Mentoring Kick off at AGORA in the THESSALONIKI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL
In the context of the Agora Docs co-production market at Thessaloniki Film Festival, we had the pleasure to start the fourth edition of EWA Network's Mentoring scheme for female producers. After almost two years of online interaction, EWA Network was proudly kicking off the 4th edition of the Mentoring Programme on site.
The selected participants of EWA’s mentoring scheme could meet their mentors for the first time in a meeting hosted by the AGORA DOCS co-production market.
The programme runs for 11 months and consists of several physical group meetings in the context of European Film markets, in addition to the monthly conversation with the assigned mentor. Moreover, there will be three additional seminars with experts, follow-up online group meetings and two mid-term gatherings in Cannes and Venice. The purpose of these online sessions is to integrate updated know-how to the actual exchanges between mentors and mentees and to strengthen the capacity of all participants to adapt to new business practices, such as alternative financing models, digital distribution strategies and issues related to green shooting.
This edition has grown from past ones and so has pur pool of mentors
EWA Network mentoring Programme has received the support of:
We welcomed the participants and mentors over a dinner at the picturesque LOLA OUZERI. The lively dinner served as introductory round for most of the participants.
This first meeting started with a two day introductory meeting of mentees and mentors. The meeting included the assessment of the tutor Linda Beath to guide the pairs on the work they are going to face over the year.
Later on, in-depth one-to-one meeting session between mentors and mentees took place. The emerging producers could present their projects and ambitions, taking in constructive career advice from their mentors and building strong professional connections.
The evening was free so that the group may have time to explore the networking possibilities in the market and attend the AWARD ceremony of the co production market, in which a former mentee of EWA's scheme, MINA DREKI, received the award for the Best Greek Project for SUNKEN.
The group met again for an official dinner at The Kitchen Bar, near the festival facilities.
On the following day, the session included a workshop on Cross cultural communication by the expert Bonnie Williams which will help our international group to understand themselves better. The seminar and slides did stir something among the participants and inspired discussions that went on until the evening dinner.
After the coffee break, the group simulated a co-production market in bilateral meetings held in a hybrid set up. The participants got to meet 3 mentors other than theirs so that they could grasp the feeling of setting up international agreements and adapt their production strategy.
In the evening, the group met again for dinner at AKADIMIA restaurant to wrap up this first encounter.
A supportive and friendly atmosphere reigned on the encounter, with promising results for the producer’s development.
The next group meet-up will be online on May 3rd and it will include a seminar on International Film Funds.
After that, hopefully, we will meet up again in Cannes on May 20th.
AGENDA OF THE MEETING
EWA NETWORK MENTORING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
09:45 – 10:40 Introduction by EWA Network and and Linda Beath at Takis Kanellopoulos theater (Warehouse A)
First meeting of the Mentoring group. List of goals and needs, introduction of mentors and mentees
10:45 – 12:15 One-to-one meetings between mentors and mentees @ Old Nursery, 1st floor
12:15 – 13:00 Back to the main room to debrief with Linda
13:00 – 14:00 Agora Lunch @ Salon de Réunion
Afternoon: free time to explore the festival
19:00 – 20:00 Happy hour @ Salon de Réunion
20:30 - 21:00 Agora Docs Awards @ Warehouse C
21:30 Dinner at The KITCHEN BAR
EWA NETWORK MENTORING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
THURSDAY, MARCH 17th
09:30 – 11:30 EWA workshop with Bonnie Williams
The Human side of the international co-productions. Communicating with Impact in Cross Cultural environments.
How to equip filmmakers to make conscious choices and cultivate sustainable healthy
collaborative relationships. How to create (self) awareness; build cultural sensitivity and offer useful, adoptable communication tools:
• Choosing the ‘right’ partner - identifying and aligning common values/goals
• Developing valuable (professional) relationships
• Co-creating a sustainable ‘language of engagement’
11:30 Coffee break
11:45 EWA workshop with Linda Beath. Let's build a coproduction network.
Bilateral 1-2-1 Meetings to get the insights of co producing with another country. The participants got to meet 3 mentors other than theirs so that they can grasp the feeling of setting up international agreements.
13:30 Closing of the session
14h: Lunch Break
14:30 Photoshooting
FREE TIME
20:30 Dinner at AKADIMIA restaurant