Canada Sees Big At MIPCOM 2013

^{[1] [2]}A large contingent of Canadian representatives took part in the opening festivities of MIPCOM ^[3], the world’s leading entertainment content market across all platforms, which takes place in Cannes from October 7 to 10. To kick off MIPCOM 2013, Canada handed the title of MIPCOM Country of Honour over to Argentina and expressed its interest in continuing to build its relationship with Latin America’s audiovisual production industry. 

As part of the celebrations, the Canada Media Fund ^[2] (CMF), Telefilm Canada ^[1] and a wealth of Canadian talent were on hand to celebrate Argentina being the Country of Honour at the 2013 edition of MIPCOM. During a speech at the official press conference, Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund and Sheila de la Varende, Director, International Promotion, Telefilm Canada, shared their experience as Country of Honour in 2012 and expressed best wishes for Argentina this year.

The “passing of the torch” symbolizes a long history of production activity with Argentina as well as Latin America. Canadian content is gaining more popularity and wider audiences around the world as Canada continues its co-production activities and sales with Argentina and Latin America.

Since 2010, Latin America purchased more than 35 CMF-funded titles, including the comedy series Call Me Fitz, the teen drama Degrassi, the documentary The Devil You Know, as well as the children’s and youth show Stella and Sam, which was acquired by Argentina in 2011-2012.

In 2009, Canada, Argentina, and France co-produced Les Doights croches, a film set in the 1960s about five eternal delinquents who have always cheated their way through life, and for the first time in their lives, have to use real effort to become honest citizens.

Since 1992, a total 14 feature films and 16 television shows have been co-produced between Canada and Latin America, representing a total production budgets of $163 million.

MIPCOM will host a number of creative talents from the Canadian industry at notable events such as the MIPCOM Red Carpet on Monday, October 7. Craig Olejnik and Lauren Lee Smith from The Listener will accompany Christina Jennings, the executive producer of the series. Currently appearing in the Call Me Fitz television series, Michael Gross will accompany the series’ director Sheri Elwood and producer Michael Souther. The team behind 19-2 will be on hand at MIPCOM. Actor Réal Bossé, who holds the main role in the series as well as directing and producing, Jocelyn Deschênes (producer) and Daniel Grou (aka Podz, director) will all be on hand to promote the successful French-language series. Laura Vandervoort of the new series Bitten, which was recently acquired by U.S. Syfy channel, will be attending the Market to promote the fantasy drama. Finally, drama series Cracked will be well represented with stars David Sutcliffe and Brooke Nevin.

• For a complete list of Canadian activities at MIPCOM, see the Canada At MIPCOM 2013 microsite ^[4].

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. The promotion of Canadian content at MIPCOM 2013—which includes a presentation of multiplatform projects, a panel, networking activities as well as communication and marketing strategies—was made possible thanks to the generous collaboration of a host of partners, namely the Canadian Tourism Commission ^[5], Entertainment One ^[6], PriceWaterhouseCoopers ^[7], Rogers Broadcasting ^[8], the Directors Guild of Canada ^[9] and the Canadian Media Production Association ^[10] as well as several of the provincial funding agencies.