The Agora Docs Pitching Forum and Work-in-Progress prizes were handed out during the award ceremony held March 17. “We had more than 350 film professionals attending the agora, both physically and online. I think this is the best proof that the industry is ready to be back in business, if it ever stopped,” said Elise Jalladeau, general director of the festival. A total of 353 meetings were scheduled for the selected projects.
Before the 2022 professional awards were given, the festival made special mention of the upcoming Evia Film Project, a 5-day environmentally-themed Agora, running 15-19 June, comprising a Pitching Forum and Works in Progress session and complemented by masterclasses, seminars and open-air screenings. It will be located on Evia, the second largest island of Greece, which suffered from catastrophic fires in the summer of 2021. The call for fiction, documentary and new media projects is open, with a deadline of April 15. “We are planning to turn Evia into an international pole of Green Cinema,” commented Orestis Andreadakis, Artistic Director of the festival.
Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award (plus cash prize of 2,000 euros)
- Harvest Moon (dir: Rama Ayasra, prod: Mariam Salim, New productions. Co-producer: Asmahan Bkerat, Jordan). Jury citation: “The winning pitch had integrity, a deep affinity to its characters, and a clear awareness of the potential social impact of the film. It also promised a cinematic language to tell what may appear a small story but is one with global relevance. With the hope that this award can help the seeds of an idea grow into a beautiful and important documentary.”
The ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award to a Greek project (plus cash prize of 2,000 euros)
- Sunken (dir: Dimitris Gkotsis, prod: Mina Dreki, Marni Films, Greece). Jury citation: “The winning project is one that tells a story local to Greece, but cleverly framed to draw out its international relevance. The confident presentation and beautifully written synopsis convinced the jury not only that the team is onto a good and untold story, but also that it has the skill and commitment to investigate its murky depths. The multi-layered story, exciting visuals, and character-driven approach all point to a film which can immerse the audience in the reality both above and below the surface. It’s a film that needs to be made now, and one which we are sure can find an audience on television to start a public conversation.”
DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Award (consultation and free membership)
- The Floating World (dir: Fernando Souza, prod: Mo Scarpelli, Rake Films. Co-producer: Jorge Thielen Armand – La Faena Films, Italy/USA. Jury citation: “The project invites us into a fascinating world to discover a complex character on a journey to find and redefine his own identity, and explore the protective shields he has built to survive. The jury trusted the vision, sensitive approach and personal point of view of the filmmakers.”
Aylon Productions Digital Services Award (digitization by Aylon Productions)
- Super Paradise (dir: Steve Krikris, prod: Paul Typaldos, Filmiki Productions. Co-producer: Dafni Kalafati, Greece). Citation: “For the jury, the winning project showed a real passion to find film and video from around the world revealing both the history of a lost paradise, and the people that shaped it.”
Beldocs Networking Award (accommodation and accreditation for the next International Documentary Festival Beldocs in May 2022)
- Caution, Risk of Falling Exhibits (dirs: Jana Durajova & Lena Kusnierikova, prods: Zuzana Mistrikova, Lubica Orechovska, Arkaitz Basterra – PubRes, Slovakia). Jury citation: “The jury was impressed by a project that reflects on the process of change and the necessity of culture, and does so with a patient approach in the best traditions of observational documentary. The pitch gave a clear vision of the film’s aim to mirror structural conflicts with personal ones.”
Mediterranean Film Institute Doc Award (Doc Lab scholarship of 2,000 euros, plus accommodation in Nisyros and Rhodes islands)
- Honeydew (directors: Marco Bergonzi, Michael Petrolini, prod: Simone Catania, Indyca, co-producer: Costanza Julia Bani – Fellonica Film, Italy/Sweden). Citation: “This project had all the ingredients to make a very good film, strong characters, conflicts and an interesting topic. We want to dedicate this award to the people of Ukraine and the film makers from there. They are fighting with their cameras to tell the truth.”
Docs in Progress awards: 10 projects from South-eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region participated in closed sessions exclusively for Thessaloniki’s invited industry professionals, sales agents, distributors, producers and festival programmers.
2|35 Post-production Company Award (post-production services)
- λesvia, The Herstory of Eressos (dir/prod: Tzeli Hadjidimitriou – Anemos Dimiourgias, Greece). Jury citation: “We award this film for the important role it can play in the recognition and preservation of LGBT history, and the inspiration it can provide for generations to come.” Commented director Hadjidimitriou: “I started this project alone. I only had the help of my community, the lesbian community. I’m a double lesbian. A lesbian born in Lesvos. This gave me the opportunity to understand both sides, the Lesbians and the Lesvians.”
MuSou company award for music and sound services
- Citizen Miko (dir: Robin Kvapil, prod: Martina Strunc, Silk Films, Czech Republic). Citation: “In times when your country ignores an evident humanitarian crisis, there are still ways to put more pressure on authorities. This film tells a story of a man who couldn’t stay indifferent in such a situation and shows us that we shouldn’t be apathetic either.”
Greek Film Centre Award (3,000 euros in cash)
- #Metisofia (dir: Vania Turner, prods: Onassis Culture, Maria Sidiropoulou [research, journalistic supervision, creative producer], Amanda Livanou [Associate Producer for Onassis Culture] Greece) Citation: “This film highlights an important subject matter that has stirred social and political change in contemporary Greece. Change that we would like to see spread and create accountability.”
Neaniko Plano award for Subtitling in English or French
- The Love Room (dir/prod: Suzana Dinevski, Suzi Kju Production. Co-producer: Vladimir Stojcevski – Award Film and Video, North Macedonia). Citation: “For its cinematic feel and access to the difficult subject matter in a region that is not often in the spotlight, in a language we do not hear often on screen made us want to see this film completed.”
Onassis Cinema Award: New award with a cash prize of 5,000 euros designed to support the Greek industry and applies to all Greek projects selected for the Agora Docs, either in Thessaloniki Pitching Forum or the Agora Docs in Progress.
- λesvia, The Herstory of Eressos (dir/prod: Tzeli Hadjidimitriou – Anemos Dimiourgias, Greece). Citation: The Onassis Culture grants the award to a project which focuses on a community that claims its uniqueness, that comes out of the darkness into the Aegean light, and finally to the whole world, creating a new life, a new state of things. A deeply politic project, which asks for equal treatment, brings hope for an inclusive future, and stands out for its courage, versatility, and romanticism. This documentary about a well-known story with many unknown aspects, meets the Onassis Foundation’s vision for an open society. May this film, which we hope to see soon in theaters, be another step towards freedom and equality.
The Guidance Award by Paradiddle Pictures on distribution, festivals, outreach and impact to one project of the Agora Lab section will be announced on Saturday with the Festival awards.
