The Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s industry section, Agora, has revealed the participants in two of its cornerstone training programmes, the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy and the Agora Short Film Lab, which return this year as part of the 66th edition of the gathering. Both workshops remain central to Agora’s mission to nurture a new generation of film professionals through targeted education, mentorship and international networking.

The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy, organised in partnership with the Locarno Film Festival and Locarno Pro, returns for its tenth consecutive year, running from 2-7 November. The academy brings together ten emerging professionals from across Europe and the Mediterranean, including sales agents, distributors and new-media specialists. Through a series of case studies, round-table discussions and collaborative working sessions with top industry experts, participants gain essential insights into international film markets, programming and audience development.

Participants in the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy also gain entry to Launchpad, an initiative co-developed with Locarno, Tallinn Black Nights, IFFR and Karlovy Vary. Launchpad provides free accreditation to partner festivals and connects participants with a wider European network, fostering relationships and knowledge-sharing among emerging professionals and industry leaders.

Here are the participants in the 2025 Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy:

Klara Berdais (Croatia) – Restart
Beyza Yaren Büyük (Turkey) – Başka Sinema
Mariana Enriquez Denton Bustinza (UK) – SplicD Cinema/Barbican Young Film Programmers
Gaia Fossani (Switzerland) – Locarno Pro
Alexandra Gabrizova (Slovakia) – Disco Sailing
Evi Gavriilidou (Greece) – Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center
Leo Hervada Seux (France) – Loco Films
Massimo Iannetti (Italy) – Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
Carmina Orozco Lopez (Mexico) – DOK Leipzig Industry
Charalampos Sourapas (Greece) – Filmtrade

The Agora Short Film Lab, organised in collaboration with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Drama International Short Film Festival, returns as a three-day intensive workshop focused on helping short-film directors transition into feature filmmaking. Participants benefit from discussions, mentorship sessions and case studies led by seasoned professionals, offering a practical and creative framework to develop their projects while expanding their international networks. This year’s participants include directors whose award-winning shorts have been recognised at Clermont-Ferrand, Drama and the Helsinki Film Festival, through this year's partnership with Finland under the Bridge to the North initiative.

Here are the participants in the 2025 Agora Short Film Lab:

Giorgos Angelopoulos (Greece) – Or How to Disappear - Drama International Short Film Festival
Esteban Azuela (Mexico) – Aferrado - Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
Jenny Jokela (Finland) – Dollhouse Elephant - Helsinki International Film Festival
Vasilis Pantelidis (Greece) – Leaving Was What She Did Best - Drama International Short Film Festival
Yiannis Symvonis (Greece) – Mikro Soma - Drama International Short Film Festival
Kostis Theodosopoulos (Greece) – He Who Once Was - Drama International Short Film Festival
Zhang & Knight (UK) – A Bear Remembers - Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival