The Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s industry-focused AGORA section has handed out its 2025 awards.
This year’s AGORA section at Thessaloniki took place from November 2 to 6. Before handing out the awards, Angeliki Vergou, Head of the Agora, said: “We wish success on all levels and we wish to see you back here in Thessaloniki with your finished films.”
Vergou added, “Your projects and films are also the light at the end of the tunnel. Smart, courageous, political, funny, emotional, the films you are about to make are hopeful for a better understanding of our society and each other.”
The 2025 Thessaloniki International Film Festival runs until November 9.
2025 AGORA Industry Award Winners:
CROSSROADS CO-PRODUCTION FORUM AWARDSThe Crossroads Co-production Forum Jury, composed of Frank Hoeve, Producer at BALDR Film (The Netherlands), Uljana Kim, Producer at Studio Uljana Kim (Lithuania) and Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos, Producer & Chief Operating Officer at Faliro House (Greece), as well as the Arte Kino International Award Juror, and Mathilde Hersant, Head οf Finance at ARTE France Cinéma (France), took the floor to bestow the awards.
Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Award – Post-production (image and sound) was bestowed to:THE LEAVES HANG TREMBLINGDirector: Stefan Djordjević, Production: Dragana Jovović – Non-Aligned Films, SerbiaThe reasoning of the jury: “Courageous, fierce yet deeply empathetic, the film is profoundly moving as it puts children and students at its heart. For its unique approach to a deeply personal story that resonates with urgent global relevance, we give the Two Thirty-Five post-production services award to THE LEAVES HANG TREMBLING.”
The 8,000-euro award for script development by the CNC-Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée was bestowed by Jean-Luc Lavaud, French Consul in Thessaloniki, to the film: THE UNMOVING HANGSDirector: Víctor Diago, Production: Andrés Mellinas – Boogaloo, Spain in collaboration with the Mediterranean Film InstituteThe reasoning of the jury: “A project defined by strong, undeniable directorial vision, realized by a committed and talented team. It is a genre-fluid story that explores men living on the margins of society, lifting up their experiences in a compelling and original way. The CNC Award (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée) goes to THE UNMOVING HANDS.”
The ArteKino International Award with a cash prize of 6,000 euros, was bestowed to:THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ION G. Director: Andreea Cristina Bortun, Production: Gabi Suciu – Atelier de Film, Romania in collaboration with Sofia MeetingsThe reasoning of the jury: “ArteKino aims to support emergent European cinema through the ArteKino International award and the ArteKino Festival. I would like to thank all the producers and directors we met with the jury as well as the AGORA team who did a great job. ARTE has decided to reward a young director, whose project deals with exile, inequality and politics, but with light and love in its treatment. The ArteKino International award goes to THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ION G. by Andreea Cristina Bortun, produced by Gabi Suciu.”
The award of Finos Film, of 3,000 euros, is granted to a Greek project.The Award was bestowed by Stathis Kamvasinos, Head of Communication & Representative of Finos Film, to the film:PIRATELAND Director: Stavros Petropoulos, Production: Leonidas Konstantarakos – Alaska Films, Co-production: Stephane Marschal – Yukunkun Productions, Greece, FranceThe reasoning of the jury: “We would like to award the Greek project that stood out for its exceptional team effort. Building on the success and energy of its previous film, it promises a feature version with strong international appeal. The Finos Film Award goes to PIRATELAND.”
The Producer’s Network Accreditation to next year’s Cannes Marché du Film was awarded to:Producer Fahriye Ismayilova for the project GOODBYE FOR NOWDirector: Kasım Ördek, Production: Fahriye Ismayilova – Parda Film Production, Co-production: Jules Grange – Kidam Production, Turkey, FranceThe reasoning of the jury: “We are truly impressed by the energy, dedication, and unwavering resolve of the producer. With a clear vision and fierce commitment, the producer is ready to bring the project onto the global stage. We give the Producer’s Network – Marché du Film Award to FAHRIYE ISMAYILOVA, the producer of GOODBYE FOR NOW.”
The MIDPOINT’s Consulting Award was bestowed to:THE DICTATOR’S DREAMDirector: Erenik Beqiri, Production: Dritan Huqi – On Film Production, AlbaniaThe reasoning of the jury: “We were impressed by the project’s political relevance and bold, original vision. A culturally specific story with universal resonance, it skillfully blends satire, absurdity, and tragedy to explore power. The MIDPOINT consulting award goes to THE DICTATOR’S DREAM.”
Independent Awards: ONASSIS FILM AWARDThe Onassis Film Award – with a cash-prize of 10,000 euros – was granted to a Greek project participating in the Agora’s Crossroads Co-production Forum section for this year.The Onassis Film Award was bestowed by Vassilis Panagiotakopoulos, Head of Productions at the Onassis Foundation, to the film: THE TIDE HEARS THEM BUT THEY NO LONGER HAVE A VOICEDirector: Yiannis Veslemes, Production: Nicholas Alavanos – FILMIKI, GreeceThe reasoning of the jury: “The Onassis Film Award is presented to a project that stands out for its boldness and authenticity, seeking a balance between the political and the metaphysical. With a clear directorial vision, it addresses one of the darkest political periods in Greece in order to speak about timeless themes and universal questions surrounding death and immortality. The award is presented to the film THE TIDE HEARS THEM BUT THEY NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE by Yannis Veslemes, produced by Filmiki.”
