Thessaloniki’s Agora Crossroads Co-production Forum unveils a diverse slate of new projects
- The 22nd edition of the forum brings together 14 projects from 15 countries spanning a range a themes, from contemporary topics to folk stories
The Agora Crossroads Co-production Forum of the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (5-15 November) has unveiled its 2026 selection, bringing together 14 projects from 15 countries across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
The 22nd edition of the forum, which will take place from 8 to 12 November, features projects by both emerging and established filmmakers, exploring contemporary themes such as representation, manhood and human connection or offering fresh takes on folk stories, vampires and the complex realities of growing up.
The selection brings together filmmakers with established international festival and industry profiles such as Serbia’s Nikola Ležaić (winner of the Heart of Sarajevo with Tilva Roš, selected in Karlovy Vary with How Come It's All Green Out Here?), Egypt’s Ayman El Amir (winner of Cannes’ Golden Eye with The Brink of Dreams, co-directed with Nada Riyadh), Spain’s Gemma Blasco (selected in SXSW with Fury) and Cyprus’ Emilios Avraam (selected for Black Nights with Smaragda - I Got Thick Skin and I Can't Jump).
The Crossroads Co-production Forum jury consists of Ioanna Bolomyti, producer and founder of Atalante Productions (Greece), Fred Burle, producer at One Two Films (Germany), and Linda Mutawi, producer at Fikra (Sweden). Remi Burah, CEO of Arte France Cinéma (France), has been tasked with bestowing the ArteKino International Award.
The newly introduced FRENEL Post Lab Post-Production Award will provide post-production image services to one project participating in the Crossroads Co-production Forum. The other awards handed out at the forum include the CNC Award, offering €8,000 for script development, the €6,000 ArteKino International Award, the €3,000 Finos Film Award for a Greek project, as well as the Producers’ Network – Marché du Film Award, the MIDPOINT Consulting Award and a number of independent awards.
AGORA is also bringing back the FOCUS sessions, an initiative launched at the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival to support Greek cinema. The teams of the three selected Greek projects will have the opportunity to meet experienced industry professionals for consultations aimed at further developing their works, identifying international partners and positioning their projects at co-production markets. The participating teams will have consultation meetings with Sergina Stavroulaki, head of acquisitions at Heretic (Greece), Thibaut Bracq, programme manager at La Fabrique – Cannes (France), and former Agora head Angeliki Vergou, project development and script consultant (Greece).
Below is the list of all the projects selected for the 2026 Agora Crossroads Co-production Forum:
Boys of Summer – Emilios Avraam (Cyprus)
Production: Tonia Mishiali (Boycott Films Ltd), Marinos Charalambous
A Pair of Shoes in the Dark Corner of the Moon – Ayman El Amir (Egypt)
Production: Nada Riyadh (Felucca Films)
Petroli – Gemma Blasco (Spain)
Production: Mireia Graell Vivancos (Ringo Media)
They Bloom at Dawn – Angela Dimeska (North Macedonia) - MIDPOINT Institute project
Production: Ognen Antov (Dream Factory)
Koukitsa – Christina Koutsospyrou, Aran Hughes (Greece)
Production: Jacob Moe (Archipelago Network)
Lava Love – Steve Krikris (Greece)
Production: Nicholas Alavanos, Stelios Mavrodontis (Filmiki)
In Those Darkest Nights – Gözde Kural (Türkiye/Germany) - Sofia Meetings project
Production: Titus Kreyenberg (unafilm)
Religion of Night Walks – Nikola Ležaić (Croatia/Serbia)
Production: Siniša Juričić (Nukleus film), Jelena Mitrovič (Baš Čelik)
This Is Not a Set – Yumna Marwan (Jordan)
Production: Rula Nasser (Imaginarium Films)
The Last Angel of Beirut – Valentin Noujaïm (France)
Production: Manon Messiant (Iliade et films)
Fuoristagione – Isabella Rinaldi (Italy)
Production: Joana de Freitas Ginori (Ulalà Film & Co.)
Tettix – Stella Serefoglou (Greece/Germany)
Production: Alexandros Tiliopoulos (Open Borders Productions), Zorana Musikic, May Odeh (Mayana Films)
A Touch of Paradise – Houcem Slouli (Tunisia)
Production: Sarra Ben Hassen (Instinct bleu), Khaled Henchiri (Upper Echlon)
The Arab of Your Dreams – Patrick Tass (Belgium) - Mediterranean Film Institute project
Production: Annabella Nezri (Kwassa Films)
Greek projects selected for the FOCUS sessions:
Graceland - Faidon Gkretsikos (Greece)
Production: Marina Danezi (Laika Productions)
Beast - Giannis Haritidis (Greece)
Production: Connie Zikou (Blinding Lights Productions)
The Passed Pawn - Alexandros Tsilifonis (Greece/Netherlands)
Production: Katerina Kaskanioti (Central Athens Film Productions), Alain De Levita (Levitate Film)
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