The Canadian Media Production Association’s conference will explore the changing face of the entertainment business when it runs from March 4-6.
Scheduled speakers include author and columnist Michael Wolff on the relationship between digital and legacy media and former Screen International editor Michael Gubbins of SampoMedia on the future of feature film and digital media.
Prime Time will also release the study Content Everywhere (2): Securing Canada’s Place In The Digital Future.
Catherine Tait of Duopoly Inc led the report, a follow-up to the original 2011 paper that provides an overview of the eight common characteristics of successful digital-first content from Canada, the UK and the Us.
Other subjects under discussion include strategy for broadcasters and producers to get ahead of shifts in regulation and the marketplace, how to monetise and migrate audiences and the industry’s collective role in promoting Canada as a key player in the content market.
For further...
Scheduled speakers include author and columnist Michael Wolff on the relationship between digital and legacy media and former Screen International editor Michael Gubbins of SampoMedia on the future of feature film and digital media.
Prime Time will also release the study Content Everywhere (2): Securing Canada’s Place In The Digital Future.
Catherine Tait of Duopoly Inc led the report, a follow-up to the original 2011 paper that provides an overview of the eight common characteristics of successful digital-first content from Canada, the UK and the Us.
Other subjects under discussion include strategy for broadcasters and producers to get ahead of shifts in regulation and the marketplace, how to monetise and migrate audiences and the industry’s collective role in promoting Canada as a key player in the content market.
For further...
- 2/23/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Power to the Pixel event to include a major Nordic delegation.Scroll down for full list of projects
Power to the Pixel (PttP) has announced the 32 cross-media projects from across Europe, the Us, Canada, the Middle East, Australia and South America selected to participate in The Pixel Market (Oct 8-9).
The two-day finance and co-production market is run as part of 8th Power to the Pixel: The Cross-Media Forum (Oct 7-10), held in association with the 58th BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19).
From the 32 teams, PttP has selected the top eight to compete for the Arte International Prize for The Pixel Market, a €6,000 ($7,800) award sponsored by the French/German broadcaster.
The producers and creators will present to a panel of international commissioning executives, financiers and experts who will use these projects as a backdrop to discuss successful finance strategies, sustainable business models and the companies actively investing in new media.
The winning team will be...
Power to the Pixel (PttP) has announced the 32 cross-media projects from across Europe, the Us, Canada, the Middle East, Australia and South America selected to participate in The Pixel Market (Oct 8-9).
The two-day finance and co-production market is run as part of 8th Power to the Pixel: The Cross-Media Forum (Oct 7-10), held in association with the 58th BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19).
From the 32 teams, PttP has selected the top eight to compete for the Arte International Prize for The Pixel Market, a €6,000 ($7,800) award sponsored by the French/German broadcaster.
The producers and creators will present to a panel of international commissioning executives, financiers and experts who will use these projects as a backdrop to discuss successful finance strategies, sustainable business models and the companies actively investing in new media.
The winning team will be...
- 9/17/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The 34th annual Atlantic Film Festival (Aff) announced its full festival program, featuring over 190 films and a full slate of special events, to be presented over eight days in Halifax, September 11-18.
"A film festival’s primary reason for existing is to celebrate film and to say this year’s line up of films and events is a celebration is a dramatic understatement,” said Wayne Carter, Executive Director. “The sheer breadth and quality of films from both our Atlantic region and beyond offers something for everyone and when you match that with special events that deliver an experience to remember we confidently feel we are raising the bar like never before."
“Our Government is pleased to support this iconic event through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, as part of our commitment to building a strong, competitive regional economy, said the Honorable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). The Festival generates tangible benefits for our region, opening new doors to international markets for local artists and industry professionals.”
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala Red Carpet Opening Night will take place at a new venue this year, the Dalhousie Arts Centre’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Sponsored by NBC Universal, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this star-studded evening will feature the
Opening Gala presentation of "Elephant Song," directed by Charles Binamé ("The Rocket," "Seraphin" ).
Set in 1966, a psychiatrist (Bruce Greenwood) cautiously pries one secret after another from a charismatic but unbalanced patient (Xavier Dolan) concerning the disappearance of the patient’s doctor. What begins as a psychological cat-and-mouse game quickly becomes a far more serious exchange about loss, memory and mystery, with deadly consequences all around. Fuelled by moving performances from an all-star cast, including Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener and Carrie-Ann Moss, "Elephant Song" is an exceptional trip into the world of imagination and desire. "Elephant Song" is produced Richard Goudreau and Melenny Productions and is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Following the Opening Gala film presentation is the Opening Night Party. Penned as one of Halifax’s ‘most anticipated parties of the year’, the red-carpet event is once again sponsored by NBCUniversal and will take place at the Cunard Centre on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Festival's Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 18 will be "Maps to the Stars" by director, David Cronenberg. His latest feature film sees the veteran horror director veering into satire, comedy, and social commentary while still providing enough shocks to satisfy his old audience as he courts the new. This time out it is Hollywood itself that is the Toronto filmmaker’s target, telling multiple tales of past-it thespians, desperate wannabees and out-of-control child actors all colliding in a fast-paced, fame-obsessed world where nobody holds anything back. Both funny and terrifying, "Map To the Stars" sees "All About Eve" accelerated into Entourage on steroids.
