19/10/2026 - The programme features 11 projects in post-production, with the theme of youth coursing through the line-up in different forms

Director Darko Lungulov, who is taking part in Works in Progress with 1970 (© Mikaela Lungulov/A P Chekhoff)

The 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (5-15 November) will host the 2026 edition of Agora Works in Progress from 8-12 November. The team behind the industry programme has selected 11 films in post-production from Central and Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region, representing 15 countries. The projects will be presented to sales agents, distributors, producers, streaming platforms and festival programmers, with the aim of securing finishing funds, sales representation, festival premieres and further industry partnerships.

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Youth runs through this year's selection in different forms, from adolescence as a loss of innocence and a search for belonging between cultures to rebellion, first love and attempts to escape inherited destinies. Some of the stories centre on young characters that are abandoned or confined, drawn into the adult world too soon or left to carry the memory of conflicts they did not choose. Others examine how war, borders and history leave their mark on families. Together, the films explore intimate experiences while addressing broader questions of identity, memory, freedom and exile.

The selection brings together filmmakers at different stages of their careers. Among the best-known names is Serbian-American director Darko Lungulov, whose 1970 joins the line-up. He previously helmed Here and There, which was rewarded at Tribeca, and Monument to Michael Jackson, which premiered at Karlovy Vary. Yiannis is the latest project by Cypriot filmmaker Kyros Papavassiliou, known for Impressions of a Drowned Man, which premiered at IFFR, and Embryo Larva Butterfly, presented at Karlovy Vary.

Also returning to Thessaloniki is Spaniard Diego Llorente with How the Light Gets In – his Notes for a Summer was previously rewarded at Thessaloniki. Greek director Dimitris Koutsiabasakos, meanwhile, brings along Winter Semester. Spanning fiction and documentary, his previous credits include the documentary The Grocer and the feature Daniel '16. Also, Kosovar director Ismet Sijarina showcases The Longest Night after his debut feature, Cold November, premiered at San Sebastián. Another notable title is Swell, the latest feature by Alexandros Voulgaris (Thread, Winona) also known as The Boy, which will be presented out of competition as a sneak preview and is based on the multi-award-winning novel of the same name by Ioanna Karystiani.

The Agora Works in Progress jury comprises Maria Drandaki, producer and founder of Homemade Films; Wouter Jansen, founder and head of Sales and Acquisitions at Square Eyes; and Gabriela Trujillo, programmer at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight.

The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy will also take place from 7-12 November, marking its 11th edition. The training programme supports young professionals working in sales, distribution, marketing, programming and new media through discussions, case studies and collaborative sessions with experienced industry figures.

Lastly, the AGORA Short Film Lab, co-organised with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Drama International Short Film Festival, will run from 8-12 November as a closed workshop. Designed to help directors of award-winning short films navigate the industry and make the transition to feature filmmaking, the programme combines working sessions, seminars and talks with experienced professionals. Under the BRIDGE TO: AUSTRIA initiative, this year's participants also include two emerging directors who won Best Film at the Austrian Short Film Award at Vienna Shorts 2026.

Here is the full list of projects selected for Agora Works in Progress 2026:

Avanos – Panagiotis Charamis (Greece)
Production: Alexis Tsoukalas (Pan Entertainment)

Mignon – Sofia Georgovassili (Greece/Romania)
Production: Antigone Rota, Stelios Cotionis (Foss Productions), Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos (Plays2place)
Co-production: Irina Malcea-Candea (Luna Film), Faye Tsitsipi (MagentaTV)

The Crossroad – Mari Gulbiani (Georgia)
Production: Kate Kalandarishvili (MIDIFILM)

Winter Semester – Dimitris Koutsiabasakos (Greece)
Production: Mary Kolonia (Lucid Dreamers Productions)

The Law of the Flies – Tunahan Kurt (Turkey)
Production: Zeynep Ekmekci (FARO)

How the Light Gets In – Diego Llorente (Spain/Uruguay)
Production: Lara Lobo (Failo Cine)
Co-production: Virginia Bogliolo (tarkiofilm), Rubén González (Báltico Media)

1970 – Darko Lungulov (Serbia/Luxembourg/Hungary/Croatia)
Production: Snezana van Houwelingen (This and That Productions)

Yiannis – Kyros Papavassiliou (Cyprus/Greece)
Production: Kyros Papavassiliou (Drytree Films)
Co-production: Konstantina Stavrianou (Graal)

The Longest Night – Ismet Sijarina (Kosovo/Albania/North Macedonia)
Production: Leonora Lushtaku, Ismet Sijarina (Thumbs Up)
Co-production: Dejan Iliev (DMF doo Production), Florenc Papas (Tunnelfilm)

Swell – Alexandros Voulgaris (Greece - out of competition)
Production: Dionyssis Samiotis (Tanweer Productions), Giannis Iakovidis (Black Orange)

Río Masacre – Sylvie Weber (Austria)
Production: Anouk Shad (Ripe GmbH)
Co-production: Lukas Rinner (Nabis Filmgroup)

Locarno Industry Academy

Allegra Bell – Events coordinator and film programmer, European Film Market, Leeds International Film Festival and Innsbruck Nature Film Festival (Italy)
Nina Benoit – Talent Village manager, Les Arcs Film Festival (France)
Eleanor Debreu – Marketing and communications manager, Mirage (France/USA)
Aliki Koutoura – Communications and programme coordinator, CineDoc, Anemon (Greece)
Fanny Lehmann – Festivals manager, Lucky Number (France)
Elena Papakonstantinou – Producer on digital distribution of audiovisual content, ZDF Digital (Greece/Spain/Germany)
Louise Richard – Festival manager, Playtime (France)
Radek Chromčák Ševčík – Festival distribution, Split Screen (Czech Republic)
Sofia Tocar – Festival distribution, short films, Square Eyes (Moldova)
Fraser White – Communication coordinator, International Film Festival Rotterdam (UK)

AGORA Short Film Lab

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival

Shayma' Awawdeh (Palestine) – Intersecting Memory
Tommy Baron (France) – Curiosity on Planet Mars
Jen Nee Lim (Singapore) – Buah (Fruit)

Drama International Short Film Festival

Vicky Anastasiadou (Greece) – Wheel to Live
Lila Barmpa (Greece) – Find Fenia
Nicolas Costes (Greece) – A Moment in Her Life
Anastasia Gkivalou (Greece) – Strays

Vienna Shorts

Emma Hütt (Germany) – UNLEADED 95
Tina Muffler (Switzerland) – UNLEADED 95