Thessaloniki 2026 Agora Works in Progress Lineup Includes ‘Swell’
The Thessaloniki 2026 Agora Works in Progress programme has selected 11 films connected to Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Among the projects is Swell, Alexandros Voulgaris’ adaptation of the award-winning novel by Ioanna Karystiani.
Running from November 8–12, 2026, the programme will introduce films in post-production to industry professionals who can help them move toward completion, distribution and festival screenings.
‘Swell’ Adaptation Set for Sneak Preview
Alexandros Voulgaris, also known as The Boy, brings Swell to Agora as an out-of-competition presentation.
Based on Karystiani’s acclaimed book of the same name, the film will receive a sneak preview during the Works in Progress sessions. Its inclusion gives industry attendees an early look at the literary adaptation before its wider release.
What Agora Works in Progress Offers Filmmakers
The programme connects selected projects with sales agents, distributors, producers, streaming platforms and festival programmers.
For films still being completed, these meetings can help secure finishing funds, international representation, festival premieres and production partnerships. The emphasis is on giving projects practical support at a stage when further financing and industry connections can shape their next steps.
Thessaloniki 2026 Agora Works in Progress Jury
Three film professionals will serve on this year’s jury:
- Maria Drandaki, producer and founder of Homemade Films in Greece.
- Wouter Jansen, founder and Head of Sales & Acquisitions at Austria’s Square Eyes.
- Gabriela Trujillo, programmer at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, France.
Their backgrounds span production, international sales and festival programming, reflecting the different routes through which participating films may reach audiences.
Announced Agora Works in Progress Projects
The selection covers a range of national productions and international collaborations. The supplied announcement names the following projects.
1970
Director: Darko Lungulov
Producer: Snezana van Houwelingen, This and That Productions
Countries: Serbia, Luxembourg, Hungary and Croatia
Avanos
Director: Panagiotis Charamis
Producer: Alexis Tsoukalas, Pan Entertainment
Country: Greece
The Crossroad
Director: Mari Gulbiani
Producer: Kate Kalandarishvili, MIDIFILM
Country: Georgia
How the Light Gets In
Director: Diego Llorente
Producer: Lara Lobo, Failo Cine
Co-producers: Virginia Bogliolo, tarkiofilm; Rubén González, Báltico Media
Countries: Spain and Uruguay
The Law of the Flies
Director: Tunahan Kurt
Producer: Zeynep Ekmekci, FARO
Country: Türkiye
The Longest Night
Director: Ismet Sijarina
Producers: Leonora Lushtaku and Ismet Sijarina, Thumbs Up
Co-producers: Dejan Iliev, DMF doo Production; Florenc Papas, Tunnelfilm
Countries: Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia
The project has support from the Kosovo Cinematography Center, the Albanian National Cinematography Center and the North Macedonia Film Agency. It was also developed with support from eQuinoxe Europe.
Mignon
Director: Sofia Georgovassili
Producers: Antigone Rota and Stelios Cotionis, Foss Productions
Co-producer: Irina Malcea-Candea, Luna Film
Countries: Greece and Romania
Río Masacre
Director: Sylvie Weber
Production: Anouk Shad-Ripe GmbH
Co-producer: Lukas Rinner, Nabis Filmgroup
Country: Austria
Swell — Out of Competition
Director: Alexandros Voulgaris
Based on: The novel Swell by Ioanna Karystiani
Presentation: Sneak preview at the Agora Works in Progress sessions
Previous Agora Projects Reached International Festivals
Earlier participants illustrate the programme’s role in connecting developing films with the international festival circuit.
Tonia Mishiali’s The Lion at My Back screened in the Crystal Globe Competition at the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it received the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury.
Ivan Marković’s Promised Spaces appeared in the 2026 ACID Cannes selection, while Thanasis Neofotistos’ The Boy With the Light-Blue Eyes screened at SXSW London 2026.
With its November sessions, Thessaloniki 2026 Agora Works in Progress will offer another group of filmmakers the opportunity to build relationships and find support for bringing their projects to audiences.