Canada ready to make big splash at MIPJunior in Cannes with captivating line-up of short TV series for children
Toronto and Montréal, October 10, 2017 – Four innovative and engaging Canadian productions for children will be showcased at the upcoming MIPJunior, a major annual international event in Cannes gathering producers, buyers, sellers, broadcasters, and content creators of content for children. Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) are working closely to present an exciting program featuring four short TV series, which promise to have wide interest and appeal. Presented under the Canada Big on Shorts banner, the event will be held on October 15, 2017.
“Canadian talent is recognized everywhere,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “And when it comes to productions for children, especially TV series, the Canadian talent creating short-form works are leaders in their field. These series for kids explore a wide variety of engaging topics, speak in a diversity of cinematographic languages, cross cultural boundaries, enable young viewers to better discover the world they live in, stimulate their creative juices, and open pathways for future consumers and creators of content. For all these reasons, exporting and promoting Canadian content is one of our major priorities.”
“We are in the midst of a new era in storytelling, with new technologies that render animation productions increasingly compelling to audiences of all ages,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “The four, diverse productions we’re featuring at MIPJunior, all CMF-funded, are extraordinary examples of why Canadian animation creators and producers are world renowned. Thanks to their creativity and innovative approaches to the development of content, they bring to life characters and universes that appeal to audiences around the world. By presenting these four projects at MIPJunior, we hope to showcase the strength of the Canadian animation industry, while increasing coproduction and commercial opportunities for our Canadian creators.”
Anaana’s Tent, animation and live action
13 episodes, 22 minutes each
This Indigenous series was created in the spirit of such shows as Sesame Street, Mr. Dressup and Dora the Explorer.
Speaker: Leslie Pulsifer, animator, Taqqut Productions, a production company whose short films have been screened at festivals in 18 countries, winning 20 international awards.
The Art Show, live action
42 episodes, 5 minutes each
This live-action series was produced by the company behind the hit TV series Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Speaker: Mary Darling, director, creator and executive producer, WestWind Pictures, a production company whose works are distributed in 180 countries.
Beat Bugs, animation
52 episodes, 11 minutes each
This Australia-Canada coproduction, a 3D animated series created by Josh Wakely, won an AACTA (Australia) award for Best Children’s Television Series as well as an Emmy Award. Broadcast on the Seven Network in Australia, the show is also streamed in Canada and other markets on Netflix, which has also commissioned a second season of the series.
Speaker: Trevor Bentley, founding partner and chief creative officer of Atomic Cartoons, a subsidiary of the Thunderbird Group (Canada). Australian production companies: 11:11 Creations Pty Ltd., Grace: A Storytelling Company and Beyond Entertainment.
Cracké, animation
52 episodes, 1 minute each
A 3D animated series with no dialogue, Cracké has built a solid fan base among children and their parents in more than 175 territories. Cracké also comes to life through a mobile video game and an innovative comic book application.
Speaker: Denis Doré, president and co-founder, Squeeze.
About Telefilm Canada—Inspired by talent. Viewed everywhere.
Celebrating 50 years in 2017, 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 treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2013, the Talent Fund accepts private donations to principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content 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.
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Media enquiries:
Andréane Leblanc
Advisor, Public Relations – French Market
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, ext. 2065 or 1 800 567-0890
andreane.leblanc@telefilm.ca
André Ferreira
Communications Manager
Canada Media Fund
416-554-2768
aferreira@cmf-fmc.ca