"Maps to the Stars" is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the eight films comprising the
2014 Rogers Special Presentations. Savour the sights and sounds of soon to be award-winning films: ’71 , a moving combat film set during a terrifying riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971; "Foxcatcher," starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo; Simon Pegg as a disillusioned psychiatrist on the hunt for meaning in "Hector and the Search for Happiness;" Mike Leigh’s "Mr. Turner," featuring the award-winning performance of Timothy Spall; the hilarious and heart-warming film, "My Old Lady" with Kevin Kline, Kristen Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith; Jake Gyllenhaal’s career-defining performance in Dan Gilroy’s "Nightcrawler;" and Ruba Nadda’s
"October Gale," starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman and Tim Roth.
The Aff will once again feature French films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. program will take place from Friday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 15 and will feature two Gala Presentations. Xavier Dolan’s "Mommy" will be the Gala Français Canadien and Jean-Luc Godard’s "Adieu au langage 3D" ("Goodbye to Language 3D") will be the Gala Français International – reuniting the two Jury Prize winners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Rounding out this year’s complete program is a top-tier line up of features and documentaries from Canada and throughout the world. Viewers will delight in a wide range of features such as: François Girard’s "Boychoir;" Kristen Stewart in both "Camp X-Ray" and "Clouds of Sils Maria;" Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s "Coming Home" (Gui Lai); "God Help the Girl" by Belle & Sebastien’s Stuart Murdoch; Cannes opener, "Grace of Monaco;" Sundance winner, "Whiplash;" Palme d’Or winner, "Winter Sleep;" and many more.
Select documentaries include: Nick Cave-focussed "20,000 Days on Earth;" a career-spanning look at one of film’s greatest directors in
"Altman;" the story of Russian hockey dominance in "Red Army;" a look inside Sesame Street’s most beloved character in "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story;" and an exposé of bird poaching in "Emptying the Skies," among many other captivating and enlightening titles.
Also included in this year’s line up are Short Film Programs, featuring both a Canadian and international selection, a ViewFinders: Films for Youth program, film retrospectives at the Dalhousie Art Gallery, and the Festival’s always popular Late Shift program, which this year will screen the 40th Anniversary Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
The 2014 Festival will host several one-of-a kind special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax. In addition to the Opening Night Party and debuting at this year’s festival is the Festival Music House Atlantic presented by Radio Starmaker Fund . The event offers some of the hottest music acts in the country (open exclusively to Festival Passholders and Festival Delegates).
The event will also feature A State of Mine Exhibition , an exhibition from photographer, Chris Geworsky exploring the personal, intimate and unique place each subject visits when he/she loses themselves in their own music; the Ofe@Aff – an Aff Outdoor Film Experience screening of Aff’s 2012 Atlantic Gala film, The Disappeared on the Dartmouth Waterfront; and the 34th Atlantic Film Festival Awards Reception , honoring the amazing talents of Atlantic Canadian film industry professionals.
Strategic Partners , a one-of-a-kind event focusing on film, television and digital fiction, from across Canada and around the world, will take place as part of Aff, Sept. 11-14. Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, aggregators and distributors are selected to attend. Recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent co-production markets and celebrating its 17th year, Strategic Partners 2014 is shining the Country Spotlight brightly on Latin America and the U.S., and offering delegates over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, screenings and receptions as well as the popular Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia Lobster Dinner By the Sea.
Keynote speakers include: Peter Gerard , Head of Content and Audience Engagement at Vimeo and Mariela Besuievsky , Academy award-winning producer at Tornasol Films. In addition there will be a case study of The Games Maker , a Canada/Agentina co-production success story; digital panel: Web Series Wizards Weigh In , with moderator Catherine Tait (Guidestones, Sos: Save Our Skins ) which will give independent producers insight on how to create/finance successful online content; and TV panel: Beyond Broadcast , with moderator Damon D’Oliveira ( What We Have, The Book of Negroes ) who will explore the changing broadcast landscape and original television programming in an increasingly digital-first world.
Financed with the support of the Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development and Telefilm Canada as the Presenting Partner, Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results. For more information, visit: atlanticfilm.com/sp
About the Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival (Aff) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 11-18.
Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Aff is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the Aff depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.
The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.
Receive the most up-to-date information about the Atlantic Film Festival and its Family of Programs:
atlanticfilm.com , on Facebook page:
/atlanticfilmfestival , on Twitter account:...
"A film festival’s primary reason for existing is to celebrate film and to say this year’s line up of films and events is a celebration is a dramatic understatement,” said Wayne Carter, Executive Director. “The sheer breadth and quality of films from both our Atlantic region and beyond offers something for everyone and when you match that with special events that deliver an experience to remember we confidently feel we are raising the bar like never before."
