About this opportunity
The Thessaloniki Pitching Forum is the industry platform of the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival and its Agora section. Each edition selects between twelve and fourteen original feature length documentary projects, and docuseries of shorter length are also considered, from South Eastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa. The forum exists to move projects forward: you present to a room of commissioning editors, sales agents, festival programmers and funders, and you leave with feedback and contacts.
Projects can be at any stage of development as long as a producer and a director are attached, and the call welcomes both established and emerging directors, provided the director has made at least one short film. What the selectors look for is artistic ambition paired with high visual quality, and a story that is either produced or co produced by a country in the covered regions or carries clear links to them. A project from outside the eligible countries can still apply if the team believes the forum is the right launching platform for it.
Selected teams first take part in an online workshop in early February 2027, then travel to Thessaloniki for the forum from 6 to 11 March 2027, with rehearsals on 7 March, presentations on 8 March, the awards on 10 March and online industry meetings on 12 March. The forum provides five nights of accommodation for the attending representative, and can reimburse part of the travel costs for each project team against receipts. At least one representative has to be present for the whole duration.
The awards attached to the 2027 forum include the ARTE European Talents Development Award, a EUR 10,000 cash prize for a participating project, and the IEFTF Best Doc in Development Award, another EUR 10,000, alongside a EURODOC Award of EUR 1,000 plus membership, the DAE Consultancy Sessions Award, a DOK Leipzig Accelerator place and two Co Pro Market Observer passes with festival accreditations. The open call runs from 18 September 2026 and submissions close on 25 November 2026, with notifications in early January 2027.
What you receive
- A place among twelve to fourteen selected projects at a co production and co financing platform
- A two day development lab with feedback and advice from documentary professionals
- An online workshop in early February 2027 to prepare the pitch
- A live pitch in Thessaloniki on 8 March 2027 in front of commissioning editors, sales agents, funders and festival programmers
- Five nights of accommodation for the attending representative and partial reimbursement of travel costs per project team against receipts
- A route to the ARTE European Talents Development Award of EUR 10,000 and the IEFTF Best Doc in Development Award of EUR 10,000
- A EURODOC Award of EUR 1,000 and membership, the DAE Consultancy Sessions Award, a DOK Leipzig Accelerator place and two Co Pro Market Observer passes with festival accreditations
- Online industry meetings on 12 March 2027 for teams that cannot extend their stay
Who can apply
- Your project is an original feature length documentary, or a docuseries of shorter length, that is at any stage of development
- The project is produced or co produced by a country in South Eastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean or North Africa, or its story carries clear links to these regions
- A producer and a director are both attached to the project
- The director has made at least one short film, whether they are established or emerging
- At least one representative can attend the whole forum in Thessaloniki from 6 to 11 March 2027
- Projects from outside the listed countries are also invited to apply where the team believes the forum is the right launching platform
Who should not apply
- Projects without both a producer and a director attached
- Directors who have not made at least one short film
- Fiction features and films that are not documentary or documentary series work
How to apply
- Read the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum section of the festival website, including the eligible countries and the profile of the projects the selectors are looking for
- Open the 29th Thessaloniki Pitching Forum application form
- Complete the form with your project material, the attached producer and director, the stage of development and the contact details of the team
- Submit before 25 November 2026
- If you are selected, join the online workshop in early February 2027 and confirm the representative who will travel to Thessaloniki for 6 to 11 March 2027
Selection process
- An international selection committee reviews the submissions after the call closes on 25 November 2026
- Between twelve and fourteen projects are chosen, and docuseries are considered within that selection
- Selected teams are notified in early January 2027
- The jury presents its awards on 10 March 2027 at the close of the forum
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- AGORA Docs In Progress 2027, Where Nearly Finished Documentaries From North Africa And The Mediterranean Pitch To Buyers And Compete For A EUR 30,000 Outreach Award
AGORA Docs in Progress is the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival platform for documentaries that are close to completion. Eight to ten feature length films or documentary series from South Eastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa are selected, given a mandatory online preparation workshop, and shown to buyers, co producers, festival programmers and sales agents in Thessaloniki from 6 to 11 March 2027. An EUR 30,000 cash award for audience outreach is on offer. Submissions close on 25 November 2026.
Questions applicants ask
Can a team from North Africa apply?
Yes. Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Palestine are among the eligible production or co production countries, and the forum specifically looks for projects from North Africa alongside South Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
My country is not on the eligible list. Can I still submit?
Yes. The festival states that projects from outside the eligible countries are welcome to apply where the team believes the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum is the right launching platform for the documentary.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Applying through the official forum application form is free.
Does the forum pay for travel?
The forum provides five nights of accommodation for the attending representative, and can reimburse part of the travel expenses per project team on presentation of receipts.
How long is the whole process?
Submissions close on 25 November 2026, results arrive in early January 2027, the preparation workshop runs online in early February 2027, and the forum itself takes place in Thessaloniki from 6 to 11 March 2027 with online industry meetings on 12 March.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
