The French Riviera provides a magnificent backdrop for the Festival de Cannes (in its 72nd edition), where Canada will be representing in full force at the 60th edition of the Marché du Film. Join us at the Canada Pavilion, from May 14 to 23, 2019! Meanwhile, here are all your must-know business facts about Canada’s presence at this very important market event (along with 12,000 attendees).
1) Canada Festival Reception
From sales agents to distributors; festival curators to producers, Canada’s international partners (and potential partners) are sure to have a ball at our Canada Festival reception. For the very first time, all the Canadian festivals present at Cannes this year are invited to get together! Whether it’s by offering door prizes or other promotional elements, Canada’s finest will be in the house at this anticipated Plage des Palmes celebration, managed by FIN Atlantic International Film Festival with Telefilm’s support. *On invitation only
2) Canada Spotlight at Producers Network Breakfast
With more than 200 Canadian producers registered for Cannes this year, we’ve gotta show ’em what we’ve got! To cast the world’s eyes upon Canadian talent, we’re shining a light on six selected Canadian producers at this year’s Producers Network Breakfast. Mark your calendars, it all happens on Sunday, May 19, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Plage des Palmes. *Access to Producers Network badge holders.
The six selected producers are:
- Félize Frappier, MAX FILMS MÉDIA, Quebec
- Nicole Robert, GO FILMS, Quebec
- Simone Urdl, THE FILM FARM, Ontario
- Avi Federgreen, FEDERGREEN ENTERTAINMENT, Ontario
- Aonan Yang, GREENGROUND PRODUCTIONS, Quebec
- Justin Oakey, BLACK RIVER PICTURES, Newfoundland
3) At Doc Corner, projects led by women
All women, all docs, all Canadian projects sums up Canada’s presence at the Marché du FIlm’s Doc Corner! Pitching at this year’s Canadian Showcase are four documentaries directed and produced by women. The big event takes place Saturday, May 18, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m, at Stand H8 at the Marché du Film. For this Doc Corner initiative, Telefilm has partnered with Hot Docs and the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM). The diverse selection of projects ranges from up-and-comers to well-established creative teams, and was curated by Hot Docs and RIDM.
The selected projects are:
- Eulogy for the Dead Sea, directed and produced by Polina Teif (Ontario)
- Damascus Dreams, produced by Audrey-Anne Dupuis Pierre (Quebec), directed by Emilie Serri (Quebec/ Syria) (Side note: this project was selected for Telefilm’s 2018 Talent To Watch Program!)
- La mer entre nous, directed and produced by Marlène Edoyan (Quebec / Lebanon)
- Finding Sally, produced by Isabelle Couture (Quebec), directed by Tamara Dawit (Ontario / Ethiopia)
4) All eyes on Blockchain
As part of the Cannes NEXT Producers Network Panels, Telefilm and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) can’t wait to school delegates on everything Blockchain in this 90-minute conference. Featuring a great lineup of speakers (to be announced soon), this talk will include info from a recent conducted by Telefilm and the CMF in partnership with Pole médias HEC Montreal and Badel Media. For a bit of Blockchain background, check out our article! Stay tuned for more details on panelists and specifics, but trust us, you don’t want to miss this event, Saturday May 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
5) Big on coproduction
It’s no secret that Canada loves coproducing, and we’re making the most of our Cannes hours to create amazing international business and creative opportunities for our talented industry.
In addition to a multitude of meetups with different countries such as Argentina and Colombia, Canada will be present at the Israel Women in film panel happening on Friday, May 17, at 11:00 a.m. at the Israel Pavilion of the Cannes Film Festival 2019. Titled Action for Change – Reframe and activate new narratives, this panel is all about gender equality in the film industry. Telefilm’s executive director, Christa Dickenson, is participating, along with some esteemed representatives from France, Germany, Sweden, the European Women’s Audiovisual Network, and many others.