“Our Government is pleased to support this iconic event through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, as part of our commitment to building a strong, competitive regional economy, said the Honorable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). The Festival generates tangible benefits for our region, opening new doors to international markets for local artists and industry professionals.”
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala Red Carpet Opening Night will take place at a new venue this year, the Dalhousie Arts Centre’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Sponsored by NBC Universal, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this star-studded evening will feature the
Opening Gala presentation of "Elephant Song," directed by Charles Binamé ("The Rocket," "Seraphin" ).
Set in 1966, a psychiatrist (Bruce Greenwood) cautiously pries one secret after another from a charismatic but unbalanced patient (Xavier Dolan) concerning the disappearance of the patient’s doctor. What begins as a psychological cat-and-mouse game quickly becomes a far more serious exchange about loss, memory and mystery, with deadly consequences all around. Fuelled by moving performances from an all-star cast, including Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener and Carrie-Ann Moss, "Elephant Song" is an exceptional trip into the world of imagination and desire. "Elephant Song" is produced Richard Goudreau and Melenny Productions and is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Following the Opening Gala film presentation is the Opening Night Party. Penned as one of Halifax’s ‘most anticipated parties of the year’, the red-carpet event is once again sponsored by NBCUniversal and will take place at the Cunard Centre on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Festival's Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 18 will be "Maps to the Stars" by director, David Cronenberg. His latest feature film sees the veteran horror director veering into satire, comedy, and social commentary while still providing enough shocks to satisfy his old audience as he courts the new. This time out it is Hollywood itself that is the Toronto filmmaker’s target, telling multiple tales of past-it thespians, desperate wannabees and out-of-control child actors all colliding in a fast-paced, fame-obsessed world where nobody holds anything back. Both funny and terrifying, "Map To the Stars" sees "All About Eve" accelerated into Entourage on steroids.
"Maps to the Stars" is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the eight films comprising the
2014 Rogers Special Presentations. Savour the sights and sounds of soon to be award-winning films: ’71 , a moving combat film set during a terrifying riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971; "Foxcatcher," starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo; Simon Pegg as a disillusioned psychiatrist on the hunt for meaning in "Hector and the Search for Happiness;" Mike Leigh’s "Mr. Turner," featuring the award-winning performance of Timothy Spall; the hilarious and heart-warming film, "My Old Lady" with Kevin Kline, Kristen Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith; Jake Gyllenhaal’s career-defining performance in Dan Gilroy’s "Nightcrawler;" and Ruba Nadda’s
"October Gale," starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman and Tim Roth.
The Aff will once again feature French films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. program will take place from Friday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 15 and will feature two Gala Presentations. Xavier Dolan’s "Mommy" will be the Gala Français Canadien and Jean-Luc Godard’s "Adieu au langage 3D" ("Goodbye to Language 3D") will be the Gala Français International – reuniting the two Jury Prize winners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Rounding out this year’s complete program is a top-tier line up of features and documentaries from Canada and throughout the world. Viewers will delight in a wide range of features such as: François Girard’s "Boychoir;" Kristen Stewart in both "Camp X-Ray" and "Clouds of Sils Maria;" Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s "Coming Home" (Gui Lai); "God Help the Girl" by Belle & Sebastien’s Stuart Murdoch; Cannes opener, "Grace of Monaco;" Sundance winner, "Whiplash;" Palme d’Or winner, "Winter Sleep;" and many more.
Select documentaries include: Nick Cave-focussed "20,000 Days on Earth;" a career-spanning look at one of film’s greatest directors in
"Altman;" the story of Russian hockey dominance in "Red Army;" a look inside Sesame Street’s most beloved character in "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story;" and an exposé of bird poaching in "Emptying the Skies," among many other captivating and enlightening titles.
Also included in this year’s line up are Short Film Programs, featuring both a Canadian and international selection, a ViewFinders: Films for Youth program, film retrospectives at the Dalhousie Art Gallery, and the Festival’s always popular Late Shift program, which this year will screen the 40th Anniversary Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
The 2014 Festival will host several one-of-a kind special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax. In addition to the Opening Night Party and debuting at this year’s festival is the Festival Music House Atlantic presented by Radio Starmaker Fund . The event offers some of the hottest music acts in the country (open exclusively to Festival Passholders and Festival Delegates).
The event will also feature A State of Mine Exhibition , an exhibition from photographer, Chris Geworsky exploring the personal, intimate and unique place each subject visits when he/she loses themselves in their own music; the Ofe@Aff – an Aff Outdoor Film Experience screening of Aff’s 2012 Atlantic Gala film, The Disappeared on the Dartmouth Waterfront; and the 34th Atlantic Film Festival Awards Reception , honoring the amazing talents of Atlantic Canadian film industry professionals.
Strategic Partners , a one-of-a-kind event focusing on film, television and digital fiction, from across Canada and around the world, will take place as part of Aff, Sept. 11-14. Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, aggregators and distributors are selected to attend. Recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent co-production markets and celebrating its 17th year, Strategic Partners 2014 is shining the Country Spotlight brightly on Latin America and the U.S., and offering delegates over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, screenings and receptions as well as the popular Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia Lobster Dinner By the Sea.
