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Canada-France Mini-Immersion on animation, held in Paris
Telefilm Canada successfully launches a three-year plan aimed at promoting partnerships with Europe

Montréal, June 10, 2005 - On June 6, 2005, Telefilm Canada convened a gathering of more than 60 animation specialists for a "Mini-Immersion Canada-France: Animation" in Paris. Among the participants were 20 producers from Canada, 16 producers from France, 8 broadcasters from both countries, as well as representatives of various professional institutions and associations.

The event, organized by Telefilm's European office in Paris, was part of an ongoing three-year plan aimed at promoting the international development of the Canadian industry by means of targeted meetings between Canadian and European professionals. Telefilm Canada also plans to partner with other cultural institutions.

Under the Immersion Program, a greater number of immersions lasting one day or longer will be held. Between now and 2008, Telefilm plans to help open doors for the television, feature-film and new-media sectors, in both official languages and in more than one territory.

"The potential of the Canadian industry is enormous," said Danny Chalifour, Director - International Operations and Development. "We want Telefilm's international activities to foster a better understanding of markets and help increase coproduction opportunities. As was the case with animation, our three-year plan will make it possible for groups having similar interests to meet and exchange information on specific topics and areas of activity."

The objective of the animation gathering was to explore, through various discussion panels and in the presence of key industry players, the new dynamics of France-Canada coproduction in animation, particularly in light of regulatory changes in both countries and developments in the international market.
Given the decline in coproduction activity as well as the imbalance of exchanges between France and Canada over the last four years, participants from both countries reiterated the importance of France-Canada coproduction, particularly in the areas of knowledge-sharing and access to markets. In the words of Stéphane Le Bars, delegate general of the Syndicat des producteurs de films d'animation (SPFA): "Nothing will replace a good France-Canada coproduction that has significant support from broadcasters in each country."

Participants considered several possible paths that might be taken to revitalize exchanges between French and Canadian professionals, including digital production, which favours projects that are at once innovative and competitive. Participants also discussed the possibility of strengthening support for projects that are 100% France-Canada coproductions. To this end, Christian Davin, Executive Director of Alphanim and Chair of the SPFA, suggested updating the 1983 France-Canada animation mini-treaty, which was created specifically to support coproduction in animation.

Immersion participants reaffirmed the importance of personal exchanges in building strong and long-lasting coproduction relationships. Michael Hirsh (Cookie Jar Entertainment) underlined the fact that gatherings such as the Mini-Immersion "help revive coproduction activity between France and Canada."
For his part, Canada's ambassador to France, Claude Laverdure, reminded participants that, "these partnerships, distinguished by their high added value and focused on the future and on innovation, contain the potential for all cultural and economic ties between our two countries."

2005 Canada-France Mini-Immersion: Animation
Participating production companies

To obtain a catalogue of the event: http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/02/250.asp

The Mini-Immersion was organized in partnership with the Syndicat des producteurs de films d'animation, with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage - Trade Routes Program and the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, and with the participation of the Centre national de la cinématographie (CNC).

Telefilm Canada, a cultural investor in film, television and new media
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian film, television and new media industries. With the objective of building larger audiences for Canadian cultural products, the Corporation acts as a partner to the private sector through investments in diverse productions with wide appeal.

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Media inquiries:
Jeanine Basile, Manager - Communications and Public Affairs
Telefilm Canada
Phone: (514) 283-6363 or basilej@telefilm.gc.ca