Canada Celebrates the Power and Beauty of Diversity at MIP
Toronto/Montréal, October 10, 2019 – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Telefilm Canada are teaming up once again to feature a series of events at MIPJunior and MIPCOM, taking place in Cannes from October 12 to 17. The two funding organizations are bringing together a group of Canadian producers to showcase four screen-based projects which portray diversity in many forms.
“Canada’s creators and storytellers are gifted with a wealth of talent and diversity of perspectives that are as vast as our country,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “Through the use of storytelling techniques that bridge differences and transcend barriers, the four projects we’re featuring at MIPJunior are excellent examples of Canadian content that helps open the hearts and minds of children around the world. We’re celebrating the power and beauty of diversity, but we also aim to harness the full potential that it brings. Thanks to our rich cultural diversity, Canada continues leading in the production of educational and compelling kids’ content that reaches audiences around the world.”
“Together with the CMF, we’ve brought together an exceptional lineup of Canadian creators, content producers, and distributors for this year’s MIPCOM,” said Christa Dickenson, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “Our companies and participants showcase the range and calibre of our country’s audiovisual industry, and we can’t wait to introduce them to our international partners and cultivate new business relationships.”
Canada’s Diversity at MIPJunior
In a session entitled “Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Diversity,” Shabnam Rezaei, President & Co-Founder of Big Bad Boo Studios will speak about the star-studded Bravest Knight, a 13-episode animated series that features a LGBTQ main character: a pumpkin farmer married to a prince, who teaches his daughter all about bravery. RuPaul, Christine Baranski, Wanda Sykes, and many others lend their voices to the Bravest Knight’s endearing characters.
Judith Beauregard, Executive Producer and Co-CEO of Tobo will present Dounia, a six-episode animated series that explores the crisis of immigration and displaced children from the eyes of a young girl named Dounia, who leaves Syria with her grandparents on a quest for asylum.
Jerry Thevenet, Writer, Director, Producer at JerryCo Animation will speak about Dreamcatchers. This Indigenous, 26-episode, animated series tells the tales of “a group of Indigenous kids who use their ancestral super powers to battle evil in the form of a large corporation threatening their traditional way of life.” The “eco-adventure” series features Indigenous kids and voiceover artists, Shawn Youngchief, Paula Davis, and Anne Marchand. The series will be available in English, French, and Mi’kmaw.
Colin Van Loon, Director of Coyote Science Inc. will showcase Coyote’s Crazy Smart Science Show, a 13-episode series that uses both live action and animation. Loretta Todd is the series’ creator, producer, writer, and director. Gearing up for its third season, and with an interactive digital experience, this science series encourages Indigenous youth to find out about the science of the world from an Indigenous perspective, and features Indigenous youth, Elders, and scientists. The series is available in English and Hul’qumi’num.
The Canada Pavilion at MIPCOM
In addition to the MIPJunior showcase, Telefilm Canada, in partnership with the Canada Media Fund (CMF), will host some 80 Canadian companies at MIPCOM. Other initiatives include a series of networking events, such as a matchmaking session between French and Canadian women producers, organized in collaboration with Médiaclub’Elles. This activity is supported by the Global Affairs Canada Business Women in International Trade Program.
To highlight Canada’s coproduction treaty with Argentina and in light of the CMF’s recent international incentive with this South American country, Canada will host a special networking activity for Argentinian and Canadian participants at MIPCOM.
An additional business development and networking activity will be hosted in collaboration with Creative Europe, with a focus on treaty partners Luxembourg and Belgium, whose treaty now includes television. Telefilm and the Canada Media Fund will be on hand to facilitate business between producers.
More information on the companies present at MIPCOM and MIPJunior, as well as the Canadian programming, can be found online at rdvcanada.ca.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors. Please visit cmf-fmc.ca.
About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund accepts private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
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Media enquiries:
André Ferreira
Communications Manager
Canada Media Fund
(416) 554-2768
aferreira@cmf-fmc.ca
Claire Strunck
Advisor, Public Relations – French Market
Telefilm Canada
438-469-1299
claire.strunck@telefilm.ca
Brian Mullen
Advisor, Public Relations – English Market
Telefilm Canada
647-475-4910
brian.mullen@telefilm.ca