Keynote speakers include: Peter Gerard , Head of Content and Audience Engagement at Vimeo and Mariela Besuievsky , Academy award-winning producer at Tornasol Films. In addition there will be a case study of The Games Maker , a Canada/Agentina co-production success story; digital panel: Web Series Wizards Weigh In , with moderator Catherine Tait (Guidestones, Sos: Save Our Skins ) which will give independent producers insight on how to create/finance successful online content; and TV panel: Beyond Broadcast , with moderator Damon D’Oliveira ( What We Have, The Book of Negroes ) who will explore the changing broadcast landscape and original television programming in an increasingly digital-first world.
Financed with the support of the Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development and Telefilm Canada as the Presenting Partner, Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results. For more information, visit: atlanticfilm.com/sp
About the Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival (Aff) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 11-18.
Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Aff is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the Aff depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.
The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.
Receive the most up-to-date information about the Atlantic Film Festival and its Family of Programs:
atlanticfilm.com , on Facebook page:
/atlanticfilmfestival , on Twitter account:...
- 9/6/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The leading international film, television and digital co-production market in Canada is less than one month away. Strategic Partners, a presentation of the Atlantic Film Festival, unveils a line-up of cutting-edge panels and esteemed panelists not-to-be missed at this year’s event, September 11 - 14 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“We have put together a fantastic itinerary of panel discussions for this year’s program. Some of the world’s top trendsetters will descend upon Halifax to deliver the very latest news on topics such as financing and distribution of digital first content and exploring why producers should consider producing series for the web as part of their business model,” said Strategic Partners Director, Laura Mackenzie. “We are extremely excited to welcome the Argentinean Producers and Director as well as the Canadian Producers of The Games Maker to present a Case Study on this Argentinean/ Canadian/ Italian co-production. We always aim to provide the most progressive and up-to-the-minute information available and I'm very proud to announce this year’s line-up!”
I will be moderating the panel on the film "The Game Maker" on September 12th. See the full line up below.
Strategic Partners has announced the following program and panelists for 2014:
A Case Study of "The Games Maker"
When: September 12th, 1:20 Pm
Where: Imperial Room, Lord Nelson Hotel
A complex Argentinian-Canadian-Italian co-production, "The Games Maker" is a true international success story, from script to screen. Released in early July 2014 in Latin America, this family adventure film with universal appeal has dazzled at the box office.
Moderator Sydney Levine (SydneysBuzz) will lead an in-depth discussion with the stellar team behind the feature film. The discussion will shed light on the project’s origination, the obstacles they overcame during production, how financing was achieved and how distribution and international sales were determined and executed.
Panelists include: Argentinean Director, Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pampa Films ("Chinese Take-Away"); Argentinean Producer, Verónica Cura, Utopica Group ("The Headless Woman"); Canadian Producers, Kim Roberts and Tina Pehme, Sepia Films ("In Their Skin")
Web Series Wizards Weigh In – the magic behind creating successful online content
When: September 13th, 1:45 Pm
Where: Imperial Room, Lord Nelson Hotel
Original web series appeared on the market with such landmark properties as Red vs Blue and The Guild, busting open the belief that short-form web content would be YouTubers on skateboards and kittens in cardboard. Web series have since matured into their own art form and are recognized as a legitimate format of content for mobile and internet audiences. But how are producers financing web hits like Video Game High School or Epic Mealtimeand is it a viable format for independents?
Traditional and new media companies are racing to 'videofy' their internet magazines and newspapers (think Vice, The Guardian, and Conde Nast publications) as are many brands (think Red Bull, Amex and Ge.)
Panel moderator, Catherine Tait, Producer/ Distributor at iThentic, will explore with her panel of web series wizards who the new buyers are now and whether or not this is an avenue for independent producers to explore.
Panelists will include: Matthew Graham, Senior Director, PBS Digital Studios; Chris Skinner, Head of Digital, CTV; Ben Waller, Partner, RocketJump Studios
Beyond Broadcast — original programming in an increasingly digital-first world
When: September 14th, 11:20 Am
Where: Imperial Room, Lord Nelson
Today's media landscape is arguably one of the most innovative periods in media history, and yet one that is fraught with confusion and possibly disillusion, some of the best indicators of large-scale change. Currently, most online platforms are fully committed to commissioning original programming, and many media companies are producing original content for online and mobile platforms. In response, many new and traditional broadcast players are now commissioning original ‘digital first’ series, creating an ever increasingly symbiotic relationship.
How exactly are traditional broadcasters responding and what are the opportunities for their defense? How can broadcasters capitalize off this growing trend and work together with creators to further develop their online offerings?
Panel moderator, Producer Damon D'Oliveira ("What We Have," "The Book of Negroes") will examine how the concept of 'Content Everywhere’ is now imperative for all media companies, and panelists will take an in-depth look at the burgeoning marketplace for ‘digital-first’ original content.
