Agora, the business part of the Thessaloniki Documentary Pageant, introduced its awards Wednesday, with Alexa Bakony’s “Highways of Hope” taking the IEFTA Award for Finest Documentary in Growth, accompanied by a ten,000 euro money prize.
The movie, produced by Gábor Osváth and Veronika Gál of Filmfabriq in Hungary, facilities on Gulnaz, a 21-year-old Muslim girl from India, who drives vehicles throughout Europe. The jury mentioned: “This mission led by a younger feminine crew guarantees to cross European borders and break Indian stereotypes about Muslim minorities by way of an lively story of emancipation. We had been captivated by the primary character dealing with a darkening world with youthful joyfulness and optimism.”
A particular point out was given by the jury to “Bugboy,” directed by Lucas Paleocrassas, and produced by Rea Apostolides of Anemon in Greece. The mission is in regards to the relationship between a boy and an insect, which reveals the transformative energy of nature. The jury mentioned it was “a singular, joyful and tender coming-of-age movie produced by a really skilled crew.”
The awards had been a part of the Thessaloniki Pitching Discussion board part, whose jury consisted of producer Leonidas Konstantarakos of Alaska Movies in Greece, producer Marianne Ostrat of Alexandra Movie in Estonia, and Nora Philippe, head of program at Eurodoc in France.
The ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Discussion board Award for a Greek mission, accompanied by a money prize of two,000 euros, was given to “Mama Klorin,” directed by Doreida Xhogu, and produced by Mina Dreki of Marni Movies in Greece.
The jury mentioned: “ ‘Mama Klorin’ is a promising journey into a really under-represented neighborhood of immigrant ladies working as cleaners in Greece. Filmed with love and dignity by certainly one of their daughters, this multilayered mission strives to make the invisible work seen.”
The Eurodoc Award of 1,000 euros went to “Taken by the White Man,” directed by Ana Sofia Fonseca, and produced by Daniella Rice and Ana Sofia Fonseca of Carrossel Produções in Portugal.
The jury mentioned: “ ‘Taken by the White Man’ tells a transferring and distinctive story of homecoming, investigative and intimate reappropriation of 1’s self and reparation, towards the backdrop of the horrors of Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique and up to date slavery.”
The Documentary Assn. of Europe Award went to 2 initiatives: “The Final Summer time,” directed by Jan Jurczak and Eleanora Iadkouskaya, and produced by Frieder Schlaich of Filmgalerie 451 in Germany; and “Life on Pause,” directed by Anthoniy Hristov, and produced by Svetla Turnin at Documentary Media Basis in Bulgaria.
“The Final Summer time” follows 17-year-old Sergei Sorokopud, who navigates battle, household conflicts and friendship close to the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The jury mentioned: “Loaded with uncooked and explosive vitality, ‘The Final Summer time’ is a really intimate and transferring have a look at what it’s wish to undergo adolescence in instances of battle.”
“Life on Pause” follows the intertwined tales of three vibrant transgender youth preventing for acceptance and equal rights in Bulgaria. The jury mentioned: “ ‘Life on Pause’ is a brave mission that sheds gentle on a Bulgarian trans rights authorized battle which resonates strongly on the European and international scenes, and which is deeply and rightfully grounded in the neighborhood it represents.”
The Aylon Productions Digital Companies Award was bestowed on “My Aunties,” directed by Hazal Hanquet, and produced by Aslihan Altuğ and Anna Maria Aslanoğlu of Istos Movie in Turkey. It tells Aslı and Ayşın’s 40-year story of affection and friendship because it unfolds by way of the eyes of their niece, Hazal, in a rustic that tries to cover them. The jury mentioned it was “an intergenerational story informed by way of treasured archives that doc a brave queer love story that transcends time, whereas exploring household dynamics and various fashions of affection and kinship in up to date Turkey.”
A sequence of unbiased awards had been additionally handed out.
The Onassis Movie Award, with a 5,000 euros prize, went to “Bugboy.” The jury mentioned the movie was “a unique coming-of-age story, with a contemporary perspective within the intimacy of its filming.” It was “about being totally different and rising up, about all issues insignificant that grow to be necessary, in regards to the small, invisible world that we frequently ignore.”
The Mediterranean Movie Institute Doc Award was bestowed on “Oh, Coronary heart Don’t Be Afraid,” directed by Ana Kvichidze, and produced by Avtandil Khorava of Moonbow Manufacturing. The jury mentioned the award acknowledged the movie’s “distinctive storyline, distinctive characters, profound social relevance, and poetic filmic method.”
The DOK Leipzig Accelerator Award went to “My Aunties.” “The mission introduces us to 2 free-spirited, wild and courageous ladies from Istanbul: the ‘aunties’ of the director who brings the story of their 40-year queer relationship to us,” the jury mentioned.
The worldwide jury of Agora Docs in Progress was composed of Anna Glogowski, a marketing consultant and pageant programmer from France, Marcella Jelić, a gross sales and acquisitions exec from Cut up Display in Croatia, and Basil Tsiokos, senior programmer at Sundance Movie Pageant within the U.S.
Amongst its awards had been the Two Thirty-5 Award, which went to “Magma,” directed by Mia Bendrimia, and produced by Kira Simon-Kennedy of Nazar Movies in France. The award was given for the movie’s “deft potential to efficiently rework one household’s unstated historical past and unresolved transgenerational trauma into a fascinating investigation into contested narratives that reveal each the tales we inform ourselves and people we intentionally refuse to have interaction with, on each a private and a nationwide degree.”
“Magma”
Courtesy of Nazar Movies
The Hellenic Movie and Audiovisual Heart – Artistic Greece Award, accompanied with 3,000 euros, went to “Residence Courtroom,” directed by Elpida Nikou and Rodrigo Hernandez, and produced by Yuri Averof and Rea Apostolides of Anemon Productions.
The jury mentioned the award was “for crafting a heat, vibrant, and uplifting portrait of friendship and the promise of desires – and for posing under-explored and finally universally resonant questions of identification and belonging for second-generation migrants.”
The Neaniko Plano Subtitling Award went to “Tower, Solar and the Seven of Wands,” directed by Tanya Vikhreva, written by Aleksander Rodionov, and produced by Maria Gavrilova of Marx Movie in Georgia.
The award was for “bringing an sudden, unorthodox, and infrequently disarmingly humorous angle on the continuing battle in Ukraine, one targeted on the divergent views of the residents of occupied Crimea, exploring the eye-opening influences of superstition on one hand and Russian propaganda on the opposite.”
The AGORA XR LAB awards included the Beldocs XR Academy award, which went to “/Think about Farewell Station,” directed by Aristotelis Maragkos, and produced by Konstantinos Koukoulis of Πlankton Movies.
The movie chosen to take part to the NewImages XR Market was “Bitxo,” directed by Lau Maquedano, and produced by Alberto López Garrido of Lamola Studios, Valet Siv Manrique of Piragna Animación and Lau Maquedano.
As a part of the Agora Enhance part, the Crew United Prize was bestowed on “The Groundskeeper,” directed by Io Chaviara and Michalis Kastanidis, and produced by Alexis Anastasiadis.
The jury mentioned: “Deindustrialization, reminiscence – collective and particular person, and the position that house performs in it, but in addition the popularity by somebody of the position his/her work performs within the manufacturing of mass destruction (reminding us right here of Harun Farocki’s work) are a few of the themes that ‘The Groundskeeper’ will invite us to take a look at.”
The Steering Award was bestowed on “Magic Whistle,” directed by Avraam Goutzeloudis and Alexandros Katsis, and produced by Photini Economopoulou of OhMyDog Productions in Greece.
