OTTAWA, October 11, 2006 –Canada's new Government yesterday signed amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Kingdom of Spain concerning Cinematographic Relations at a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

This document replaces the original 1985 co-production agreement and includes television productions as a new area of cooperation between the two countries. The new agreement will support expanding cultural relations with Spain and provide Canadian and Spanish producers with enhanced opportunities for collaboration in both film and television.

“Canada's new Government is pleased to strengthen the audio-visual industries in both Canada and its partnering countries with co‑production agreements,” said the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women. “These agreements reinforce international alliances in the cultural sector and, they promote Canadian culture abroad.”

For more than 40 years, Canada has participated in co-productions with several countries. It currently has agreements with 53 countries.

Spain is a significant co-production partner. The Agreement has so far generated four bilateral and four multilateral co-production projects with a value of $61 million.

Over the last 10 years, Canada has been involved in more than 800 co-production projects, resulting in many successful feature films, such as the award-winning Barbarian Invasions (Canada–France), Being Julia (Canada–UK–Hungary) and Kamataki (Canada–Japan).

Information:

Nancy Heppner
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
819 997-7788

Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage819 994-9101