Panelists will include: Stephen Finney, Production Executive, Original Drama Content, Shaw Media; Fay Wells, Distribution Consultant; Sam Harowitz, Director, Television Acquisitions & Development, Global Content, FreemantleMedia International
Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters and distributors are selected to attend Strategic Partners. Offering over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, and screenings and receptions – Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results.
For program updates and information on all things co-production, you can now follow Strategic Partners on social media:
Twitter: [At}SPcopromarket #spcopro2014
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atlanticfilmfestivalstrategicpartners
Youtube: www.youtube.com/atlanticfilmdotcom
About Strategic Partners: An International Film, Television and Digital Co-Production Market
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners is one of the world’s preeminent co-production/co-financing markets focusing on feature film, TV and web based fiction. Strategic Partners offers an intimate, organized forum for projects looking for financing as well as those still at an early stage, looking for the right partner.
Over the past 17 years, Strategic Partners has established itself not only as a one of a kind co-production market, but also as a cutting edge, intimate environment that delivers solutions to existing and foreseeable industry challenges. The intelligence and program offered at Strategic Partners is developed over many months of research into current global issues. However, this information is only a complement to Strategic Partners’ primary function – to build, establish and nurture relationships between producers and their partners.
Strategic Partners is a part of the Atlantic Film Festival family of programs. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, the Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.
Learn more about the Atlantic Film Festival through the links below
Website : atlanticfilm.com , atlanticfilm.com/sp
Facebook pages: /atlanticfilmfestival , /atlanticfilmfestivalstrategicpartners
Youtube channel: youtube.com/atlanticfilmdotcom...
“We have put together a fantastic itinerary of panel discussions for this year’s program. Some of the world’s top trendsetters will descend upon Halifax to deliver the very latest news on topics such as financing and distribution of digital first content and exploring why producers should consider producing series for the web as part of their business model,” said Strategic Partners Director, Laura Mackenzie. “We are extremely excited to welcome the Argentinean Producers and Director as well as the Canadian Producers of The Games Maker to present a Case Study on this Argentinean/ Canadian/ Italian co-production. We always aim to provide the most progressive and up-to-the-minute information available and I'm very proud to announce this year’s line-up!”
I will be moderating the panel on the film "The Game Maker" on September 12th. See the full line up below.
Strategic Partners has announced the following program and panelists for 2014:
A Case Study of "The Games Maker"
When: September 12th, 1:20 Pm
Where: Imperial Room, Lord Nelson Hotel
A complex Argentinian-Canadian-Italian co-production, "The Games Maker" is a true international success story, from script to screen. Released in early July 2014 in Latin America, this family adventure film with universal appeal has dazzled at the box office.
Moderator Sydney Levine (SydneysBuzz) will lead an in-depth discussion with the stellar team behind the feature film. The discussion will shed light on the project’s origination, the obstacles they overcame during production, how financing was achieved and how distribution and international sales were determined and executed.
Panelists include: Argentinean Director, Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pampa Films ("Chinese Take-Away"); Argentinean Producer, Verónica Cura, Utopica Group ("The Headless Woman"); Canadian Producers, Kim Roberts and Tina Pehme, Sepia Films ("In Their Skin")
Web Series Wizards Weigh In – the magic behind creating successful online content
When: September 13th, 1:45 Pm
Where: Imperial Room, Lord Nelson Hotel
Original web series appeared on the market with such landmark properties as Red vs Blue and The Guild, busting open the belief that short-form web content would be YouTubers on skateboards and kittens in cardboard. Web series have since matured into their own art form and are recognized as a legitimate format of content for mobile and internet audiences. But how are producers financing web hits like Video Game High School or Epic Mealtimeand is it a viable format for independents?
Traditional and new media companies are racing to 'videofy' their internet magazines and newspapers (think Vice, The Guardian, and Conde Nast publications) as are many brands (think Red Bull, Amex and Ge.)
Panel moderator, Catherine Tait, Producer/ Distributor at iThentic, will explore with her panel of web series wizards who the new buyers are now and whether or not this is an avenue for independent producers to explore.
Panelists will include: Matthew Graham, Senior Director, PBS Digital Studios; Chris Skinner, Head of Digital, CTV; Ben Waller, Partner, RocketJump Studios
Beyond Broadcast — original programming in an increasingly digital-first world
When: September 14th, 11:20 Am
Where: Imperial Room, Lord Nelson
Today's media landscape is arguably one of the most innovative periods in media history, and yet one that is fraught with confusion and possibly disillusion, some of the best indicators of large-scale change. Currently, most online platforms are fully committed to commissioning original programming, and many media companies are producing original content for online and mobile platforms. In response, many new and traditional broadcast players are now commissioning original ‘digital first’ series, creating an ever increasingly symbiotic relationship.
How exactly are traditional broadcasters responding and what are the opportunities for their defense? How can broadcasters capitalize off this growing trend and work together with creators to further develop their online offerings?
Panel moderator, Producer Damon D'Oliveira ("What We Have," "The Book of Negroes") will examine how the concept of 'Content Everywhere’ is now imperative for all media companies, and panelists will take an in-depth look at the burgeoning marketplace for ‘digital-first’ original content.
