Strong visibility for Canada at Cannes: Telefilm helps over 70 Canadian companies forge business links

Montréal, April 22, 2010 – Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce strong attendance for Canadian organizations at the 2010 Film Market, taking place May 12 to 21 during the Cannes Festival. Telefilm will operate the Canada Pavilion there, providing visibility for more than 70 companies with film industry decision makers from around the globe, encouraging partnerships and hosting networking events designed to foster business links between Canadian producers and foreign company representatives.

“Telefilm Canada’s initiatives at Cannes are aimed at creating strategic sales, export and coproduction opportunities for Canadians attending the market,” said Sheila de La Varende, Director, National and International Business Development at Telefilm Canada. “Like the Cannes Festival, the Film Market is an annual “must do” event for anyone in film wanting to do business abroad. The fact that so many Canadian companies attend and find benefits there contributes to making our industry more competitive on the world stage,” she concluded.

Telefilm Canada will be holding four networking events that will help Canadian producers and organizations forge alliances with foreign companies during the Film Market, including three that specifically target the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

Telefilm plays an important role in helping the Canadian audiovisual industry conduct business at international markets and festivals where it operates the Canada Pavilion, namely the European Film Market at the Berlinale, MIPTV, the Cannes Film Market and MIPCOM. In 2008, Telefilm invested close to $1.2 million in supporting Canadian companies at international markets, and for every dollar invested the companies secured $11 in sales.

This year, more than 70 Canadian companies will attend the Cannes Film Market under the Canada Pavilion banner:

The Canada Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market is a Telefilm Canada initiative in partnership with British Columbia Film and Ontario Media Development Corporation as principal partners, Manitoba Film and Music as major partner, Film Nova Scotia, Saskfilm, Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation as associate partners, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association as contributor and the National Bank Financial Group as financial sponsor.

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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Media inquiries:
Eva Hartling
Senior Advisor, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, ext. 2090
hartlie@telefilm.ca
www.twitter.com/telefilm_canada