Festival

Thessaloniki Pitching Forum: March 10-14, 2024

 

Thessaloniki Pitching Forum is the co-producing and co-financing platform of the TiDF for creative and TV documentaries, documentaries for children and new media documentaries (virtual and enhanced reality). The participants will have the opportunity to discuss their projects, to receive feedback and advice during a two-day lab and prepare for pitching with the help of documentary professionals. Then, they pitch their projects to a panel of industry professionals and have one-on-one meetings with financiers, international decision makers and representatives of the international audiovisual sector.

 

Which countries are eligible to apply?

Countries eligible to participate (as major production country or as a co-production country) are: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo*, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

 

What are we looking for?

  • 14 original feature-length documentary projects from Southeastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa that combine artistic ambition and high visual quality. Amongst those 14 projects, new media and docuseries projects can be of shorter length.
  • Projects by established as well as emerging directors, who should have directed at least one short film.
  • Projects that are either produced or co-produced by a country within these regions or contain elements in the story that link them to these regions.
  • Projects that have a producer and a director attached and could be at all stages of development.
  • Do you have a documentary that is not from the eligible countries but you think Thessaloniki is a good launching platform for you? You are welcome to apply. The selection committee will evaluate all submitted projects.

 

What is the application process?

All submissions must be received by January 5th, 2024.

The application must include:

  • Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Online Application Form:

Applicants should submit the online application form (in English) in order for the project to be considered for selection. Please make sure to complete the form thoroughly. Once you have completed the online form you cannot make changes. Elements from the application form will be used for catalogue information should your project be selected.

  • ONE singular PDF file in English including the following:
  1. Synopsis (1/2 page).
  2. Reflections on the narrative construction and the visual concept (up to 1 page).
  3. Total budget sum.
  4. Financing Plan in Euro (Please indicate text, amount in EURO, % and status: confirmed, pending, in progress, to be applied, to be found).
  5. Visual material either in form of a pitch pilot, selected scenes or trailer (this can be provided via password protected web link).
  6. Production details including length, time of delivery, contact info, etc.

 

Selection Criteria:

Our main focus in the selection procedure will be on projects that present a high possibility of being realized, combining this quality with artistic elements as well as its financial feasibility.

Projects should have an international audience appeal. The projects will be evaluated by an international selection committee.

 

What happens if my project is selected?

  • Once a project has been selected, both director and producer are expected to be present during a two-day online preparation and project enhancement workshop taking place in early February.
  • Project holders also agree that one or two representatives will attend the entire duration of the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum -if possible, otherwise you will be participating online- (arrival March 10th , departure March 14th / The Agora Awards ceremony takes place on March 13th, 2024) should the circumstances allow it.
  • The Thessaloniki Pitching Forum offers accommodation for 4 nights (if both director and producer attend we can cover one double room) and can reimburse part of the travel expenses per project team (receipts are required).
  • Finished documentary projects sprung from the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum must display its logo in their credits. Preferably, the following sentence should be mentioned in the credit list: "[film title] has been presented at the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum of the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival". The logo will be sent to the filmmakers upon selection of the project.

 

Key Dates:

  • Open Call: November 20, 2023
  • Submission Deadline: January 5, 2024
  • Notification Date: Late January
  • Online Workshop: Early February
  • Thessaloniki Pitching Forum (in Thessaloniki): March 10-14, 2024
  • Online Meetings: March 15, 2024

 

Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Awards:

Jury Awards:

  • IEFTA Best Doc in Development Award 10.000 to a project in development at the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum.
  • ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award (2,000 euro) to a Greek project.
  • EURODOC Award (1.000 euro) and a EURODOC membership.
  • DAE Consultancy Sessions Award
  • DOK Leipzig Accelerator Award 2 Co-Pro Market Observer Passes and two festival accreditations (Co-Pro Market Observer entails participation in the Open Programme).
  • Aylon Productions Digital Services Award - Digital transfer of archival material up to 1 hour (2K).
  • Beldocs Award (Accommodation and Accreditation for the next International Documentary Festival Beldocs in May 2024).

 

Independent Awards:

  • Onassis Film Award 5.000 euro to a Greek project participating in the Agora (Thessaloniki Pitching Forum or Agora Docs in Progress).
  • Mediterranean Film Institute Award (MFI Script2Film Workshop), which offers a DocLab scholarship worth 2,000 euro to an international project. (June – December 2024).
  • Sunny Side of the Doc - 2 accreditations and 500 euro towards travel expenses.

 

 

> TIDF26 Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Applications - Applications are closed.
Submission Deadline: January 5th, 2024

 

 For inquiries please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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