Panelists will include: Stephen Finney, Production Executive, Original Drama Content, Shaw Media; Fay Wells, Distribution Consultant; Sam Harowitz, Director, Television Acquisitions & Development, Global Content, FreemantleMedia International
Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters and distributors are selected to attend Strategic Partners. Offering over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, and screenings and receptions – Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results.
For program updates and information on all things co-production, you can now follow Strategic Partners on social media:
Twitter: [At}SPcopromarket #spcopro2014
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atlanticfilmfestivalstrategicpartners
Youtube: www.youtube.com/atlanticfilmdotcom
About Strategic Partners: An International Film, Television and Digital Co-Production Market
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners is one of the world’s preeminent co-production/co-financing markets focusing on feature film, TV and web based fiction. Strategic Partners offers an intimate, organized forum for projects looking for financing as well as those still at an early stage, looking for the right partner.
Over the past 17 years, Strategic Partners has established itself not only as a one of a kind co-production market, but also as a cutting edge, intimate environment that delivers solutions to existing and foreseeable industry challenges. The intelligence and program offered at Strategic Partners is developed over many months of research into current global issues. However, this information is only a complement to Strategic Partners’ primary function – to build, establish and nurture relationships between producers and their partners.
Strategic Partners is a part of the Atlantic Film Festival family of programs. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, the Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.
Learn more about the Atlantic Film Festival through the links below
Website : atlanticfilm.com , atlanticfilm.com/sp
Facebook pages: /atlanticfilmfestival , /atlanticfilmfestivalstrategicpartners
Youtube channel: youtube.com/atlanticfilmdotcom...
- 8/25/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Produced as a feature – 4 TV half-hours – and as a 13 episode web series, Sos: Save Our Skins is the tale of two hapless British geeks who wake up in New York City to discover that the entire human race has vanished. But as they explore the seemingly empty world before them, Ben (Nat Saunders) and Stephen (Chris Hayward) soon realize they’re not alone after all. This new comedy sci-fi adventure launched on FEARnet in the U.S. in April on its new “Twisted Comedy” block and on Blue Ant Media’s Bite TV in Canada. This U.K.-Canada coproduction was produced by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal’s Baby Cow Productions in the U.K. and by Duopoly in Canada.
“We discovered Sos: Save Our Skins in a pitch session at the Just For Laughs Conference and were determined to find a way to finance it,” said Catherine Tait , Executive Producer. “Co-productions are challenging but in the case of Sos, the talent and final results were entirely worth the effort!”
Sos: Save Our Skins was created, written by and stars two of Britain’s in-demand comedy writing teams, Nat Saunders and Chris Hayward. Together they have contributed to hit U.K. shows such as Big Train (BBC), Smack the Pony (Channel 4), Trollied (Sky) and Fit (Cbbc), and created the popular web series Misey Bear(BBC). Sos also stars Hannah Spear (Versus Valerie, Sexy Nerd Girl) as Kill the cannibal and Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy) as the voice of Andrew the Alien.
A sci-fi, comedy and horror homage, Sos: Save Our Skins sends Ben and Stephen on a desperate journey to find their loved ones, escape the jaws of death and work out why they’re two of the few remaining people on Earth. But the answer to the mystery is bigger, crazier and more apocalyptic than they could ever have imagined, and it puts the fate of the planet into their very stupid hands.
“Sos: Save Our Skins is part road movie, part sci-fi fantasy, part buddy movie, and even has a twisted love story at its heart, even if one of the lovers is a mass-murderer,” said Director and Producer, Kent Sobey.
The film version of Sos: Save Our Skins premiered at the 39th Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival in February, where Sorespot Movies observed, “[it] does not hold back with the comedy or the wildness of the plot”. The film also screened at the International Horror and Sci-fi Film Festival in Phoenix and the Sci-Fi London Film Festival (April 24 – May 4, 2014). It will screen at the St. Tropez International Film Festival (May 12 – 16, 2014).
The film was produced in association with the Independent Production Fund and with the participation of BBC Worldwide in the UK, FEARnet in the U.S. and Blue Ant Media in Canada.
About Fearnet
As America’s leading television and digital programming service devoted to genre entertainment, Fearnet delivers a diverse array of original and acquired horror, thriller and suspense content as a cable TV movie network, a video-on-demand outlet and award-winning web portal. The year-round horror network features box-office hits and popular movies from major film studios, independents, and foreign producers, as the channel programs over 350-plus titles a year; many of which are world television and broadcast premieres. The Channel has been the number-one free VOD movie service for six straight months – Sept. 13 to Feb. ’14- (available in more than 28 million homes) and the website, Fearnet.com, currently ranks as the top site in the genre category for its original content, TV reviews, web shorts and exclusives. Fearnet is a partnership between Sony Pictures Television, Lionsgate Entertainment and Comcast Corporation and is widely distributed to U.S. cable subscribers across various systems. For more information about the company, visit www.Fearnet.com and stay connected on Facebook and Twitter (@Fearnet).
