The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and France’s Union Syndicale de la Production Audiovisuelle (USPA) announced Tuesday a joint delegation of producers from Canada and France that will participate in a dedicated mission to explore coproduction opportunities for drama and documentary projects.
“The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral connections between French and Canadian producers, with a focus on the development of new English-language television series across genres,” reads a CMPA press release.
The delegation of producers will travel first to the Series Mania festival being held this week in Lille, France, and then head to Paris, where participants will meet with potential collaborators, as well as commissioners, studio executives, and other industry leaders, the release says.
In addition to bringing Canadian and French producers together to strengthen content collaboration, the CMPA and USPA will discuss the ongoing challenges faced by the independent production sectors in their respective countries.
“USPA is thrilled with the ongoing international cooperation fostered by its partnership with CMPA in Canada. In the current international context, it is necessary to strengthen the links between our two countries, both operationally and politically,” Amanda Borghino, deputy general delegate of the USPA, said in the release. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration and shaping together new paths for transatlantic content.”
“France has long been a valued production partner for Canada, and we are thrilled to collaborate with USPA on this initiative,” said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of the CMPA. “Today, our two countries are leading global efforts to ensure foreign streaming services respect the right of national governments to require equitable contributions to domestic production, and opportunities for local producers to hold and exploit their own intellectual property. This is critical to the success of local independent production sectors, and to safeguarding individual countries’ national cultural sovereignty.”
This initiative is being presented in collaboration with Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport Associations program, the French Embassy in Canada and the Canadian Embassy in France.
Delegation participants from Canada include:
- Amos Adetuyi, Circle Blue Entertainment
- Alfons Adetuyi, Inner City Films
- Kerry Appleyard, Lionsgate Canada
- Eli Campbell, Peacock Alley Entertainment
- Annette Clarke, Ruby Line Productions
- Lauren Corber, LoCo Motion Pictures
- David Cormican, Fun Republic Pictures
- Malachi Ellis, Area V5 Pictures
- Sibel Guvenc, Kybele Films
- Frederick Kroetsch, Catapult Pictures
- Michelle Morris, Lily Pictures
- Michael Souther, Amaze Films
- Steven Thibault, Screen Siren Pictures
Delegation participants from France include:
- Iris Bucher, Quad Drama (USPA president)
- Thomas Anargyros, Mediawan Studio France (USPA vice president)
- Isabelle Degeorges, Gaumont Television France (USPA vice president)
- Patricia Boutinard Rouelle, Nilaya Productions (USPA vice president)
- Odile McDonald, Wildcats Productions
- Arnaud de Crémiers, Jour Premier
- Sophie Deloche, Astharté & Cie
- Nicolas Deprost, What’s Up Productions
- Fabrice Estève, Yuzu Productions
- Emmanuel François, Brotherfilms
- Corine Janin, Bleu Kobalt
- Betty Johnson, Habebo Studios
- Amélie Juan, Morgane Production
- Jean-Marie Laronze, Monde et Media TV
- Gini Lorin, Script Line
- Tatiana Maksimenko, Hamak Productions (Effervescence Group)