The jury of the Onassis Film Award, under the direction of the Artistic Director of the Onassis Foundation, Afroditi Panagiotakou, is composed of:Dimitris Theodoropoulos, Executive Director of the Onassis FoundationVasso Vasilatou, TheatrοlogistElizampetta Ilia Georgiadou, ScreenwriterVasilis Panayiotakopoulos, ProducerChristos Sarris, Filmmaker
The Greener Screen Award, offering consultation on sustainability practices before and during the film shooting was bestowed by the Chief Content Officer of Greener Screen, Bassam Alasad, to the film: A GIRL NAMED ZEUSDirector: Nikos Dayandas, Production: Konstantinos Κoukoulis – ΠLANKTON, GreeceReasoning: “Greener Screen recognises this film for its deep sense of place, its poetic reflection on heritage, and its creators’ sincere commitment to environmental values and sustainable practice. A story that harmonises rebellion and tradition, embodying the regenerative spirit at the heart of truly green cinema. The award is presented to: A GIRL NAMED ZEUS.”
The Sofia Meetings Award, which gives the chance to the winning project to take part in the upcoming event of Sofia Meetings, held in March 2026, was awarded by Mira Staleva, Head of the Sofia Meetings, to the film: ROBBING BEIRUTDirector: Katia Jarjoura, Production: Michel Zana – Blue Train Films, Co-production: Elisa Pirir – Staer Film, Jana Wehbe – The Attic, France, Norway, LebanonReasoning: “For its timely and deeply human story of courage and bravery, ROBBING BEIRUT stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of dignity and solidarity — values our society needs now more than ever.”
The Mediterranean Film Institute “George Kalogeropoulos” Award – Script 2 Film Workshop Scholarship was awarded by Leda Dialyna, Coordinator of the MFI, to the film:LA FORMA ANIMALDirector: Isa Luengo, Sofia Esteve, Production: Laura Rubirola – Nocturna Pictures, Carlotta Schiavon, Eva Murgui – Vayolet Films, SpainReasoning: “The award goes to a project that imaginatively blends history, folklore, and personal narrative – exploring otherness, transformation, and political memory. For its insightful reworking of historical events through myth and fable, we proudly give the MFI SCRIPT 2 FILM WORKSHOP Award to LA FORMA ANIMAL.”
The EAVE THESSALONIKI Award – Marketing Scholarship was bestowed by EAVE project manager Sarah Van Den Hoogen to the film: Gabi Suciu for The Life and Times of Ion G.Reasoning: “We are very happy for AGORA to give the EAVE Marketing Workshop scholarship to a producer that shows very clear motivation to develop her marketing skills and we feel like it is the right moment in her career to participate. She very much embodies the “EAVE spirit” and we are excited to have a Romanian participant at the workshop in 2026.”
AGORA WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARDS The jury of the Agora Works in Progress, composed of Dorian Magagnin – Acquisitions & Festivals Manager at Cercamon (UA), Danae Spathara – producer at Heretic (Greece), Barbara Wurm – Head at Berlinale Forum (Germany), took the floor to bestow the following awards:
119 Marvila Studios Award – Sound mixing servicesThe 119 Marvilla Studio Award was bestowed by sound editor Roland Vajs and the company’s owner Sandra Piers to the film: TONIGHT IS FOREVERDirector: Fernando Souza, Production: Quentin Laurent – Les Films de l’Oeil Sauvage, Co-production: Lucas Senecaut- L’Oeil Vif Films, Mina Moteki-Kowatanda Films, Fernando Souza – Dichosos los Ojos, France, Japan, SpainThe reasoning of the jury: “We felt connected with the emotional layers of this character in his pursuit of love. We were caught by the silence echoing loneliness. We were stunned by the strong cinematic language and the subtle atmosphere that this film conveys. The 119 Marvila Studios Award goes to TONIGHT IS FOREVER directed by Fernando Souza.”
Authorwave Post-Production Award – Creative ServicesThe Authorwave post-production Creative Services award was bestowed by Liza Chrysochou, Authorwave’s Chief Operating Officer, to the film:PROMISED SPACESDirector: Ivan Marković, Production: Jasmina Sijercić-Bocalupo Films, Co-production: Zsofi Lili Kovacs – Fiskultura Films, Jelena Radenković – Big Time Production, Daniel Mattes- Anti-Archive, France, Germany, Serbia, CambodiaThe reasoning of the jury: “We were very impressed by the way this film reflects the social strata of society through a strong visual conception, mis-en-scene and close observation of the urban architecture. The people might share the same frame, but they remain disconnected. The Authorwave Post-production Award goes to PROMISED SPACES directed by Ivan Marković.”
The ERT Agora Works in Progress Award with a cash prize of 2,000 euros is given to a Greek project. The ERT Award of 2,000 was bestowed by Synthia Sapika, General Director of ERT3 and member of the Festival’s Board of Directors, to the film: WAYS TO GET RID OF SOME FREEDOMDirector: Chrisanthos Margonis, Production: Eleni Kossyfidou-Blackbird Productions, Co-production: Marinos Charalambous – Boycott Films, Greece, CyprusThe reasoning of the jury: “The film grabbed us immediately and managed to keep our attention all throughout – by its overwhelming energy, freshness, directness and the riveting performances. The always unpredictable story made us want to join these lovers on their bizarre road trip. The ERT AGORA Works in Progress Award goes to WAYS TO GET RID OF SOME FREEDOM directed by Chrisanthos Margonis.”
AGORA SERIES TALENTS AWARDWithin the framework of the newly established Agora Series Talents, addresses to series’ screenwriters, the Crew United Award was bestowed by Venia Vergou and Iris Assimakopoulou pf of the Crew United to:
Katerina Papanastasiou The reasoning of the jury: “We grant the Award to Katerina Papanastasatou, for the series project Elena, Unhinged that stands out for its sharp humor, strong voice, and its honest take on the struggles of a generation trying to survive and stay true to itself.The winner receives a 5-year Premium membership subscription on Crew United, the leading online networking platform.
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