01/06/2022 - The new initiative aims to make Evia a hub for the exchange of ideas and for market activities, with a special focus on green cinema and sustainability

The works in progress set to be presented in the Evia Film Project’s Agora

New projects in progress and in development from all over the world will be presented in the Agora of the Evia Film Project, a brand-new initiative by the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Greek and international filmmakers will participate in the marketplace, set to take place from 15-19 June in North Evia. The event aims to become a hub for green cinema and an efficient platform for connecting audiovisual professionals from around the world.

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The participants will engage in open discussions about producing films in a climate-neutral and sustainable way. The projects set to be presented in the Evia Film Project Agora will be aiming to secure co-production and funding.

The jurors will be Rea Apostolides (producer at Greece’s Anemon Production), Caroline Libresco (curator, producer, programme director and story consultant for Gabbert/Libresco Projects) and Edvinas Puksta (Lithuanian programmer for the Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival).

On Thursday 16 June, Evia will host an open discussion at the Melas building in Limni, dedicated to green film production and titled “Don’t Be Afraid of the Green Deal: Simple Tips and Smart Actions”. In it, top film-industry professionals will explore their journey working on green film productions while following sustainability guidelines. The talk will be moderated by Ieva Ūbele, creative producer and head of Industry Programme at IDFF Beldocs.

The guest speakers are Alberto Battocchi (film commissioner at the Trentino Film Commission), Nina Hauser (green commissioner and green film consultant working for the Austrian Film Institute and the Eurimages Study Group on Green Filming), Titus Kreyenberg (producer at Germany’s unafilm), Dietlind Centa Rott (CEO, film commissioner and green film consultant for Austria’s LAFC Evergreen Prisma) and Myriam Sassine (producer at Lebanon’s Abbout Productions).

In detail, six projects in development will be presented for the first time. These will be vying for a cash award of €4,000, for the Pitch the Doc Consultation Award and for the MIDPOINT Institute Consultation Award. Meanwhile, five films in progress will lock horns for two awards: the Evia Film Project in Progress Image and Sound Award (granted by 119 Marvila Studios), consisting of free post-production services; and the Evia Film Project in Progress Award, accompanied by a €6,000 cash prize.

The selected projects are as follows:

Projects in development

Falling Into Silence
Director/scriptwriter: György Mór Kárpáti
Producers: Eszter Kozma, Viktória Petrányi – Proton Cinema (Hungary)

Mankind’s Folly
Director: Yorgos Avgeropoulos
Producer: Anastasia Skoubri – Small Planet (Greece)

Resonance
Director/scriptwriter: Yordan Petkov
Producers: Vanya Rainova, Victoria Mitreva – Portokal and Garti Films (Bulgaria)

Sea of Glass
Director/scriptwriter: Alexis Alexiou
Producer: Iraklis Mavroeidis – Blacktree Productions (Greece)

Sunken
Director: Dimitris Gkotsis
Producer: Mina Dreki – Marni Films (Greece)

Unwritten Land
Director: Natasha Blatsiou
Producer: Kadriann Kibus – Rebel Frame (Estonia)
Co-producer: Natasha Blatsiou (Greece)

Projects in progress

Harvest Moon
Director: Rama Ayasra
Producers: Mariam Salim, Asmahan Brekat – New Productions (Jordan)

Sí Po'
Directors: Madlen Anipsitaki, Simon Riedler
Producer: Simon Riedler – Collectif MASI (France)

This Community Exists
Director: Eliana Otta
Producer: Eliana Otta – Tinana (Peru)

Tirrenica
Director: Rosario Minervini
Producer: Claudio Esposito, Fabio Paolucci – The Piranesi Experience (Italy)

Garden
Director: Bojan Tanturovski
Producer: Ilija Tiricovski – OXO Production (North Macedonia)