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Canada-France Series Lab – Phase 1

Lille, France, March 21 to 23, 2023

Call for Entries

The Canada-France Series Lab is a year-long initiative starting at Series Mania Forum 2023 and ending at the 2024 event.  A selection of up to 15 producers with a series project per country will be invited to participate in the activities organized as part of Series Mania Forum 2023 to meet their French/Canadian counterparts and form pairs (phase 1). Four to five projects presented by these pairs will be selected by a jury of experts and invited to participate in a series of professional workshops, held in person at the BANFF World Media Festival in June 2023 and online from September 2023 to March 2024 (phase 2). The program will end at the 2024 edition of the Series Mania Forum with the projects’ presentation to potential international financiers (phase 3).

The present call solely applies to the phase 1 of the initiative which will take place during Series Mania Forum from March, 21st to 23rd, 2023 in Lille, Grand Palais.

Up to 15 producers with a series project per country will be selected to take part into the phase 1 of the Canada-France Series Lab which will take place during Series Mania Forum in March 2023 in order to find their French or Canadian coproduction partner. The goal of those meetings is to form pairs of French and Canadian coproducers so they apply together with a coproduction series project to the call for entries for phase 2 and 3 of the initiative which will open on April 17th, 2023.

The project must be submitted in accordance with the rules below, and within the specified dates. The registration for the presentation of a project implies the unconditional acceptance of the present regulations and, in case of selection of the project, the commitment of the presence of a representation at the event from March 21-23, 2023.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

  • be a Canadian controlled corporation, as determined under sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act, or an audiovisual production company incorporated in France. Applications from individuals, such as writers, will not be accepted.
  • for the Canadian companies, be represented during the initiative by a producer that is a Canadian citizen within the definition of the Citizenship Act or a permanent resident within the definition of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
  • planning to attend the Series Mania Forum and be available to participate in the Series Lab activities from March 21 to 23, 2023. The Canada France Series Lab will cover neither travel costs nor accreditation fees. Canadian and French producers can reach out to their provincial/regional or professional organizations to apply for funding.
  • Commit to be potentially available for the Canada France Series Lab phase 2 and 3 which includes attending in person the BANFF World Media Festival from June 11 to 14, 2023 and Series Mania Forum in March 2024.

To be eligible as a producer with a series project, an applicant must also:

  • Submit a project that meets all of the following criteria:
    • Category: audiovisual series (original creations or adaptations). Adaptation of previous TV shows will not be considered. Season 2 of existing series will not be considered.
    • Length: minimum 26 minutes per episode, 3 episodes minimum.
    • Genre: live action series only
    • Language: series shot in French, English, bilingual or multilingual (if these include at least English or French).
    • Clear and complete chain of rights
    • Projects without a development agreement with a broadcaster (until selection notice and/or program completion).
  • Hold the artistic and financing control to the project submitted, as well as all of the copyright and options need to its future development and exploitation.

To be eligible as a producer interested in coproducing, an applicant must:

  • explain its motivation to coproduce with a French or Canadian partner
  • be available to attend and fund its attendance to the 2023 Series Mania Forum.
PROJECT REGISTRATION

Projects submission must respond to the selection criteria and the application must include the document specified below.

Submission of projects is free.

To qualify for submission, applicants must fill out the form available on our website: https://seriesmania.com/en/. No submission by email, post, or any other means will be accepted.

The following documents are required for any project submissions, and must be supplied before the closing date :

1) A pre-bible of 10 to 15 pages maximum. This document should include:

  • A short authors note ;
  • A concept presentation of the series outlining its main characteristics (setting, subject matter, genre, artistic direction, etc.);
  • Main characters descriptions ;
  • Series synopsis, main story arcs;
  • If the project is based on a preexisting work, a note that will help evaluate the adaptation work done from the original work;
  • If available: episode script(s).
  • 2) A development budget of the series based on the needs identified during the pre-development phase;
  • 3) A financing plan of the development stage of the series;
  • 4) A description of the work completed and to be completed during the development stage outlining:
    • Creative, technical, and economic stakes involved in the series development;
    • Development needs aligned with the expenses listed in the budget;
    • Details on the financial partners considered or already approached and on the distribution prospects of the series;
    • A note detailing the motivations to coproduce the series artistically and financially and the relevance of making it a Canada-France coproduction specifically.
  • 5) All rights documentation (writer’s and director’s signed agreements, option/ purchase signed agreements) 
  • 6) In case of an adaptation, an option signed agreement with the rights holders of the original work (publisher, author…) releasing the adaptation rights;
  • 7) Resumes of the creative team (authors and producers) ;
  • 8) Only the documents submitted in French or English will be accepted. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The closing date for submissions is Monday, January 23rd, 2023 until midnight (CET).

The official selection will be announced by email to candidates beginning of February 2023.

Promotion and Communications
Telefilm Canada, Montreal
festivals@telefilm.ca
1 800 567-0890