Running from 25 June-4 July at the Port of Thessaloniki, the Agora Docs of the 23^rd Thessaloniki Documentary Festival is proving to remain innovative as it gears up for another edition. The leading film market was one of the first to have to go digital last year owing to the pandemic, and this year, it will run a hybrid edition using both physical and online spaces and new technologies, and is presenting a range of new activities. Agora Docs is organised with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA.

First of all, the Agora Doc Market will include more than 400 completed documentaries in its digital video library, continuing its collaboration with Cinando. It will be available online for accredited Agora Docs guests to use.

Furthermore, in the Agora Docs in Progress section (see the news), an array of films that are currently in post-production will be presented to industry professionals. In addition, a hand-picked selection of Greek projects in post-production are participating in the Agora Lab workshop, in which renowned documentary specialists offer the filmmakers some guidance. The co-production and co-financing platform for creative, television and new-media documentaries at the development stage, the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum (see the news), is also inviting projects from Southeastern Europe and the neighbouring regions.

As Agora Docs looks to the future, the market is shining the spotlight on emerging documentary filmmakers from the Balkans and Southeast Europe, who are at the beginning of a promising career. This year, five talents from Serbia are participating in the Meet the Future section, with the support of Film Center Serbia. The tutor for the presentation will be producer Rea Apostolides (of Anemon Productions). The participating directors and their projects are as follows:

Diary of a Serious Offender - Danilo Ceković
Producer: Mira Janjetović (Association Osmica)

Supernova - Vanja Kovačević
Producer: Andrijana Stojković (All Inclusive Films)

Roots [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Tea Lukač
scheda film] - Tea Lukač
Producer: Andrijana Sofranić Šućur (Nana 143)

Summoned - Luka Papić
Producer: Srđa Vučo (Ranč production)

Bottlemen [+leggi anche:
recensione
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intervista: Nemanja Vojinović
scheda film] - Nemanja Vojinović
Producer: Marija Stojnić (RT Dobre Nade)

A new service is also being introduced, called Doc Counselling & Online Speed Meetings, which will run from 27 June-3 July, and will provide an opportunity to have on-site and online meetings with the participating industry professionals. Topics will include festival strategy, documentary funding, distribution, MEDIA Desk help, TV purchases, social media and marketing, among others.

Finally, like every year, a series of Agora Talks and Masterclasses will be organised, as the market invites experts to share their knowledge and experience with the guests in attendance.