EXCLUSIVE: Agora of Thessaloniki announces participants for Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy and Agora Short Film Lab

09/19/2024 – The two programmes dedicated to emerging professionals from different backgrounds of the film industry will welcome 16 participants in Thessaloniki in November

Participants of the Thessaloniki Industry Academy Locarno 2024

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

(Article continues below – Business Information)

The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy, a program organized in partnership with the Locarno Film Festival and Locarno Pro, returns for its ninth consecutive year from November 2 to 7. It brings together nine emerging film professionals, including sales agents, distributors and new media experts, from across South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. The five-day program offers participants 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 growth potential.

Participants in the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy also have access to Launchpad, an initiative developed jointly with several renowned European film festivals, including Locarno, Tallinn Black Nights, IFFR and Karlovy Vary. The programme connects emerging professionals with a global network, providing valuable insights and fostering relationships within the international film community. The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy is coordinated by Constantine AivaliotisAssistant Professor at the University of the Aegean and Producer/Director of the Ethnofest Festival.

Meanwhile, the Agora Short Film Lab, organized in collaboration with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Drama International Short Film Festival, is another pillar of Agora’s support for emerging talent. This three-day workshop helps filmmakers transition from short to feature filmmaking through expert advice and networking opportunities. This year, participants are talented filmmakers whose work has been recognized at top short film festivals. The workshop provides a platform to engage with seasoned industry figures, provide critical insights, and foster international career development. The Agora Short Film Lab is managed by Christina LiapiAssistant Producer and Head of After Sales at Heretic, and promises to be an invaluable stepping stone for these filmmakers as they move into feature filmmaking.

As part of its offerings, Agora provides accredited guests with access to participants’ works via the Agora Film Market video library. This platform allows industry professionals to discover new talent and stay connected with the festival’s vibrant film community.

Here are the participants selected for this year:

Industrial Academy of Thessaloniki Locarno

Paul De Beco (France) – worldwide sales, Playtime
Ambhur City Hall (UK) – film marketing, MUBI
Charlotte Heusler (Germany) – digital marketing, Alphapanda
Zeynep Naz İnansal (Türkiye) – Festival Coordinator, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Annita Nitsaidou (Greece) – Festival Director, WOW Film Festival
Kasia Siewko (Poland) – film distribution, Gutek Film
Lea Alia Triboulet (France) – acquisitions, Salaud Morisset
Vangelis Trichias (Greece) – Deputy Coordinator, Mediterranean Cinema Institute
Linda Venturini (Italy) – sales agent, Be For Films

Agora Short Film Lab

Mohammed Almughanni (Palestine) – A Jaffa orange
Yorgos Fourtounis (Greece) – MJ
Valeria Hofmann (Chile) – AliEN0089
Lina Kountoura (Greece) – Popular
Dimitris Moutsiakas (Greece) – Gekas
Abbas Taheri (Iran) – There is no guest house
Meni Tsilianidou (Greece) – It drives me crazy