Can’t wait until Cannes? We feel the same way! To make the most of the Cannes Marché du Film, taking place from July 6 to 15, 2021, we’ve got a big virtual presence planned to showcase our industry’s Canadian projects, professionals, and talent to this major film market, attended by 6,000 pros from 121 countries.
From talks to screenings, pitch sessions and more, our Cannes programming page has all the specifics about each initiative.
MARKET SCREENINGS, SHOWCASES, AND PITCH SESSIONS
Pre-Cannes Screenings
If you’re an industry member registered for Marché du Film, don’t miss this new addition: Pre-Cannes Screenings! From June 21 to June 25, Canadian content will be front and center in the market’s virtual platform, for an audience of buyers, sellers, and festival programmers. Pop into virtual screening rooms and online booths of participating Canadian sales agents:
Docs-in-Progress
Interested in some of the best of Canada’s quality storytelling and diverse documentary films? We’ve got four Canadian documentaries (in final production stages) at Showcase Canada, part of Cannes Marché du film’s Docs-in-Progress initiative! As one of eight showcases from around the world, four homegrown doc filmmaking teams will pitch their projects to key industry players. With both online (July 6) and onsite screenings (July 9), Showcase Canada is presented by Telefilm Canada, in partnership with the Forum RIDM and in collaboration with the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
Learn more about the Docs-in-Progress projects here!
Frontières Platform
Genre film is next on our Canadian Cannes agenda. Facilitating connection between genre filmmakers and industry pros, the Frontières Platform is co-presented by Montréal’s own Fantasia International Film Festival and the Marché du Film. With three events a year (one in Montreal, one travelling, and one in Cannes), this exciting initiative also promotes international coproductions.
Here are the Canadian projects selected:
- Proof of Concept (July 10):
- Austin Andrews and Andrew Holmes’s The Island Between Tides.
- Buyer’s Market (July 11):
- Denver Jackson’s Elsuna: The Crown of Babylon
- Blaine Thurier’s Kicking Blood
Fantastic 7
Facilitating dialogue between up-and-coming cinematic talents and potential business partners is at the heart of this Fantastic 7 pitch session. Seven major film festivals (including Canada’s Toronto International Film Festival) each choose one project to endorse and be pitched at the July 11 event.
- TIFF’s homegrown choice is:
- Kirsten Carthew’s Polaris
Not Short on Talent
Speaking of emerging talent, don’t miss our Not Short on Talent programme of eight short films. Not Short on Talent is supported by Telefilm Canada in partnership with Ontario Creates. Guess what? Badge-holders can access these shorts on the Cannes Courts Métrages VideoLibrary from July 12 to 16!
Find out more about the projects in our spotlight article.
PANEL
Leading Change: An Insider’s Look at Successes, Failures and Opportunities
On July 13 at 4 PM CET, Telefilm Canada’s Christa Dickenson and Anna Serner of the Swedish Film Institute will discuss the work done and the work ahead given their perspectives as leaders in the industry; from changes within their organizations, to intersectionality, to opportunities and obstacles in a post-pandemic landscape. These leaders share a unique position: they are both CEOs of their country’s leading audiovisual institutes.
XR SHOWCASES
When it comes to new technologies, Canada’s content is leading the way. We’ve got four projects (including one coproduction) featured in this year’s Cannes XR, a Marché du Film section all about immersive technologies. (Heads up! You’ll need a VR headset to experience it all!)
- XR3:
- Pietro Gagliano’s Agence
- Randall Okita’s The Book of Distance
- Showcase – VeeR Future Award (Out of 16 contenders, two are Canadian):
- Michelle and Uri Kranot’s The Hangman at Home (Denmark-Canada-France coproduction)
- Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël’s Space Explorer: An ISS Experience (Advance)
