Amidst a festive and heartfelt ambiance, the Agora of the 66th Thessaloniki Film Festival bestowed its awards at a special event held on Wednesday, November 5th, at Warehouse C.
Agora Manager Thanos Stavropoulos was the first to take the floor: “Hello and welcome to a special night. Tonight we will present to you the much awaited Agora Awards. It’s been a very productive 6 days full of meetings, screenings, and hopefully new collaborations. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Thessaloniki and that you go back home happy with your experience. We are sure we will watch your wonderful films in the dark room of a theater and / or on a big or smaller screen in the comfort of our own house.”
The baton was then passed on to Angeliki Vergou, Head of the Agora: “We wish success on all levels and we wish to see you back here in Thessaloniki with your finished films. 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.” At that point, Angeliki Vergou called the Festival’s Artistic Director, Orestis Andreadakis, and the Festival’s General Director, Elise Jalladeau, to address a brief greeting.
“This year’s festival pays tribute to the plot twist — that pivotal moment of surprise in storytelling that turns vision into truth and breaks the silence. Because cinema, after all, is an act of courage against silence. In times when voices are censored and truths are contested, storytelling becomes a form of resistance. Tonight, we celebrate those who dare to craft the next great surprise in the ongoing story of cinema,” said Orestis Andreadakis, before giving the floor to Elise Jalladeau.
“We thank all of you for your participation in Agora and for cooking together the films of tomorrow — to keep with the cooking metaphor dear to our ambassador this year, the well-known chef Sotiris Kontizas. And since we are talking about tomorrow in our world, which is at best in crisis — political, economic, environmental — and at worst engulfed in bloodbaths and massacres we call war. Culture is not spared from the crisis. We are witnessing reductions and severe cuts in cultural budgets all over Europe, and it is feared this trend will continue… Fragility! Fragility is one of the themes of this year’s festival, and we are more than aware of it, here. But this fragility is not fate, and we believe in the power of collaborations and coproductions to invent together new ways of making cinema. Thank you for contributing to it with commitment and passion,” added the Festival’s General Director.
Right before the bestowal of the awards, Angeliki Vergou and Thanos Stavropoulos returned on stage: “We would like to thank all the participants that trusted us with their projects and all the industry professionals that chose Thessaloniki to discover new talents. We hope you had great meetings and that you leave from here full of joy, having gained constructive feedback and possibly new partnerships. Before we kick this off a few thank yous are in order. First of all our sponsors, whether it is financing the event or supporting us with awards, we thank you! Every support is very valuable to us. Also our partners with whom we co-curate Talks and exchange ideas and practices. Most importantly, we would like to thank the AGORA Team for their energy and professionalism. Our Production and Audiovisual teams and most of all the Volunteers! BIG applause! In addition, I want to mention that AGORA is a collective effort and we would like to thank our Festival colleagues from the Administration, the Program Departments Greek and International, the Guest Department, the IT Department, the Communication Department and the Green Team.”
CROSSROADS CO-PRODUCTION FORUM AWARDS
The 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 TREMBLING
Director: Stefan Djordjević, Production: Dragana Jovović - Non-Aligned Films, Serbia
The 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 HANGS
Director: Víctor Diago, Production: Andrés Mellinas - Boogaloo, Spain in collaboration with the Mediterranean Film Institute
The 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 Meetings
The 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, France
The 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 NOW
Director: Kasım Ördek, Production: Fahriye Ismayilova - Parda Film Production, Co-production: Jules Grange - Kidam Production, Turkey, France
The 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 DREAM
Director: Erenik Beqiri, Production: Dritan Huqi - On Film Production, Albania
The 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 AWARD
The 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 VOICE
Director: Yiannis Veslemes, Production: Nicholas Alavanos - FILMIKI, Greece
The 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 Foundation
Vasso Vasilatou, Theatrοlogist
Elizampetta Ilia Georgiadou, Screenwriter
Vasilis Panayiotakopoulos, Producer
Christos 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 ZEUS
Director: Nikos Dayandas, Production: Konstantinos Κoukoulis - ΠLANKTON, Greece
Reasoning: “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 BEIRUT
Director: Katia Jarjoura, Production: Michel Zana - Blue Train Films, Co-production: Elisa Pirir - Staer Film, Jana Wehbe - The Attic, France, Norway, Lebanon
Reasoning: “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 ANIMAL
Director: Isa Luengo, Sofia Esteve, Production: Laura Rubirola – Nocturna Pictures, Carlotta Schiavon, Eva Murgui – Vayolet Films, Spain
Reasoning: “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 services
The 119 Marvilla Studio Award was bestowed by sound editor Roland Vajs and the company’s owner Sandra Piers to the film:
TONIGHT IS FOREVER
Director: 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, Spain
The 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 Services
The Authorwave post-production Creative Services award was bestowed by Liza Chrysochou, Authorwave’s Chief Operating Officer, to the film:
PROMISED SPACES
Director: 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, Cambodia
The 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 FREEDOM
Director: Chrisanthos Margonis, Production: Eleni Kossyfidou-Blackbird Productions, Co-production: Marinos Charalambous - Boycott Films, Greece, Cyprus
The 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 AWARD
Within 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.
