Are you heading to TIFF: The Market with a project in development, financing, production or completed and exploring what can come next? Here are some highlights of the market programming designed to help you approach the decisions that can shape your project’s success.
From financing and international collaboration to audience engagement and expanding the commercial potential of existing IP, these highlighted sessions produced and supported by Telefilm Canada in collaboration with TIFF will share useful insights and perspectives from Canadian and international industry leaders across the Canada Pavilion and TIFF Stages at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. With sessions designed for Canadian and international delegates to both learn and spark new connections, Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director & CEO Julie Roy shares that “with the support of the Government of Canada, Telefilm is helping Canada’s audiovisual industry strengthen its presence worldwide.”
The inaugural programming begins with See You at the Pavilion: Canada’s TIFF Kickoff (September 10, 9-10:30am, Canada Pavilion) – a celebration co-hosted by Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates and the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO). Canadian filmmakers and producers from this year’s TIFF selections will be there alongside the organizations and teams supporting Canadian content.
Here are some core themes of the programming that follows the kickoff, reflecting the opportunities that are available for projects across today’s screen industry.
What project readiness looks like as financing considerations evolve?
Learn about financing opportunities for Canadian productions as well as co-productions with Canadian teams. And as AI tools become a part of different studio workflows, hear perspectives on how AI can impact the strength and viability of funding applications.
Meet the Canada Media Fund and Their Program Administration Team (September 10, 10:30am-12pm, Canada Pavillion) will provide producers across story mediums with direct access to key representatives from both Canada Media Fund and their Program Administration team at Telefilm Canada to learn more about the programs and funding application processes for English and French markets. This session includes networking as well as roundtable discussions.
Inside Telefilm: Funding, Partnerships and Audiences (September 10, 12:30-1:30pm, TIFF Stage) is a panel featuring Telefilm Canada’s Julie Blondin – National Director, Business Affairs and Coproduction as well as Erin Burke – Interim National Director, English Market at Telefilm Canada. It is designed to give delegates a more in-depth behind-the-scenes understanding of how funding decisions are made and the support process that follows. The conversation will share insights into what strong applications include and will also tackle a bigger question worth asking before you apply: what does success look like beyond getting funded? In addition, delegates will hear about additional ways that Telefilm offers support to the Canadian industry and its stories.
How could AI impact your funding application? The Financing In the Age of AI discussion (September 11, 4:30-5:30pm, TIFF Stage) will discuss the opportunities and risks associated with leveraging AI as it relates to funding. Policies and evaluation criteria are evolving and Telefilm Canada will share their current perspective on how to approach the use of generative AI to be successful with accessing financial support.
International collaboration that unlocks capital, expertise and audience
If your project has international potential, the right collaboration can unlock more for your project than increased expertise and financing opportunities. Deep market insights can strengthen the international relevance of your content, as well as its reach and revenue opportunities.
Did you know that Canada was the first non-European country to join Eurimages to unlock new collaboration opportunities with European partners? Beyond Borders: Eurimages Financing for Canadians (September 10, 11:30am-12:30pm, Canada Pavillion) is an opportunity to understand how the Eurimages fund works and what Canadian projects can gain from working with European partners from development through to financing and market launch.
French Connections: Producing Across Canada and Beyond – Connexions francophones: Produire au Canada et à l’international (September 10, 1:30-4:30pm, Canada Pavillion) focuses on the opportunities, organizations and resources advancing Canada’s francophone screen sector as well as perspectives shaping French-language production and working across provincial and international markets. The three-part French-language event, with simultaneous English interpretation, includes round table discussions, pitches, company spotlights, and networking.
How early community building can create stronger paths to engagement?
Why wait until your film is about to launch to build your audience? From Script to Audiences: Building your Community (September 11, 10:30-11:30am, TIFF Stage) looks at what can happen when audience engagement starts earlier than traditional standards (spoiler alert: your marketing investment has a greater payoff), and ways to approach this. A strong audience engagement plan is critical for any project launch, as well as any funding application. Featuring Elevation Pictures’ Director, Specialty Marketing & Brand – Liv Nasner, Rags 2 Richmond’s Co-Creator/Lead Actor – Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn, Black Fawn Films’ President – Chad Archibald, and moderated by Late Night Scrolling with Liz’s Liz Duff, this session can not only help projects gain fans earlier, but it can help new and in-market IP with successful launches of future projects across platforms.
Unlocking new creative and commercial value from existing IP
Story worlds take time to create, regardless of medium. If you already own or control a story IP or have one in development, increase the potential payoff of your investments by considering how to expand different elements to create new content. Perspectives: Everything Old is IP Again (September 11, 12:30-1:30pm, TIFF Stage) focuses on how industry leaders including director Michael Dowse (The Stunt Driver, FUBAR), producer Mackenzie Donaldson (Yaga), and Les Boys‘ Lenny Jo Goudreau are reinvigorating and expanding on existing stories and their characters; moderated by Archetypes & Effects’ Founder and Principal, Laura Mingail. Learn about different business and creative processes that may inspire new collaborations and ways to let audiences into your story.
A TIFF: The Market Pass is required to access all sessions at the Metro Toronto Convention Center stages or at the Canada Pavilion.
Discover all programming activities taking place at the Canada Pavilion here and view the full TIFF program here or on the TIFF: The Market app.
Article by Laura Mingail.
