Thessaloniki Pitching Forum 2027: Documentary Projects Apply by November 25
The Thessaloniki Pitching Forum is accepting creative documentary and documentary-series projects for its 2027 AGORA industry programme. Submissions close on November 25, 2026. The forum is designed for projects still being developed, with a producer and director attached; it is not the festival's completed-film competition. The forum is particularly interested in work with creative, production or geographical ties to Southeast Europe, the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa. Applicants based elsewhere must read the conditions governing exceptional consideration.
Development-stage projects and regional fit
Around 12–14 projects are expected to be selected for pitching and one-to-one professional meetings. Eligible formats include feature-length creative documentaries, TV documentaries and documentary series that would benefit from international co-production, distribution or financing. The director should have previously directed at least one short film, and the project must identify a director and producer. A speculative idea lacking a producer or team is unlikely to meet the application requirements.
Submission package and visual material
Use the organisers' English-language online application form. Prepare a concise synopsis, director's statement, visual approach, production and financing plans with a budget stated in euros, and an accessible viewing link for a teaser, pilot or other available visual material. The official call specifies short page or word limits for the individual materials; meeting those is part of a professional submission. Avoid submitting confidential financial documents to unauthorised third-party portals.
What selected teams receive
Selected directors and producers participate in preparatory activities before the March 2027 market and in the Thessaloniki AGORA programme, scheduled within March 6–11, 2027. The programme announces approximately five hotel nights for participating teams and partial reimbursement of travel costs under its rules. It also provides access to industry representatives and competition for project prizes, including some cash or post-production awards. Cash awards, such as a published €10,000 industry prize, are competitively allocated and not guaranteed to every project.
Separate from the Docs in Progress call
The same Thessaloniki Documentary Festival runs an 'AGORA Docs in Progress' section, but that programme is for documentary films at a later production stage with substantial footage already edited or assembled. Applicants should choose the Pitching Forum for an early-stage work seeking finance and co-producers rather than submit a work-in-progress rough cut to the wrong programme. The two calls have different deliverables even where their closing dates coincide.
Who runs the call?
The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival is a longstanding Greek documentary-film event whose AGORA market hosts industry workshops and co-production meetings. The official festival site describes the forum, organisers, eligibility list, dates and application entry point. Consult the full call for required file formats and any regional exceptions before November 25. Verified October 25, 2026.
Official application / Offizieller Aufruf / Bando ufficiale
Organiser's original rules and application: https://filmfestival.gr/en/tidf/tidf-agora/thessaloniki-pitching-forum/