The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced the participants in two specialised workshops as part of its Agora programme: the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy and the Agora Short Film Lab. These initiatives aim to nurture the growth of emerging professionals in the film industry by offering targeted training and networking opportunities that support career development on an international level.

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The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy, a programme run in partnership with the Locarno Film Festival and Locarno Pro, returns for its ninth consecutive year from 2-7 November. It brings together nine emerging cinema professionals, including sales agents, distributors and new-media experts, from across Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean. The five-day programme provides participants with tailored training in areas such as international sales, marketing, distribution and film programming. Sessions include collaborative workshops, case studies and discussions with industry leaders. The 2024 cohort comprises promising talents from across Europe, selected for their expertise and potential for growth.

Participants in the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy also gain entry to Launchpad, an initiative co-developed with several renowned European film festivals, including Locarno, Tallinn Black Nights, IFFR and Karlovy Vary. The programme connects emerging professionals with a global network, offering valuable insights and fostering relationships within the international film community. The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy is coordinated by Konstantinos Aivaliotis, assistant professor at the University of the Aegean and producer/festival director of Ethnofest.

Meanwhile, the Agora Short Film Lab, held in collaboration with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Drama International Short Film Festival, is another cornerstone of Agora’s support for emerging talent. The three-day workshop helps directors transition from short films to feature filmmaking through expert guidance and networking opportunities. This year’s participants consist of talented filmmakers whose work has received recognition at top short-film festivals. The workshop offers a platform to engage with experienced industry figures, providing critical insights and fostering international career development. The Agora Short Film Lab is managed by Christina Liapi, assistant producer and servicing manager at Heretic, and promises to be an invaluable stepping stone for these directors as they move into feature filmmaking.

As part of its offerings, Agora provides accredited guests access to the participants' work through the Agora Film Market Video Library. The platform enables industry professionals to discover new talent and stay connected with the festival’s dynamic filmmaking community.

Here are the selected participants for this year:

Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy

Paul De Beco (France) – world sales, Playtime
Ambhur Burghall (UK) – film marketing, MUBI
Charlotte Heusler (Germany) – digital marketing, Alphapanda
Zeynep Naz İnansal (Turkey) – festival coordinator, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Annita Nitsaidou (Greece) – festival director, WOW Film Festival
Kasia Siewko (Poland) – film distribution, Gutek Film
Léa Alia Triboulet (France) – acquisitions, Salaud Morisset
Vangelis Trichias (Greece) – assistant coordinator, Mediterranean Film Institute
Linda Venturini (Italy) – sales agent, Be For Films

Agora Short Film Lab

Mohammed Almughanni (Palestine) – An Orange from Jaffa
Yorgos Fourtounis (Greece) – MJ
Valeria Hofmann (Chile) – AliEN0089
Lina Kountoura (Greece) – Pop
Dimitris Moutsiakas (Greece) – Gekas
Abbas Taheri (Iran) – There Is No Friend’s House
Meni Tsilianidou (Greece) – Driving Me Crazy