Canada stregthens relationship with Brazil in the audiovisual area

With a view to strengthening the bilateral ties between Canada and Brazil, the Government of Canada is pleased to announce a series of activites in the audiovisual sector, in the specific areas of co-production in televison and film, animation and multimedia technology, which will occur from March 20-30, 2006. Recognized the world over for its excellence in the audiovisual area, Canada will coordinate four events in conjunction with Brazilian partners: Brazilian TV Producers Association (ABPI-TV), University Center Senac, movie theatres Espaço Unibanco de Cinema, Unibanco Arteplex and Cine Academia (in Brasília) and e-cinema distribution company Rain Network. The events will also have the support of Canadian partners: the National Film Board of Canada, Air Canada and the Canadian Education Centre (CEC), with an office in São Paulo.

In 2005, the Government of Canada coordinated various initiatives to bring together sectorial contacts from both countries, including invitations to Brazilian independent producers of film, television and animation, and programming directors of Brazilian Public and Educational Television Networks to major Canadian Festivals, such as: Toronto International Film Festival; Hot Docs; Banff International Television Festival; and the Ottawa International Animation Festival. An important result of these initiatives was Brazil's accaptance of an invitation to be the Focus Country for Business at the OIAF's Television Animation Conference in September 2006.

Events in the Audiovisual Sector:

• Signing of a cooperation program in the audiovisual area by the National Film Board of Canada and the Audiovisual Secretariat of Brazil's Ministry of Culture. The ceremony is scheduled for March 22, 2006 in Brasília, with the presence of Brazilian Cultural Minister Gilberto Gil, Mr. Jacques Bensimon, President of the National Film Board and the Secretary of the Audiovisual, Mr. Orlando de Salles Senna.

• "Canadian Animation Workshop", based on Canadian animation and multimedia technologies in partnership with local college SENAC and the Canadian Education Centre (CEC), on March 21 and 22, 2006. At this event, Brazilian animation artists and technical professionals will have the opportunity to learn more about Canadian multimedia and animation capabilities that has turned Canada into a world leader.

• "Business Forum: Co-Producing with Canada" will bring torether Brazilian and Canadian producers and executives in the audiovisual sector, organized in partnership by the Brazilian Television Producers Association (ABPI-TV) and the Government of Canada on March 23 and 24, 2006. Air Canada is supporting this event and will donate 4 tickets to Canada as part of a door-prize contest. The winners will have the opportunity to participate in a business program developed by the Government of Canada, with scheduled meetings and a visit to the studios of the National Film Board of Canada.

• Film Festival: Canadian Film Festival: The Best of the National Film Board of Canada, organized by the Government of Canada in partnership with movie theatres Espaço Unibanco, Cine Academia and e-cinema distributor Rain Network from March 24 to 30, which will present a selection of the award-winning productions of the National Film Board of Canada. The event will occur in five Brazilian cities simultaneously: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Curitiba and Porto Alegre, using digital transmission.