Empowering Canadian producers for global business, the second iteration of RDVCANADA I Animations 2024 has begun.
In this exciting mentorship initiative by Telefilm Canada in partnership with the Canada Media Fund five Canadian producers with animated feature film or television projects in development take part in four months of training (with a focus on international coproduction, distribution and financing – as well as pitching).
Personalized online guidance by industry pros will prep our cohort for the main event: official pitch session at the prestigious MIFA market, which takes place June 11to 14, 2024 in Annecy, France.
Since being created in by Telefilm Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service, our RDVCANADA initiative has helped Canadian producers expand into foreign markets! As with previous RDVCANADA programs – which have focused on series and documentaries – participating producers of RDVCANADA Animations 2024 were selected by an international jury:
- Agnes Augustin, President & CEO, Shaw Rocket Fund (Canada)
- Isaac Mogajane, Executive Director and Producer, Diprente Films (South Africa)
- Shabnam Rezaei, Co-founder & President, Big Bad Boo Studios (Canada)
- Ariane Suveg, Editorial consultant and Creative producer, former VP, kids channels at Warner Bros Discovery, France and Africa (France)
(P.S. – Ariane Suveg and Isaac Mogajane are also among this cohort’s mentors.)
Let’s discover the five projects selected, and the producers behind them:
Parts of a Bigger Story – Animated documentary series
Chrystelle Maechler, Chrystelle Maechler Productions Inc. (Ontario)
This heartfelt series explores the theme of global migration by painting, in each episode, a poetic and soulful portrait of one person’s extraordinary journey.
Pauline – Animated kids series
Chantal Lafleur, Productions Avenida Inc. (Quebec)
Pauline, a child of two cultures, learns to embrace her differences by accessing her superpower to go to an imaginary world of adventures where she can express her feelings.
The Spirit of Halloween – Animated feature film
Grégory Magné Grand, Tonic DNA (Quebec)
In this comedic adventure, a year after Francesca loses her sister on Halloween, she tries to ruin the holiday, but when her town doesn’t celebrate monsters — the monsters come party!
This Sacred Heart (Ce Sacré Coeur) – Animated feature film
Camille Lequenne, Productions l’Unité Centrale (Quebec)
Partly inspired by the real-life theft of the heart of Frère André in 1973, this black comedy is about siblings who steal a sacred relic. An apparition of Saint Frère André seems to help but could tear them apart.
The Unboxables – Animated kids series
Juan Cruz Baldassarre, Moonshot Rights Inc. (Nova Scotia)
This series is helmed by a charismatic doll who is the hostess of an unboxing YouTube channel created for toys, by toys. In each episode, Rina welcomes a toy friend to unbox a new toy.
Co-founder & President, Big Bad Boo Studios
and jury member.