About Baby Cow Productions
Established in 1999 by award winning comedy creators Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, Baby Cow Productions Ltd has gained an enviable reputation for nurturing new British comedy talent, whilst teaming up with the best of the U.K.’s established writers, directors and producers. Baby Cow’s productions include award winning Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh, Nighty Night, Mid Morning Matters, Hunderby, Moone Boy, Hebburn and the Alan Partridge specials resulting in an array of nominations and awards including Bafta, Rts, Rose d’Or, Southbank Awards and International Emmys.
Baby Cow’s most recent television shows and films include Uncle for BBC 3, The Trip to Italy, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and Philomena which received four Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.
About Duopoly
Duopoly is an independent content company which develops, produces and acts as a sales agent to a range of feature film properties, television series and digital series. Recent feature titles repped by Duopoly include Velcrow Ripper’s Occupy Love and Andrew Bush’s Roller Town. Duopoly operates its own channel on Hulu and has distributed over 300 episodes of content to this platform including successful comedy series Odd Job Jack and Puppets Who Kill.
“We discovered Sos: Save Our Skins in a pitch session at the Just For Laughs Conference and were determined to find a way to finance it,” said Catherine Tait , Executive Producer. “Co-productions are challenging but in the case of Sos, the talent and final results were entirely worth the effort!”
Sos: Save Our Skins was created, written by and stars two of Britain’s in-demand comedy writing teams, Nat Saunders and Chris Hayward. Together they have contributed to hit U.K. shows such as Big Train (BBC), Smack the Pony (Channel 4), Trollied (Sky) and Fit (Cbbc), and created the popular web series Misey Bear(BBC). Sos also stars Hannah Spear (Versus Valerie, Sexy Nerd Girl) as Kill the cannibal and Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy) as the voice of Andrew the Alien.
A sci-fi, comedy and horror homage, Sos: Save Our Skins sends Ben and Stephen on a desperate journey to find their loved ones, escape the jaws of death and work out why they’re two of the few remaining people on Earth. But the answer to the mystery is bigger, crazier and more apocalyptic than they could ever have imagined, and it puts the fate of the planet into their very stupid hands.
“Sos: Save Our Skins is part road movie, part sci-fi fantasy, part buddy movie, and even has a twisted love story at its heart, even if one of the lovers is a mass-murderer,” said Director and Producer, Kent Sobey.
The film version of Sos: Save Our Skins premiered at the 39th Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival in February, where Sorespot Movies observed, “[it] does not hold back with the comedy or the wildness of the plot”. The film also screened at the International Horror and Sci-fi Film Festival in Phoenix and the Sci-Fi London Film Festival (April 24 – May 4, 2014). It will screen at the St. Tropez International Film Festival (May 12 – 16, 2014).
The film was produced in association with the Independent Production Fund and with the participation of BBC Worldwide in the UK, FEARnet in the U.S. and Blue Ant Media in Canada.
About Fearnet
As America’s leading television and digital programming service devoted to genre entertainment, Fearnet delivers a diverse array of original and acquired horror, thriller and suspense content as a cable TV movie network, a video-on-demand outlet and award-winning web portal. The year-round horror network features box-office hits and popular movies from major film studios, independents, and foreign producers, as the channel programs over 350-plus titles a year; many of which are world television and broadcast premieres. The Channel has been the number-one free VOD movie service for six straight months – Sept. 13 to Feb. ’14- (available in more than 28 million homes) and the website, Fearnet.com, currently ranks as the top site in the genre category for its original content, TV reviews, web shorts and exclusives. Fearnet is a partnership between Sony Pictures Television, Lionsgate Entertainment and Comcast Corporation and is widely distributed to U.S. cable subscribers across various systems. For more information about the company, visit www.Fearnet.com and stay connected on Facebook and Twitter (@Fearnet).
About Baby Cow Productions
Established in 1999 by award winning comedy creators Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, Baby Cow Productions Ltd has gained an enviable reputation for nurturing new British comedy talent, whilst teaming up with the best of the U.K.’s established writers, directors and producers. Baby Cow’s productions include award winning Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh, Nighty Night, Mid Morning Matters, Hunderby, Moone Boy, Hebburn and the Alan Partridge specials resulting in an array of nominations and awards including Bafta, Rts, Rose d’Or, Southbank Awards and International Emmys.
Baby Cow’s most recent television shows and films include Uncle for BBC 3, The Trip to Italy, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and Philomena which received four Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.
About Duopoly
Duopoly is an independent content company which develops, produces and acts as a sales agent to a range of feature film properties, television series and digital series. Recent feature titles repped by Duopoly include Velcrow Ripper’s Occupy Love and Andrew Bush’s Roller Town. Duopoly operates its own channel on Hulu and has distributed over 300 episodes of content to this platform including successful comedy series Odd Job Jack and Puppets Who Kill.
- 5/6/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Eight projects and in the running for the prestigious Arte Pixel Pitch Prize and new prizes have been introduced as cross-media content creation and distribution grow.
