The 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TIDF, 6-16 March) continues its long-standing commitment to fostering documentary filmmaking in Greece and the wider region with the announcement of the line-ups for two of its key industry initiatives: Agora Docs in Progress and Agora Boost. Taking place from 8-12 March, the Agora is designed to facilitate meaningful connections between filmmakers and international buyers, co-producers, festival programmers, VoD platforms and sales agents, while also offering an insight into current trends through its talks and networking activities.

Agora Docs in Progress focuses on documentary projects in the final stages of post-production and presents ten films from 11 countries across Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond. Drawing on personal testimonies, collective memory and archival research, this year’s selection explores a wide range of urgent themes, including resistance and preservation, queerness and family bonds, human relationships with nature, music and radio culture, as well as new approaches to trauma and healing. Together, the projects reflect both the diversity of contemporary documentary practices and the political and emotional realities shaping the region today.

This year’s selection also features filmmakers and producers with a strong presence on the international festival circuit. Among them is Daniel Kötter, whose previous works (Landshaft [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Daniel Kötter
fiche film], Rift Finfinnee [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film]) have premiered at international festivals; he returns with Stratum, co-directed with Marko Grba Singh, whose Rampart [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] premiered at Locarno. Additionally, renowned Greek editor Smaro Papaevangelou (Moon, 66 Questions [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Jacqueline Lentzou
fiche film], Day of the Tiger [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Andrei Tănase
fiche film]) makes her documentary feature debut with Careful Where You Tread. Meanwhile, 4PM to 5PM by Yorgos Teltzidis, presented out of competition, portrays Giannis Petridis, the legendary Greek radio producer, journalist and music expert, widely recognised for shaping the musical taste of generations in Greece.

Projects selected for Agora Docs in Progress will benefit from tailored feedback and mentorship from international documentary professionals, and are eligible for a series of awards supporting post-production, promotion and international circulation.

Complementing Docs in Progress, Agora Boost is a consultancy workshop exclusively dedicated to Greek documentary projects in development and/or post-production. Selected through the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum and Agora Docs in Progress application process, the four projects explore intimacy and resistance through personal stories shaped by migration, labour, music subcultures and political history. The initiative aims to strengthen the projects’ creative and production strategies while also enhancing their international potential, in partnership with the Greek Documentary Association – Hellas Doc.

Here is the full selection of projects for both sections:

Agora Docs in Progress

Aipos – Christos Adrianopoulos (Greece/Cyprus)
Production: Antigoni Kapaka (Alipnoos SA)
Co-producer: Despina Mouzaki (Breaking Wave Productions)

Our Seeds (working title) – Erhan Arik (Turkey/Greece/Germany)
Production: Meryem Yavuz (Horovel Films)
Co-producers: Rea Apostolides (Anemon Productions), Manuel Rees (Paradoks Filmproduktion)

Landwards – Rama Ayasra (Jordan)
Production: Asmahan Bkerat

Mati 2307 – Marianna Kakaounaki (Greece)
Production: Marianna Kakaounaki (Energeiaki Mesimvria)

Stratum – Daniel Kötter, Marko Grba Singh (Serbia/Kosovo)
Production: Jelena Angelovski (Obol Film)
Co-producers: Eroll Bilibani, Veton Nurkollari (DokuFest)

Immortal Flowers – Brian Logvinsky (USA/Ukraine)
Production: Harrison Jaffee (Catharsis Pictures)
Co-producer: Eugene Rachkovsky (Tabor Production)

Anatolia – Jeanne Nouchi (France)
Production: Maud Berbille (MB17 Films)

Careful Where You Tread – Smaro Papaevangelou (Greece)
Production: Iro Aidoni, Mina Dreki (Marni Films)

K. – Panagiotis Papafragkos (Greece/Czech Republic/Netherlands)
Production: Panagiotis Papafragkos, Stelios Mavrodontis (Dog Star Films)
Co-producers: Ondřej Zima (Film Kolektiv), Leenke Ripmeester (Eye Filmmuseum Amsterdam)

4PM to 5PM – Yorgos Teltzidis (Greece, out of competition)
Production: Onassis Culture – Christos Sarris (creative producer), Vassilis Panagiotakopoulos (producer)

Agora Boost

Hearing Noise – Eirini Chatzi (Greece)
Production: Eirini Chatzi
Co-producer: Maria Dakanali (Art Yard Productions)

Oriana & Alekos: Crossfire of Love – Maria Giannouli (Greece)
Production: Chronis Pechlivanidis (Onos Productions)

Makasi – Danai Maria Samara (Greece)
Production: Spiros Betsis (Not a Project)

Moving Still – Ioanna Tsoucala (Greece)
Production: Elias Katsoufis (Hiccup Film)