Agora Expands Access and TV Focus for Thessaloniki Film Festival

Thanos Stavropoulos assumes leadership of the Agora, the industry arm of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, this spring. After nearly two decades in the organization, he moves from a programming assistant role to head the initiative. His mandate centers on continuing the program's mission, established in 2005, to help regional filmmakers reach global audiences.

The festival opens on November 5 in a climate defined by geopolitical conflict and economic instability. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to impact the sector, while studio consolidations in the United States and Europe add financial pressure. Stavropoulos states that the team focuses on building collaborative bridges despite these external challenges. He notes that the world is messy, but the festival can control its own environment for cooperation.

Structural changes accompany this year's event. Conversation series previously limited to industry guests will now be open to all festival attendees. The change targets audiences with a deeper interest in film craft than just viewing finished works. The program also expands its mental health support. A decompression room introduced last year will be joined by discussions on resolving conflict in creative partnerships.

The television sector, launched in 2022, has grown to span the opening weekend. This year's lineup features masterclasses with screenwriter Tom Rob Smith and series creator Christopher Papakaliatis. Sessions will address the future of Greek scripted television and strategies for packaging local series for international markets. These efforts align with Greece's signing of the European Convention earlier this year, the first international treaty to support independent co-productions for streaming and television.

Stavropoulos aims to use this new framework to benefit Greek and regional talents. The Agora plans to launch a regional pitching platform for both emerging and established screenwriters. The festival continues to showcase Southeast European, Mediterranean, and Black Sea cinema through strands like the Crossroads Co-Production Forum. Recent alumni, including Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Myrsini Aristidou, and Alina Șerban, have films short-listed for the upcoming European Film Awards in Athens.

Aristidou's debut, Hold Onto Me, becomes the first Cypriot submission for the Oscars. The current lineup features projects from directors Darko Lungulov, Nikola Ležaić, Ayman El Amir, and Nada Riyadh. The selection ranges from time travel narratives to early 20th century stories. The festival runs from November 5 to 15, maintaining its current size while widening its international reach through Thessaloniki's strategic geographic position.