Hristo Simeonov. Past participants have included Dimitris Nakos’ “Meat”, which had its premiere at Toronto and is currently competing in this year’s Thessaloniki Film Festival.

A noteworthy new initiative within the industry, the Agora Series, has been steadily growing since its debut in 2022. This two-day event offers a stage to television creative professionals from Greece and the wider Southeastern European and Mediterranean area.

2021’s featured event stars Anna Winger, creator of “Unorthodox,” who will engage in a discussion with Rachel Eggebeen from Amplify Pictures (known for “Fleabag” and “100 Foot Wave”). They will delve into the role of a showrunner in TV production and examine how American television concepts can be reimagined within European settings. The dialogue will take place in collaboration with Oxbelly, a creative incubator based in Greece.

How Thessaloniki’s Industry Arm Stays True to Its Mission to ‘Nurture Talents’ and Remain a Vital Launching Pad for Region’s Filmmakers

As a cinema enthusiast, I’m eagerly looking forward to diving into an intriguing case study about the upcoming drama series “Kabul.” This captivating production is set against the backdrop of the fall of the Afghan capital in August 2021 and was filmed entirely in Athens. The series promises to shed light on the potential and pitfalls of TV co-production within Europe. Additionally, film and TV consultant Tatjana Samopjan will enlighten us with a compelling presentation, delving into the art of storytelling in an era dominated by artificial intelligence.

Situated in Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki – which lies at the intersection of East and West – Thessaloniki’s Agora primarily serves as a hub or gathering spot. Here, ideas are shared, and crucial collaborations are formed that can propel filmmakers towards realizing their creative projects.

In light of extraordinary shifts in the worldwide industry, Vergou emphasizes that collaborative efforts like these are essential now more than ever. “Things are transforming quickly. That’s why we’re also keen to offer additional avenues for projects and encourage further involvement from potential partners,” she explains, focusing particularly on those alliances “that align with each project’s goals.

The task, she acknowledges, can be quite “difficult” – and it’s becoming progressively harder as global events maintain a sense of unpredictability. However, Vergou is resolute that markets like Thessaloniki’s Agora are still indispensable, referring to them as the “essence of our being” for filmmakers and professionals in the industry.

She mentions that various parties such as distributors, film festival programmers, sales agents, creators, and producers gather at these events called ‘markets.’ The purpose behind this gathering is to network, share ideas, and seal deals through contracts. In essence, markets serve as a bridge connecting people, creators, and professionals in the film industry.

How Thessaloniki’s Industry Arm Stays True to Its Mission to ‘Nurture Talents’ and Remain a Vital Launching Pad for Region’s Filmmakers

Looking toward the future, I, as a film enthusiast, am excited about initiatives like Bridge to the North – an innovative program that invites a different country from the Scandinavian or Baltic region each year. This is a testament to how Agora plans to adapt and grow by continuously refining a proven formula while expanding our global reach.

She points out that this presents a fresh endeavor for us – reaching areas not typically represented at Thessaloniki. It’s an exciting prospect for these regions to get acquainted with our festival, marketplace, and both local and regional artists.

Continuously, we’re connecting local industries across regions and facilitating interactions between these areas and European counterparts, linking regional talents with potential collaborators. Our primary objective is to consistently foster collaboration and joint efforts in our ongoing projects.

The Thessaloniki Film Festival runs Oct. 31 – Nov. 10.

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2024-10-31 11:47