Canadian documentaries out in force at MIPDoc 2014

MONTREAL, April 2, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) are pleased to announce Canada's presence at MIPDoc 2014, the world's leading international documentary market, taking place April 5 and 6 in Cannes, France. The productions Inside the Mind of Leonardo, Secouristes de l'extrême, Arctic Defenders, Avatar Secrets, Burgundy Jazz and Who Killed Gandhi? will be screened at this forum devoted exclusively to documentary content. In addition, the documentary series Apocalypse: World War One and the production Fort McMoney will also be presented at conference sessions.

"Telefilm takes great pride in its documentary industry, which is recognized worldwide for films that impact society," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "Canada's presence at MIPDoc is very important, because this must-do event allows producers to network, promote their projects, find strong subjects and locate financing sources."

Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund, added: "The wealth of creative talent in Canada makes this country a leading coproduction partner for all genres of production including documentary. As the international industry focuses its eye on Canada for its expertise, leadership, and innovative productions, we continue to work with partners from around the world to pool our creative and financial resources. At MIPDoc, discover how leading Canadian documentary projects have pushed the boundaries to engage with and reach new Canadian and international audiences through various platforms."

Canada at MIPDoc
Telefilm Canada and the CMF are again joining forces to promote Canadian diversity, originality and expertise at a breakfast screening. Six outstanding projects will be showcased on Sunday April 6, two of them produced with foreign partners. They are:

Inside the Mind of Leonardo (Handel Productions, IWC Media UK), a coproduction with the UK. Transporting audiences into the mind of Leonardo da Vinci, the project combines cutting-edge animation with live footage, blending da Vinci's revolutionary ideas with the latest technologies. It recently won Best Historical Documentary at the 3D Creative Arts Awards in Los Angeles and is shortlisted for Best Arts Documentary at the Royal Television Society Awards in London.

Secouristes de l'extrême (Groupe PVP, Gédéon programmes), a coproduction with France, follows frontline workers as they perform rescue and relief operations in extreme conditions.

Arctic Defenders (Unikaat Studios, John Walker Productions) recounts the story of a radical that led to the largest land claim in Western civilization, orchestrated by young visionary Inuit with a dream: governance of their territory, with the creation of Nunavut. Winner of Best Feature at the Atlantic Film Festival, Arctic Defenders was selected for the official competition at Festival international de programmes audiovisuels (FIPA).

Avatar Secrets (Ramona Pringle Productions), a multiplatform melding of traditional shooting and digital, explores the complexities of human connection in the wired world, examining the evolving nature of community, relationships, empathy and interdependence in the real world, and on the digital frontier.

Burgundy Jazz (Catbird Productions) is a Web documentary about Montreal's contribution to jazz history told through the African-Canadian musicians of Little Burgundy.The neighbourhood was a hub of musical creativity, private clubs and speakeasies from the Jazz Age 1920s to the Golden Era of Jazz in the 1940s and 50s. Burgundy Jazz has won a Digi Award and a Prix Boomerang, and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

Who Killed Gandhi? (Karma Film) looks back at one of the most troubling events in the history of India and the world: the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence.

Canadian documentaries: leading the way for the industry
On Saturday, April 5, the focus will be on the documentary series Apocalypse: World War One (Ideacom International), coproduced with France, in a case study session on transmedia production. Marking the 100^th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, the series will air on TV5 Monde, National Geographic Channels and US Discovery.

Then on Digital Sunday, April 6, the Canadian coproduction Fort McMoney (National Film Board of Canada, TOXA, ARTE) will be the subject of a case study called "Transmedia & Storytelling in Documentary." Fort McMoney is a Web documentary and strategy video game about Fort McMurray, Alberta, and the exploitation of the surrounding Athabasca oil sands.

Telefilm and the CMF will also take part in MIPTV, the TV and digital content market, taking place April 7-10 in Cannes. For more information visit the microsite at www.canada-miptv2014.ca.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. Please visit www.cmf-fmc.ca.

The CMF's Canadaonscreen.ca is a Website designed to showcase and celebrate Canadian creative talent and content destined for all types of screens, from television productions to games, Web content and software and applications.

SOURCE: Telefilm Canada

Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications, Telefilm Canada, [phone], ext. 2225 or 1-800-567-0890, [email protected]; Pierre Campeau, Communications Manager, Canada Media Fund, [phone], [email protected]