The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival’s industry section, Agora, announced its winners on Wednesday, with Alexa Bakony’s Highways of Hope receiving the IEFTA Award for Best Documentary in Development, along with a 10,000-euro cash prize.
Produced by Gábor Osváth and Veronika Gál of Filmfabriq in Hungary, Highways of Hope follows Gulnaz, a 21-year-old Muslim woman from India who drives trucks across Europe. The jury praised the film, noting that it, “led by a young female team, promises to challenge Indian stereotypes about Muslim minorities through an energetic story of emancipation.” They were particularly drawn to the main character’s ability to face a grim world with youthful joy and optimism.
A special mention was awarded to Bugboy, directed by Lucas Paleocrassas and produced by Rea Apostolides of Anemon in Greece. The film explores the relationship between a boy and an insect, showcasing nature’s transformative power. The jury described it as, “a unique, joyful, and tender coming-of-age film produced by a very experienced team.”
The awards were part of the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum, with a jury consisting of producer Leonidas Konstantarakos from Alaska Films (Greece), Marianne Ostrat from Alexandra Film (Estonia), and Nora Philippe, head of program at Eurodoc (France).
The ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Award for a Greek project, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize, went to Mama Klorin, directed by Doreida Xhogu and produced by Mina Dreki of Marni Films in Greece. The jury described the film as a, “promising journey into a very underrepresented community of immigrant women working as cleaners in Greece.” They praised the project for being filmed with, “love and dignity by one of their daughters,” aiming to highlight the often invisible labor these women perform.
The Eurodoc Award, which includes a 1,000-euro prize, was presented to Taken by the White Man, directed by Ana Sofia Fonseca and produced by Daniella Rice and Fonseca of Carrossel Produções in Portugal.
The jury commended the film for telling, “a moving and unique story of homecoming and self-repair against the backdrop of Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique and contemporary slavery.”
The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival continues to be a vital platform for emerging documentary filmmakers, with this year’s Agora Awards recognizing a diverse range of projects from around the world.
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