Canadian content fully integrated into MIPTV in Cannes
Toronto/Montreal, April 6, 2018— The Canada Media Fund (CMF), Telefilm Canada and Canadian industry leaders have once again partnered with MIPTV, the world’s premier television market taking place in Cannes between April 9 and 12, to feature Canadian creativity and stories.
This year, the CMF and Telefilm have taken a fully-integrated approach by spotlighting Canadian content at several market events, including the inaugural presentation of the Cannes International Series Festival (CANNESERIES).
“Canada’s strong presence at this year’s MIPTV speaks to the growing importance of promotion at major international events, where Canadian creators have been able to develop unique business opportunities, taking Canadian content around the world,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “We strive to create as many business opportunities for Canadian producers as we possibly can. We also want to reinforce Canada’s position as a coproduction partner of choice by developing partnerships with counterparts in other major production countries. Canada is known for providing a very competitive environment for television and digital media production and coproduction. We intend to build on this reputation and to support the phenomenal work Canadian creators accomplish year after year in order to meet the demands of increasingly connected consumers.”
“Telefilm Canada’s goal is to support Canada’s audiovisual sector in becoming the world’s top producer of independent content, watched by audiences on platforms around the world. Markets such as MIPTV are central to achieving this,” said Jean-Claude Mahé, Interim Executive Director, Telefilm Canada.
CANNESERIES – In Development
For its first edition, CANNESERIES will highlight series from all over the world, giving an international voice to this increasingly popular and fiercely creative art form. Canadian creators will showcase two short-format digital series at this event. These are producers Véronique Charbonneau and Lou Bélanger, who will feature their project Dominos alongside Writer-Director Zoé Pelchat; and Pierre-Mathieu Fortin, Producer of L’Arène who will present alongside Writer-Actor Marjorie Armstrong and Director Jean-François Leblanc.
Canadian creators will also showcase their work at In Development, a MIPTV-CANNESERIES initiative allowing creators to generate co-development opportunities for drama series, a genre in which Canada excels. The In Development Jury has selected three projects with a Canadian connection out of 12 featured in the program and from a wealth of international submissions. Whatever, Linda, will be presented by co-creators and co-writers Hannah Cheesman and Julian De Zotti, as well as producers Mackenzie Donaldson, Graeme Manson and Kevin Saffer. Canadian writer Joseph Kay will pitch his project Revival, which is presently in early-stage development. Eliza Lee is a Canadian co-writer and co-producer who will be part of a pitch for Angelica.
MIPTV In Development Digital
As part of the MIPTV Digital Short Form Series Pitch, co-creators Erin Carter and Justine Stevens, and producers Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith and Laura Perlmutter will pitch their project Made With Love.
Virtual Reality
A showcase of five VR projects will be presented as part of a section devoted to Canadian productions at the MIPTV Innovation Hub VR Library. These are Blind Vaysha – VR by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB); Enchanted Forest by Shaftesbury VR; Kidnapped by Signal Space Lab (Canada) and Explora Films (Colombia), a project funded through the Canada-Colombia Codevelopment Incentive for Web Series or Other Digital Media Projects; Tidal Traces, also by the NFB; and Titanic: Journey to the Depths by Infinity Films.
Canada’s presence will be topped-off by a strong showing at the Canada Pavilion, which will include the presence of Neweb Labs’ Maya Kodes, a holographic experience and virtual singer who will interact with, inform, and entertain guests at the Pavilion. This innovative technology will be featured throughout the duration of the market.
Up-and-Coming Talent
Onscreen Canadian talent will be walking the pink carpet at MIPTV: Marjorie Armstrong (writer/actress) of L’Arène; Émile Schneider (actor) of Dominos; and Erin Carter (creator/actress) of Made with Love.
So much more
Among other Canadian productions and talent featured this year at MIPTV are Snapshots from FORTE Entertainment, nominated for the Kids International Emmy Awards. Canadians taking part in sessions at MIPTV and associated events include Joan Lambur of Lambur Productions taking part in the session “How To Find Common Language To Make Live-Action Series Travel?” and “Financing High-End Live Action Series For Kids”; Solange Attwood of Blue Ant Media who will participate in a MIPDOC Keynote Superpanel “Power Shift: Distributors As Content Kickstarters”; Nicolas Boucher of Dbcom Media who will present Man vs Time at a MIPDOC Official International Pitch; Devon Thagard of Skyship Entertainment will contribute to the “Kids Animation: New Digital Creators To Watch” session; Christina Jennings of Shaftesbury and Kaaren Whitney-Vernon of Branded Entertainment, Shaftesbury who will deliver a Keynote Showcase entitled “MIPTV 2018 Brand Content Of The Year: ‘Carmilla’”; and Marina Pavlovic Rivas, of LLimn who will speak at the “Up And Coming: Could AI Replace The Traditional Creative Process?” session.
The Canada Pavilion will play host to a special matchmaking session between German and Canadian digital media producers as well as the official Canadian networking reception. The Ontario Media Development Corporation is a partner of the Pavilion. Several Canadian companies will also feature their projects at the Canada Pavilion.
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—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.
Media enquiries:
André Ferreira
Communications Manager
Canada Media Fund
(416) 554-2768
aferreira@cmf-fmc.ca
Andréane Leblanc
Advisor, Public Relations – French Market
Telefilm Canada
(514) 283-0838, ext. 2065 or 1 800 567-0890
andreane.leblanc@telefilm.ca
