Canadian stars and industry players out in force, including François Arnaud (The Borgias), Erica Durance (Saving Hope), Amber Marshall (Heartland) and Ricardo Larrivée (Fermier urbain)
MONTREAL, Oct. 4, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - A major contingent of Canadian talent is taking part in this year's MIPCOM, the world's leading entertainment content market across all platforms, which takes place in Cannes from October 8 to 11. The Canadian presence will serve to support the promotion of Canadian productions featured in the Canada Country of Honour event, organized by Reed MIDEM in partnership with the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada. The industry's dynamism and Canadian creativity will also be in the spotlight at programmed talks and events during both MIPJunior and MIPCOM. In addition, the Canada Pavilion will host more than 70 Canadian companies who are in Cannes to showcase their marquis productions to potential buyers or to forge partnerships.
"Constantly on the lookout for new partnerships, Canada is one of the world's most vibrant centres of multiplatform content production," says Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "We are the only country that, today, benefits from bilateral co-production agreements with more than 50 countries—an approach whose value we were among the first to recognize. In addition to our internationally renowned co-productions, Canadian creative talent is currently enjoying thriving careers and their success is reflected in our industry as a whole, in television and in film."
"The wealth of creative talent positions Canada as a world leader in convergence and innovation" says Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund. "Canadian content is being sold to countries like the United States, Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, France, and Germany just to name a few and continues to reach new territories every day. The funding opportunities and support that exist within Canada allow producers to create and make Canada a driving force behind creative content. As countries look towards Canada for innovative content and unique funding models, the industry will be at MIPCOM to celebrate what we have to offer to the world."
Canadian talent at MIPCOM
Quebec actor François Arnaud, who shot to fame thanks to his role as Cesare Borgia in the critically acclaimed television series The Borgias (Ireland-Hungary-Canada co-production), will be on hand to meet with the media at MIPCOM. The Borgias, currently in production on its third season, was a big winner at the 2011 Gemini Awards, where it picked up four prizes. The series was also nominated for the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards in the United States, winning two of the prestigious statuettes. His career continuing to flourish, François Arnaud has just landed a part in the U.S. feature film Copperhead.
The "King of Laughter", Michel Courtemanche (Le Noël de Walter & Tandoori), is back with a new comedy in Quebec, Walter 100 %.
Erica Durance (Smallville), Michael Shanks (Stargate: Atlantis) and Daniel Gillies (The Vampire Diaries) will also be present to promote the Canadian medical drama series Saving Hope, which has an average audience of 1.6 million viewers in Canada. The series recently inked international sales in territories including Latin America, Brazil and Portugal.
Eve Landry stars as Jeanne in the new series Unité 9, directed by Jean-Philippe Duval and produced by Aetios. Although only a few episodes have been broadcast to date, the show draws an audience of more than 800,000 and the young actress—who seems set for a promising career—has earned rave reviews.
More than a chef, Ricardo Larrivée has become a true brand. For more than 10 years, he has hosted a daily TV show, Ricardo, on the French-language networks Radio-Canada and TV5 Monde. He also hosts a show in English, Ricardo & Friends, on Food Network Canada and Global that is broadcast in more than 35 countries. His new project, the series Fermier urbain, launched on Radio-Canada in April 2012.
The character of Amy Fleming, played by rising star Amber Marshall, returns for a sixth season of the hit CBC TV show Heartland. The series, licensed in over 115 countries, has won Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Awards, a Gemini Award and recently the award for Best Drama at the LA-based Social TV Awards. The actress was also nominated for a Young Artist Award in Los Angeles for her performance in the TV movie The Elizabeth Smart Story.
Niall Matter, from the series Eureka, Sarah Canning from The Vampire Diaries, as well as Danny Rahim from EastEnders, will be on hand to present Primeval: New World, a sci-fi show co-produced by the United Kingdom and Canada.
