Thessaloniki International Film Festival

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52nd TIFF: Crossroads opening (11/9/2011)

CROSSROADS OPENING

The launch of the 7th Crossroads Co-Production Forum, which is part of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s Agora / Market section, took place on Wednesday, November 9, at the Electra Palace hotel.

“This is an important day for both you and the Festival”, said TIFF director Dimitris Eipides in his short welcoming speech, addressing the Forum’s participants. The Festival gives great emphasis to the Agora section. Agora’s successful course preludes the bright prospects of independent filmmaking and of TIFF itself. This year’s Crossroads features 17 script projects; the growing number of entries each year is a promising sign. We are looking forward to watching your films and screening them here at the Festival; because the Festival belongs to you”, added Mr. Eipides.

The head of Crossroads, Marie-Pierre Macia, presented the members of the team of the Agora section and wished participants that they find their own place in the world of cinema. This year’s Crossroads features 17 film projects, selected on the basis of their script quality, their production team and their potential to develop into feature films. The projects are either productions or co-productions by a Central European and a Southeast European or Mediterranean country or entail script elements connected to the aforementioned regions. The projects selected come from the following countries: Algeria, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Jordan, Italy, Israel, Croatia, Lebanon, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey

The producers and directors participating have the opportunity to present and discuss their projects in formal and informal meetings with other producers, distributors, sales agents and specialists from top production companies. This year’s Agora section and the Crossroads Co-Production Forum in particular support the production of feature films connected to Central and Southeast Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. They also allow participants to come to contact with potential partners and funding sources and facilitate the completion of their films. They are part of the “Thessaloniki – A Crossroads of Civilizations” program.

This year’s Crossroads has the additional feature of the “Crossroads up ‘N’ Coming” section. It involves 3 non-competitive Greek entries: Heatwave, directed by Greek-Lebanese Joyce A. Nashawatti and produced by Alexandra Bousiou (Wrong Men), Kalashnikov, directed by Constantine Giannaris and produced by Dionysis Samiotis (Filminmind) and Chess Games, directed by Olga Malea and produced by Irene Souganidou (Feelgood Entertainment).

Crossroads is supported by the MEDIA European program and also collaborates with:
• The Greek post-production company 2|35 Inc, which will present the co-production award (visual and audio) to the winning project.
• The CNC (Centre National du Cinema et de l’ image animee), providing 7,000 euro for the development of the project.
• The Producer’s Network of the Cannes Film Festival, which will grant an accreditation to the winning producer to participate in the upcoming Producer’s Network 2012.
• The Sofia Meetings section of the Sofia Film Festival, which will select one project to be presented in next year’s edition, in March 2012.
• The Mediterranean Film Institute Script 2 Film Workshops, which is awarding a scholarship for script development of one cinema project.
• The French consulting firm Initiative Film, which will provide its expertise to one cinema project.
• The Festival Scope internet platform, which is addressed to cinema industry professionals.

Crossroads (8-12 November 2011) is part of the Agora / Market, which is the developmental section of TIFF, bringing together an international network of professionals and providing the space and the conditions for meetings, discussions and professional agreements in an informal, warm and professional environment.

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