24/06/2025 - We spoke to the head of the Agora industry section about the Evia Film Project's focus on sustainability, wellbeing, creativity, slow networking and cyclical economy models

(© Thessaloniki Film Festival/Studio Aris Rammos)

Angeliki Vergou, head of Agora, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s and Thessaloniki Documentary Festival’s industry section, is also in charge of the related Evia Film Project, which ran from 17-21 June this year. We talked to her about local engagement and meaningful connections within the festival’s small but discussion-rich environment.

Cineuropa: Could you talk us through the Evia Film Project and how it has developed over its four editions?
Angeliki Vergou: For every project, we have always had a sustainability angle, but the themes change every year. This year, the main focus is the Greek summer and examining how it is portrayed in cinema, compared to its often-harsh reality. We explore topics such as climate change and the growing challenges of filming in Greece owing to the excessive heat. These difficulties are made worse by the rising number of foreign productions in the country, along with the fact that summer is the peak tourist season, which makes organising shoots even more complicated. In terms of the Agora side, since last year, we have established the cyclical economy model, which we see fits very well in Evia. The first year, we had projects that dealt with subjects like climate or the environment, both in the documentary and fiction form, and it was the first time we combined documentary and fiction in one market.

Usually, in Thessaloniki, we have two separate festivals and two separate markets for these mediums. So, this was an opportunity to bring these two worlds together. Then, the second year, we didn't present any projects, but we organised trips for location managers to Evia so they could get acquainted with the scenery and the locations. They also saw how the fires affected the island, and of course, there was networking, too. But then, we realised that the projects were lacking, so we decided to focus on the cyclical economy and called back projects that we had presented just before or during COVID-19, which was a difficult time – they probably hadn't advanced much. We checked in with them on where they were and what they needed. Last year and this year, we implemented this model, and we think it works well because, again, we have a mix of documentaries and fiction films. We were able to curate the list with people whom the projects really need, which makes it a tailor-made, retreat-like boutique market.

At Evia, we encourage slow networking, in a way that people really have the time to talk to each other. They can swim and do some yoga or take part in the wellbeing workshop that we have organised with holistic therapist Elena Christopoulou. The Evia Film Project is also important in terms of the local community in Evia, to bring cinema to them. In our first year, we reopened the Open Air Cinema, which had been closed for ten years.

What kinds of participants do you get in Evia, and who do you target?
Besides the curated list of professionals whom the projects need, we definitely target sales agents and festival programmers because they can meet not only with the project teams, but also with the Greek film community. And when we know there is a Greek project in production, even if it is not one of the ones we are officially presenting and has no direct connection to us, we still reach out and ask if they need to meet someone specific. We have the means to bring people to Evia for that purpose. It benefits both sides: the project gains valuable contacts, and we create opportunities for them to connect with other participants as well.

Even if we had the budget to bring more people, the aim would always be to maintain a small bubble of connections. Also, the fact that not too many things are happening at the same time means that everybody can meet each other at most of the gatherings.

What are you planning in terms of future expansions for the festival?
This year, we held Zoom meetings with projects from the past four years to check on their progress and see if they are a good fit for Evia. We will keep doing this because it helps Agora stay connected. As I said, even if a project is not selected, we may still help the team make useful connections, and our work continues all year round. The cyclical economy model is very fitting for Evia because of the sustainability theme, but we definitely want to expand on the whole wellness concept and continue the workshops, as they’re getting more and more popular. This year, for example, the concept is discovery. We are discovering ourselves, the projects and Evia itself, with a group hike. We are also discovering Greek creativity through the symposium we hosted. It’s important to say that the Evia Film Project will always have a theme, and it will keep its general focus on sustainability, wellbeing and creativity.