Telefilm Canada salutes the Canadian films and artists in the limelight at the 60th Cannes Film Festival
3 May 2007Telefilm Canada, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is proud to announce that three Canadian films will be in the spotlight during the 2007 edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. L’Âge des ténèbres, the highly anticipated conclusion to Denys Arcand’s trilogy, has been chosen as the closing film of the Official Selection, while the Canada-Belgium-France co-production Voleurs de chevaux, by Micha Wald, and the animated short Madame Tutli-Putli, by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, will both be screened during International Critics’ Week.
For a second year, the Perspective Canada initiative features a selection of Canadian films that Telefilm will promote at the Market in the aim of stimulating international sales. With a similar purpose, the Canada Pavilion returns for a sixth year, providing the Canadian delegation with an essential gathering place and business centre for conducting meetings with the international community.
Telefilm is equally proud to announce that Canadian actress Sarah Polley has been appointed a member of the Cannes jury. This appointment coincides with the theatrical release of her very first feature film as director, Away From Her.
All eyes will also be focused on two other renowned Canadians, David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, each of whom has contributed a three-minute short to the project To Each His Own Cinema. This film, one of the special events marking the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Festival, features the works of 35 celebrated directors from around the world.
Also on the program is internationally renowned Canadian composer Howard Shore, who will present the Music Masterclass. Mr. Shore will be accompanied by director David Cronenberg, with whom he has worked in the past. This event will be part of the Festival’s Rendezvous section.
“Forty years’ worth of commitment to the development and promotion of Canadian works and talents is a major milestone for Telefilm,” says Wayne Clarkson, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “With the Canada Pavilion, Telefilm intends to pursue efforts already under way to increase sales, encourage co-production, and fully exploit all possible means to raise the profile and enhance the reach of Canada’s industry on the international scene.”
Considered a favoured gathering place for world cinema, the Cannes Festival, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, runs from May 16 to 27, 2007.
Official Selection – Closing Film (Out of Competition)
L’Âge des ténèbres (Canada-France) written and directed by Denys Arcand; produced by Denise Robert, Daniel Louis, Dominique Besnehard, Philippe Carcassonne, Michel Feller (Cinémaginaire, Mon Voisin Productions, Ciné-@).
International Critics’ Week
Voleurs de chevaux (Canada-Belgium-France) written and directed by Micha Wald; produced by Richard Lalonde, Jacques Henri Bronckart, Philippe Liégeois, Jean-Michel Rey (Forum Films, Versus Production, Rezo Films).
Madame Tutli-Putli, written and directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski; produced by Marcy Page (National Film Board of Canada).
Perspective Canada
Thanks to Perspective Canada, Telefilm hopes, for a second year, to contribute to the building of a vibrant and original audiovisual industry by promoting six films that were recently produced with Telefilm support. These films will be presented at the Marché du Film, where they may potentially be seen by thousands of international buyers, sellers and producers.
In bringing back the Perspective Canada program, Telefilm worked closely with foreign sellers and managed to obtain prized scheduling slots for the Canadian productions, thereby ensuring that the Canadian industry enjoys a prime showcase at the Marché du Film.
Created specially for Telefilm’s 40th anniversary, an inventive tribute clip celebrating the industry’s achievements over the last 40 years will be screened at the start of every film in Perspective Canada.
Citizen Duane, directed by Michael Mabbott; written by Jonathan Sobol and Robert Deleskie; produced by Susan Cavan and Carolynne Belle (Accent Entertainment Corp.); international sales: Shoreline Entertainment.
Ma Tante Aline, directed by Gabriel Pelletier; written by Suzanne Charrette, Frédéric Ouellette, Stéphane J. Bureau and Gabriel Pelletier; produced by Lorraine Richard and Luc Martineau (Cité-Amérique inc.); international sales: Delphis Films.
Ma Fille mon ange, directed by Alexis Durand-Brault; written by Pierre Szalowski; produced by Maxime Rémillard and Richard Lalonde (Remstar Productions, Forum Films); international sales: Seville International.
Partition, written and directed by Vic Sarin; produced by Tina Pehme and Kim Roberts (Sepia Films); international sales: Myriad Pictures.
Roméo & Juliette, directed by Yves Desgagnés; written by Normand Chaurette; produced by Denise Robert and Daniel Louis (Cinémaginaire Inc. / Film Juliette Inc.); international sales: FunFilm Distribution.
Who Loves The Sun, written and directed by Matt Bissonnette; produced by Corey Marr (Corey Marr Productions); international sales: Dream Entertainment.
Canada Pavilion
The Canada Pavilion will once again welcome more than 50 companies to its site, located at the very heart of the Marché du Film. The numerous events scheduled for the Pavilion will foster exchange and cooperation between Canadian and foreign producers.
“We’ll be talking co-production, sales and financing in the aim of finding new avenues that will extend Canada’s reach on the international scene,” adds Danny Chalifour, Director – Industry Development Operations. “Every year, Cannes attracts some 10,000 international buyers, sellers and producers from more than 80 countries. For Telefilm, Cannes is thus an ideal place to promote the brand identity of Canadian productions.”
The Canada Pavilion, therefore, will again serve as a vital meeting place, thanks in part to the numerous partners who have joined with Telefilm to make it so: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada; the Department of Canadian Heritage – Trade Routes program; the Ontario Media Development Corporation; British Columbia Film; Manitoba Film and Sound; Alberta Film; the Canadian Film and Television Production Association; New Brunswick Film; the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation; the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation; and SaskFilm.
The Pavilion will also host three events whose objective is to encourage networking and, by extension, to develop co-production partnership ties. One meeting will be held with producers from the United Kingdom, another with producers from Australia and New Zealand, and a third with producers from Brazil.
Producers Network activities
Telefilm is once again a presenting partner with SODEC for the Marché du Film’s Producers’ Network spotlight on Canada, where both agencies will officially introduce 10 Canadian Anglophone and Francophone producers to members. Telefilm will also take part, in conjunction with its European Francophone counterparts, in a SODEC-organized “speed dating” initiative in which producers from La Francophonie will get together to discuss their respective projects.
