A valuable business partner abroad: Telefilm Canada reports up to $85M of
international sales for Canadian producers and distributors

MONTREAL, Dec. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada is unveiling today its 2008 International Markets report, highlighting Telefilm's role in providing support to the Canadian audiovisual industry in their activities abroad. For the third year in a row, the report shows a substantial growth in international sales made by Canadian producers and distributors at international festivals and markets where Telefilm is spearheading the Canada Pavilion, including European Film Market Berlinale, Hong Kong Film Mart, MIPTV, Cannes Film Market and MIPCOM.

Highlights

    
    - In 2008, aggregated sales and presales for Canadian film and TV at
      international markets reached close to $14M. On-going and working
      negotiations at international markets created an additional $71M in
      likely sales (sales expected to close as a direct result of discussions
      initiated at the market). This is total of $85M, up 21% from the
      previous year's $70M.
    - Telefilm invested about $1.2M to support Canadian companies at
      international markets. Every dollar invested in international markets
      by Telefilm resulted in over $11 in sales for companies, up from $9 the
      previous year.
    - As per the last three years, MIPTV was the most successful market in
      terms of percentage of participants achieving sales: 96% of
      participating companies saw some sales activity. It is also the market
      that saw the highest volume of sales, with more than $5.2M.
    - Co-production and co-venture partnerships increased by 20% over the
      previous year, with 65 Canadian companies involved in 115 deals with 21
      different countries, reported to be worth over $23M.
    

"With an important increase in international sales for Canadian producers and distributors, we are happy to see the Canadian audiovisual industry benefiting from Telefilm's strategic support abroad," stated Michel Roy, Chair of Telefilm's Board of Directors. "Over the past few years, we have made a priority of forging alliances with foreign partners and promoting co-production activities across international markets, as they help build industry capacity and ensure its long-term viability," he concluded.

Telefilm's role abroad

On the international scene, Telefilm, in partnership with members of the International Business Development Group (IBDG), until recently known as the International Initiative Advisory Committee (IIAC), provides support to Canadian companies by spearheading the Canada Pavilion at selected festivals and markets. There, it works at bolstering the sales efforts of producers and distributors with initiatives directed at investors and buyers. It also enables Canadian and foreign producers to pool resources in co-producing film and television programs. Finally, Telefilm also supports the international launch of select Canadian productions with special marketing initiatives at festivals identified as priority opportunities.

Overall, Canadian companies reported being satisfied with all the services offered by Telefilm abroad in 2008. Of participating companies attending international festivals and markets, 92% used the Canada Pavilion. All Canada Pavilions saw an average satisfaction score of 7.8 out of 10 and very few specific market elements received a mark of less than 7 out of 10.

To read Telefilm Canada's 2008 International Markets report, visit:

http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/document/en/01/17/International-Markets-Report-2008.pdf.

Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry

Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers the funding programs of the Canada Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca.

About IBDG

The International Business Development Group (IBDG) is composed of federal, provincial and industry partners working together to increase the international competitiveness of the Canadian audiovisual industry. Member institutions are: Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ), the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), the Department of Canadian Heritage (DCH), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Alberta Film, BC Film, Film Nova Scotia, Manitoba Film & Sound, New Brunswick Film, Newfoundland Film Development Corporation (NFLDC), Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), SaskFilm, Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) and Telefilm Canada, acting as Chair.

For further information: Media inquiries: Eva Hartling, Senior Advisor, External Communications, Telefilm Canada, [phone], 1-800-567-08920, ext. 2090, [e-mail]