Canada is MIPCOM 2012 Country of Honour

PARIS, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MIPCOM today announces that Canada will be the MIPCOM 2012 Country of Honour. Organised by Reed MIDEM, MIPCOM will take place in Cannes, 8-11 October.

As part of the tribute to the Canadian television, film and digital industries, MIPCOM, in partnership with the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada, will organise a dedicated Focus on Canada featuring a wide-ranging programme of high-level conference speakers, screening showcases, world-renowned Canadian talent, and business matchmaking events.

The Focus on Canada will run throughout MIPJunior (Oct. 6-7) and MIPCOM (Oct. 8-11) and will highlight Canadian excellence in international co-productions and across all media, as well as celebrating Canadian world-class scripted dramas, animation, documentaries, films, experimental and digital media. The Focus will also provide an opportunity to update international decision makers on federal and provincial financing and funding incentives; the broadcast, cable and satellite distribution market; and location scouting in Canada.

"With more than 228 Canadian companies present at MIPCOM, including a wide range of independent producers and major television and film studios, and encompassing both English and French-language productions, Canada has been one of the most inspiring and active global players in the television industry for as long as we can remember," said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM's Television Division. "The Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada play a pivotal role in supporting the Canadian television, film and digital industries and that role is once again confirmed by their support for the Focus on Canada initiative."

"The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is thrilled to partner with Reed MIDEM and Telefilm Canada to feature great Canadian talent and productions at MIPCOM 2012. The quality Canadian television and digital media projects that the CMF supports have generated $2.3 billion CAD in production activity across Canada since 2010," said Valerie Creighton, CMF's President and CEO. "International audiences and partners are paramount to position Canada as a leader in today's competitive global digital environment. This partnership is an opportunity to showcase the best of Canada and to share our achievements with the world."

"The time is right for Canada to be in the spotlight at MIPCOM 2012. Whether it's international visibility at the Oscars and Cannes, or $1.02 billion CAD from 2006 to 2010 in total feature film treaty co-production budgets, partnering with Canada means business," added Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada's Executive Director. "As outlined in Telefilm's latest corporate plan, two of our strategic priorities include focusing on stimulating demand and on expanding financing sources for the Canadian audiovisual industry. Without question, foreign markets offer important opportunities for Canadian creators to reach new international audiences, and foreign partnerships provide additional resources to create high-quality productions with broad appeal."

About MIPCOM – MIPCOM is the year's most anticipated global market for entertainment content across all platforms. Each Autumn, the industry's international heavy hitters – from TV and film – converge in Cannes to create a new world of entertainment. MIPCOM turns every moment into an opportunity, transforming four days of meetings, screenings and conferences into deals – from blockbuster programming to ground-breaking partnerships. And the children's entertainment industry gets an early start at MIPJunior, where key international buyers, sellers and producers gather to present, discover and screen content at the world's showcase for kids programming.

Please visit www.mipcom.com.

About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund champions the creation of successful, innovative, Canadian content and software applications for current and emerging digital platforms through financial support and industry research. Created by Canada's cable and satellite distributors and the Government of Canada, the CMF aspires to connect Canadians to our creative expressions, to each other, and to the world. Please visit www.cmf-fmc.ca.

About Telefilm Canada
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. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund's programs. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada.

SOURCE Reed MIDEM