The 20th edition of the Agora Crossroads Co-Production Forum will take place in Thessaloniki from 3-7 November, as part of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (31 October-10 November). This year, Agora has selected 15 promising film projects from 17 countries across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean. The forum provides a unique platform for these projects to engage in networking, co-production activities and creative collaboration within the global film industry. Agora continues to serve as a vital hub for industry professionals, offering a hybrid format that includes both in-person and online participation.

For the second year running, the "Bridge to the North" initiative aims to build a collaborative link between Southern and Northern Europe. Each year, a guest country from the Baltic or Nordic region is spotlighted, opening up new possibilities for financing and artistic partnerships. This initiative fosters co-productions, synergies and cultural exchanges that enrich the global film landscape. In 2024, in collaboration with the Swedish Film Institute, the Göteborg Film Festival, the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden in Greece, a delegation of Swedish film professionals will participate in Agora. Their presence will expand opportunities for new creative ventures and diverse co-productions.

The 2024 line-up features an exciting mix of debut and sophomore films from emerging filmmakers, as well as new projects from established directors. One of the standouts is the latest feature from acclaimed Romanian director Adrian Sitaru. Other notable second films come from talents like Yorgos Goussis, Kaltrina Krasniqi, Diego Llorente, Nikola Mijović, Ahu Öztürk, Sonia Liza Kenterman and Ahmad Ghossein, while debut works by Neritan Zinxhiria and Thelyia Petraki are also included. The selected projects tackle themes such as family, identity and heritage, often blending genres like noir, fantasy, political commentary, absurdism and dark comedy to create compelling and thought-provoking stories.

This year's selection process was guided by an international committee alongside an advisory committee, featuring industry consultant Thibaut Bracq and producer Rula Nasser, both of whom brought extensive expertise to the selection. The forum offers participants a comprehensive experience, starting with a preparatory workshop led by producer Amanda Livanou (of Neda Film). This hybrid workshop, held online and on site, equips filmmakers with essential skills to effectively present their projects to industry stakeholders.

The Crossroads Co-Production Forum also offers a variety of awards aimed at supporting film projects at different stages of development. Among these is the new MIDPOINT Consulting Award, which provides an in-depth online script consultation with a MIDPOINT Institute expert. The Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Award covers post-production services for image and sound, while the Onassis Film Award offers €10,000 to a Greek project participating in either the Crossroads Forum or AGORA Works in Progress. Other notable awards include the CNC Award (€8,000 for script development), the ArteKino International Award (€6,000) and the Finos Film Award (€3,000 for a Greek project). Additional opportunities include free accreditation for the Producers Network at the Cannes Film Festival, the Greener Screen Consultancy Award (€7,000 worth of services for green film production) and selection for Sofia Meetings at the Sofia International Film Festival. Scholarships for the Mediterranean Film Institute's Script 2 Film Workshops and the EAVE Marketing Workshop are also available to selected participants.

Here are the selected Crossroads Co-Production Forum projects for 2024:

The Appalling Human Voice of the Animals - Neritan Zinxhiria (Greece)
Producer: Efijeni Kokedhima (Reconstructing Memories)

A White House - Francesco Romano (Italy/France)
Producer: Raffaella Pontarelli (Amarena Film)
Co-producer: Giovanni Donfrancesco (Bocalupo Films)

African Grey - Yorgos Goussis (Greece)
Producer: Konstantinos Koukoulis (PLANKTON)

Bleach - Kaltrina Krasniqi (Kosovo/North Macedonia/Montenegro)
Producer: Ares Shporta (Vera Films)
Co-producers: Ognen Antov (Dream Factory), Bojana Radulović (Code Blue Production)

Dying Bird - Diego Llorente (Spain)
Producers: Lara González Lobo, Diego Llorente, Rubén G Revilla (Failo Cine)

Fog - Denis Spiridonov (France/Bulgaria)
Producer: Katia Khazak (Aurora Films)
Co-producer: Vanya Rainova (Portokal)

Four Funerals and a Wedding - Nikola Mijović (Montenegro/Serbia/North Macedonia/Czech Republic)
Producer: Maja Kecojević (Parangal Film)
Co-producers: Stefan Mladenović (Plan 9), Vladimir Anastasov (Sektor Film), Dagmar Sedláčková (Masterfilm)

The Hour Between Dog and Wolf - Terézia Halamová (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producer: Natália Pavlove (Other Stories)
Co-producer: Matej Sotník (Guča Films)

The Hunchback - Ahu Ozturk (Turkey)
Producer: Pinar Aydin (Leyla Film)

La Yoli - Sandra Reina (Spain) - Mediterranean Film Institute project selection
Producer: Valérie Delpierre (Inicia Films)

Nearby Faraway - Sonia Liza Kenterman (Greece/Germany/Luxembourg)
Producer: Myrto Stathi (BYRD)
Co-producers: Roshanak Behesht Nedjad (In Good Company), Alexandra Hoesdorff (Deal Productions)

The Passport - Rakan Mayasi (Palestine/Germany/Jordan)
Producers: May Odeh, Zorana Musikic (mayana films)
Co-producer: Abdallah Al Ramahi (Zenobia Productions)

The Side Effects of Trusting Life - Ahmad Ghossein (Lebanon)
Producer: Georges Schoucair (Abbout Productions)

Virgin Mary - Adrian Sitaru (Romania/France)
Producer: Iriana Adnana (4 PROOF FILM)
Co-producer: Yohann Cornu (Damned Films)

Wake (Agrypnia) - Thelyia Petraki (Greece)
Producer: Kostas Tagalakis (Out of the Box Films)