David Sutcliffe (Private Practice) and Stefanie von Pfetten (NCIS) lead the cast of Cracked, which debuts January 2013 on CBC. Both actors will be present to promote the series, which partners a police detective with a psychiatrist to solve the city's most baffling and psychologically complex crimes.
Canada Country of Honour activities
A series of events and talks, featuring numerous Canadian panellists, moderators and speakers, will shine a spotlight on Canada:
Fresh TV from Canada (October 8), presented by Virginia Mouseler, CEO of The WIT (World Information Tracking), highlights the most innovative Canadian content.
A series of three events and talks, Co-produce with Canada, will provide an overview of what Canada has to offer. Telefilm Canada's Carolle Brabant will deliver the series' opening remarks just prior to the first talk, titled Case Studies: Drama (October 8), moderated by Jean Bureau, co-founder of the production company Incendo. The second talk is titled Case Studies: Factual & Documentary (October 9), and will be followed by a matchmaking event involving Canadian and foreign producers.
Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor Inc., Quebecor Media Inc. and Sun Media Corporation, and Wade Oosterman, President, Bell Mobility, Bell Residential Services and Chief Brand Officer, Bell Canada, will deliver keynote addresses (October 8 and 9). Both speakers will be introduced by Valerie Creighton, President and CEO of the Canada Media Fund.
As more and more transmedia series, games, software and mobile applications emerge from Canada and gain international recognition, Focus on Multiplatform Canada (October 9) showcases original projects that are positioning Canada as a leader in the digital-production industry. The event will be chaired by Catalina Briceño, Director, Industry and Market Trend at the Canada Media Fund.
A series of 10 video "postcards," each about 20 seconds long, will promote the Canadian industry's successes and talents with originality and humour. One of the 10 vignettes will be screened before each programmed talk at MIPJunior and MIPCOM, allowing audiences at the Market to discover our industry's multiple facets as illustrated by such products as The Borgias, Heartland and Les Invincibles.
You can get a sneak preview of the video postcards by visiting the following site: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_dYnybU24Roglzwr_4ao06MhEP4yv9to&feature=plcp
The Canada Pavilion at MIPCOM
In 2011, 12,500 industry professionals converged on MIPCOM, of which 4,250 were buyers and 4,211 representatives from 102 countries. Canada has the fifth-largest contingent at MIPCOM, behind the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany.
A key element of the Canadian presence is the Canada Pavilion, created in partnership with provincial and federal agencies as well as the private sector. This year, the Pavilion will host more than 70 Canadian companies, providing them with access to a first-class exhibition space that benefits from strong branding and an ideal location in a very busy section of the exhibition area.
Canada Country of Honour partners
Gold Partners: Cineflix Media, official partner of the media breakfast in honour of Canadian talent, and Rogers Broadcasting and PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers).
Silver Partners: Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, Canadian Tourism Commission, Entertainment One, Omnifilm Entertainment, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Take 5 and White Pine Pictures.
Bronze Partners: Aetios Productions, Alberta Film, Banff World Media Festival, British Columbia Film + Media, Canadian Media Production Association, Corporation Image Entertainment, Film Nova Scotia, Manitoba Film & Music, Ricardo Media and Seven24 Films.
For more information, check out our MIPCOM microsite at:
www.canada-mipcom2012.ca
About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund champions the creation of successful, innovative, Canadian content and software applications for current and emerging digital platforms through financial support and industry research. Created by Canada's cable and satellite distributors and the Government of Canada, the CMF aspires to connect Canadians to our creative expressions, to each other, and to the world. Please visit www.cmf-fmc.ca.
The CMF's canadaonscreen.ca is a website designed to showcase and celebrate Canadian creative talent and Canadian content destined for all types of screens, from television productions to games, Web content and software and applications.
SOURCE: TELEFILM CANADA
Media inquiries:
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, ext. 2225, or 1-800-567-0890
[email protected]
Pierre Campeau, Communications Manager, Canada Media Fund
647-466-4069
[email protected]
Share this article