Agora Docs Awards 2021
The Thessaloniki Doc Fest professional prizes were handed out June 30. Fourteen projects participated in Thessaloniki Pitching Forum while ten projects from Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region were selected for Docs in Progress.
Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Awards
Thessaloniki Pitching Forum is the co-producing and co-financing platform of the TDF for creative and TV documentaries, as well as for new media documentaries (virtual and enhanced reality). The participants had the opportunity to discuss their projects, to receive feedback and advice during a two-day online lab and prepare for pitching with the help of documentary professionals.
They presented their projects during the one-day Pitching Forum to an international panel of experts and had one-on-one meetings with top film professionals. Fourteen projects participated in total at the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum.
The international jury of the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum, consisted of:
Selin Murat, documentary consultant, DAE, France
Titus Kreyenberg, producer, Una Film, Germany
Madeleine Robert, head of industry, Visions du Réel, Switzerland
Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award (€2,000)
Second Generation Directors/producers: Rodrigo Hernandez, Elpida Nikou, Spain/Greece
Jury citation: “We fell in love with the two protagonists and believe the film has the potential to address racist tendencies and discrimination in contemporary Greek society”.
The ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award to a Greek project (2,000 euros)
Secrets of the Owl Director: Eirini Vourloumis, Producers: Leonidas Liambeys – Long Run Productions, Eirini Vourloumis, Greece
Jury citation: “The film convinces with its strong visual language and its choice of protagonists. A cornucopia of stories in Athens and about Athens”.
The Mediterranean Film Institute Award (DocLab scholarship of 2,000 euros, as well as accommodation during MFI):
Depot-vente Director: Cherine Karam, Producers: Ashley Smith, Clara Harris, Mario Adamson – Sisyfos Film Production, Sweden/Scotland
“Beirut – a little shop full of love and compassion becomes a shelter in a struggling city,” mentioned the jury in its reasoning.
The DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Awards (consultation and free membership)
Concrete Land Director: Asmahan Bkerat, Producer: Sahar Yousefi – Nava Projects, Co-producer: Bassam Alasad – Tabi360, Canada/Jordan
Post Love Director: Alexis Taillant, Producer: Nadège Labé – Wendigo Films, France
Jury: The first is about “a conflict between three generations in a Bedouin family” which “is heightened when the family is evicted by developers” and in the second one “passionate seniors reclaim their sensual and sexual lives in the twilight of their lives”.
The Aylon Productions Digital Services Award (Digitization by Aylon Productions)
Home is Where the Films Are Director: More Raça, Producer: Sunaj Raça – N.SH. Arena, Co-producer: Alfredo Federico, Kosovo/Italy
Jury: “a very strong and personal story about a family torn by their experiences of war.”
Beldocs Award (accommodation and accreditation for the next festival in September 2021)
Forbidden Director/Producer: Anelise Salan – The L Studio, Romania
“A very intimate dialogue about a relationship that points at the unbearable discrimination of same sex marriage,” said the jury.
Docs in Progress Awards
In the Agora Docs in Progress, ten projects from Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region participated in closed sessions exclusively for Thessaloniki’s invited industry professionals, sales agents, distributors, producers and festival programmers.
The International Agora Docs in Progress jury consisted of:
Devin Karambelas, buyer, WGBH/PBS, USA
Christina Liapi, sales agent, Heretic Outreach, Greece
Silvia De Felice, Head of Art Night, Rai Cultura – Italy
2|35 post-production company award in post-production services
Bottlemen Director: Nemanja Vojinović, Producer: Marija Stojnić, Nemanja Vojinović – RT DOBRE NADE, Co-producers: Viva Videnović – URGH!, Set Sail Films Serbia/Slovenia
“For its striking visual approach and ability to make a local story about a Balkan landfill feel globally relevant. It is both a sophisticated meditation on environmental change and technological disruption, and a compelling human story,” the jury said.
MuSou company award for music and sound services
Avaton Director: Irini Karayannopoulou, Co-director: Sandrine Cheyrol, Producer: Mathilde Delaunay – Barberousse Films, France
Jury: “For its imaginative storytelling approach and the significant role that music and sound will play in immersing the viewer into the film’s world.”
Greek Film Centre Award (3,000 euros in cash)
Narrow Path to Happiness Director: Kata Oláh, Producer: Borbála Csukás – MAKABOR STUDIÓ Kft, Co-producer: Marc Smolowitz – 13th Gen, Hungary/USA
Jury: “For the original way it manages to find moments of joy, humour and creativity between two people that face social exclusion in a time and place that are unwilling to acknowledge their right to love.”
Neaniko Plano Award (Subtitling in English or French)
Dream Factory Director: Hesam Eslami, Producer: Etienne de Ricaud – Caracteres Productions, Hesam Eslami – Aras Films, Iran/France
Jury: “For the quirky, yet recognisable cast of characters stuck in an absurd situation that this tragicomedy from Northern Iran introduces us to.”
