The Works in Progress section of the 2023 Thessaloniki Agora (3-11 November) features ten film projects that are currently undergoing post-production. These projects originate from seven countries in Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region, and the event will take place both in Thessaloniki in a physical format and online.

The titles will be exhibited to a select audience of film-industry experts. Works in Progress organises screenings exclusively for accredited guests of Agora, ensuring that the films are introduced to producers, sales agents, distributors and festival representatives attending the 64th edition of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. This approach affords these professionals the opportunity to be the first to identify intriguing movies from the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans that are in the final stages of production.

The projects for this year confront pressing contemporary concerns, offering a profound exploration of the human experience through captivating visuals, occasionally poignant storytelling, and innovative cinematic techniques. Together, they guide audiences through the realms of social injustice, the intricacies of human relationships, and the shared aspirations and decisions that shape how individuals interact with each other and the environment they live in.

In addition, the projects’ teams will be in with a chance of winning one of the Agora Works in Progress post-production awards: image post-production services by Authorwave, a Music and Sound Award by music company MuSou, sound-mixing services by 119 Marvila Studios, VFX services by Yafka, the Onassis Cinema Award, a Marketing Award sponsored by Asterisk* and the ERT Agora Works in Progress Award, which will go to a Greek project.

The selected works in progress are as follows:

Beachcomber - Aristotelis Maragkos (Greece)
Producer: Konstantinos Koukoulis (ΠLANKTON)

Bonds, Roots and Passions - Sunay Terzioğlu (Turkey)
Producer: Timur Harzadın (Denge Yapim ve Danışmanlık)

Clear Nights - Paulo Filipe Monteiro (Portugal)
Producers: Pandora da Cunha Telles, Pablo Iraola (Ukbar Filmes)

Growing Down - Bálint Dániel Sós (Hungary)
Producer: Ádám Farkas (CineSuper)

Halisa - Sophie Artus (Israel)
Producers: Yochanan Kredo, Linor Lavi (July August Productions)

Happy People - Filip Peruzović (Croatia)
Producer: Tena Gojić (Dinaridi Film)

Lula Leblanc - Stergios Paschos (Greece)
Producers: Nicholas Alavanos (Filmiki Productions), Marni Films
Co-producers: Ready2Cast, Prosenghisi, Balthazar Films

Maldives - Daniel Bolda (Greece)
Producer: Nicholas Alavanos (Filmiki Productions)
Co-producer: Daniel Bolda (Edelweiss)

Meat - Dimitris Nakos (Greece)
Producer: Thanos Anastopoulos (Fantasia Ltd)
Co-producer: Foss Productions

Youthful Grace - Yuval Shani (Israel/France)
Producers: Efrat Cohen, Kobi Azran (Gaudeamus Productions)
Co-producer: Dominique Welinski (DW)