Telefilm Canada announces its support of the 30th edition of the Atlantic Film Festival

Inspired Script, Strategic Partners, TransAtlantic Partners initiatives develop Canadian talent, industry

Montreal, September 1, 2010 – Telefilm Canada announced its support of the 30th edition of the Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) today, which takes place from September 16th to 25th, 2010 in Halifax. Telefilm Canada’s participation enables the AFF to deliver a first-class event to a growing audience of film aficionados and industry members.

“The Atlantic Film Festival is a nationally respected film festival, bringing much-deserved attention to the filmmakers it showcases during its 10 days of programming while also offering valuable development and business opportunities to emerging and established filmmaking talent alike,” said Sheila de La Varende, National and International Business Development Director at Telefilm Canada. “We are proud to partner with the Festival, especially as it celebrates its 30th anniversary, and are pleased to see that Canadian titles are prominent in this year’s selection, including on opening night.”

This year’s opening night gala film will be the Telefilm-supported Score: A Hockey Musical. Written and directed by Michael McGowan (One Week, Saint Ralph) and starring Olivia Newton-John and songwriter Marc Jordan alongside newcomers Noah Reid and Allie MacDonald.

In addition to supporting the AFF as a venue for building audiences for Canadian cinema, Telefilm is proud to have financed 21 or 78% of the 27 feature-length Canadian films screening at this year’s festival. The next generation of Atlantic filmmakers continues to make its presence felt at the AFF with Whirlygig, the second feature from Halifax writer-director Chaz Thorne, and The Corridor, from first-time director Evan Kelly, also from Halifax.

“Congratulations to the Atlantic Film Festival on 30 strong years of building audiences for Canadian cinema,” said Gordon Whittaker, Regional Director Business Development and Feature Film Executive, Atlantic Region for Telefilm. “The AFF has maintained a strong tradition of spotlighting and promoting regional filmmaking talent and we are pleased to see another strong line up of Atlantic films at this year’s festival – a good sign for the future of the regional filmmaking industry.”

AFF 2010 Canadian selections (*indicates film financed by Telefilm Canada)

Industry networking at AFF
Throughout the Festival, delegates and media are invited to use the Telefilm Canada Delegates Lounge on the 8th floor of the Delta Halifax where they will find free wi-fi access, desktop computers with web connections, refreshments, and plenty of space to network, do business or just relax.

On September 18th the South African apartheid-era historical drama The Bang Bang Club from Toronto writer-director Steven Silver will be the focus of the Telefilm Canada Gala Screening.

Visit Telefilm’s Canadian film festival page for more information on the Atlantic Film Festival’s full schedule and programs.

Industry initiatives during AFF
Part of the Atlantic Film Festival Association family of events and initiatives is the respected Strategic Partners (SP) international TV and film co-production market held during the AFF from September 16th to 19th. Telefilm’s Atlantic Office is a founding supporter of SP that provides prime networking and business development opportunities to Canadian and international audiovisual sector delegates.

“SP has become an internationally recognized co-production market attracting high-calibre industry professionals each year. We’re proud to have been one of the original supporters that made SP a reality back in 1998,” said Sheila de La Varende, Director, International and National Business Development, Telefilm Canada.

Telefilm is also pleased to support Trans Atlantic Partners (TAP), a two-module, intensive co-production training program for Canadian and European producers that was established by SP and Germany’s Erich Pommer Institut, and is now in its second year. The Berlin module was held in June and the Halifax module runs from September 14th to 20th. TAP gives producers the necessary tools and knowledge to manoeuvre through the complex arena of international co-production and to overcome the legal and financial barriers.

The Telefilm-sponsored Inspired Script program offers a unique opportunity for four Atlantic Canadian writers to develop their feature film outlines to treatments and pitch them to a panel of industry professionals at the AFF.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian products that appeal to domestic and international audiences. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca.

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For information:
Élise Proulx
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838 or 1-800-567-0890, ext. 2090
proulxe@telefilm.ca
www.twitter.com/telefilm_canada