Power to the Pixel(PttP) has named the 30 cross-media projects which have been selected to participate in The Pixel Market 2012, its two-day co-production market to be held in London on 17 and 18 October, during the annual Cross-Media Forum held in association with the 56th BFI London Film Festival.
Watch the Power to the Pixel Introduction here:
Of the 30 teams, eight have been selected to compete for the prestigious Arte Pixel Pitch Prize, an award of £6,000 generously sponsored by the French/German broadcaster. The eight projects in the running for this prize will be presented at The Pixel Pitch, to be judged by a panel of international commissioning executives, decision-makers and financiers who face the hard task of choosing an ultimate winner. For participants and the audience of PttP delegates who will also be in attendance, The Pixel Pitch offers a unique opportunity to hear how cross-media projects are financed, and by whom.
Liz Rosenthal, CEO & Founder of Power to the Pixel said: “Making the selection of 30 projects for this year’s market was a hard task for all the right reasons. Creators are increasingly working on the development of their story ideas and content, and as a result this year’s Pixel Market and the whole arena is growing fast. We have selected 30 projects from nearly 100 entrants, well up from 25 last year which is hugely exciting for potential international partners and investors. As a result, this year's Pixel Market is bigger and bolder, with new prizes introduced to help support projects and their creators. We’re delighted to be expanding the opportunities that The Cross-Media Forum brings to the BFI London Film Festival and to the UK creative sector as a whole.”
The eight projects in competition at The Pixel Pitch include The Super 8 Complex, a user-generated interactive archive celebrating 8mm film, by award-winning production company Spring Films, the U.K. production partner of Werner Herzog Films. Jeff Norton, a finalist at last year’s Pixel Pitch, returns with his immersive dystopia Metawars. The Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Arash Riahi also makes a return: his project, Everyday Rebellion, was developed through PttP’s European cross-media workshop The Pixel Lab in 2010.
In addition, all 30 producer-led teams at the Market stand a chance of winning one of three new prizes, backed by international sponsors: the beActive Pixel Market Comedy Prize, the Mozilla Pixel Market Prize for Non-Fiction, and the Cinekid Pixel Market Prize, for projects aimed at children aged between 4 and 14.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 18 October.
The Pixel Market is a unique event, dedicated to financing international cross-media properties. It puts the best cross-media projects from around the world on show in front of more than 100 leading international financiers, commissioners and decision-makers from film, broadcast, games, publishing, advertising, the arts, mobile, tech and interactive media, offering producers one-to-one meetings with these experts that could be decisive in taking their projects forward. It lies at the heart of PttP’s Cross-Media Forum, now in its sixth year, which covers the latest trends in audience behaviour and new business models in the cross-media and transmedia space.
The Pixel Market is supported by the Media Programme of the European Union. Additional support from the BFI, Arts Council England, Creative Skillset's Film Skills Fund, Canada Media Fund, Arte, Creative Industries Ktn, Telefilm Canada, beActive, Cinekid, Mozilla and Tribeca Film Institute.
Costas Daskalakis, Head of Media programme unit at Eacea said: "Cross-media projects have attracted a lot of attention over the last few years. Media is happy to support events such as The Pixel Market so that they also attract funding. The Media programme has developed an overall strategy to support cross-media projects including training, financial support for development, markets and distribution."
Clare Stewart, Festival Director, BFI London Film Festival said: "The Pixel Market is an integral part of the BFI London Film Festival’s Industry programme, providing tangible opportunities for innovative cross-media projects to attract marketplace support.”
Dan Simmons, Head of Film, Creative Skillset said: "The impact of digital and new technology continues to be a funding priority for Creative Skillset under the UK's film skills strategy 'A Bigger Future 2'.
We have funded Power to the Pixel since its inception six years ago. Events such as The Pixel Lab and The Pixel Market are powerful opportunities for cross-media professionals - spanning different sectors of the creative industries - to network with leading digital pioneers; developing new business and transmedia opportunities in an international environment."
Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund said: "The Canada Media Fund is pleased to partner once again with Power to the Pixel which brings together a world of creative talents. We recognise the important role of The Pixel Market as a key event where producers share their wealth of knowledge amongst each other. The diversity of voices and projects presented here illustrate the unique opportunities that exist within the world of cross-media.”
Michel Reilhac, Executive Director of Arte France Cinéma said: "There is no better place today then the London Pixel Market to keep myself informed of the best transmedia stories in the making. It is a fast evolving new field and this is where I feel I can stay on top of what is happening creatively.”
Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada's Executive Director, said: "We’re excited to support Power to the Pixel for a second year running. At Telefilm, finding innovative ways to engage audiences and to stimulate demand across borders and platforms is at the centre of our priorities. This unique international forum provides trend-setting producers from Canada with an opportunity to showcase their work and to engage with leading decision-makers in this dynamic marketplace."
Jeremy Davenport, Deputy Director Creative Industries Ktn said: "Power to the Pixel is exploring the cutting edge of digital convergence, where creativity, content and technology are forging new ways of storytelling for a global audience. Ciktn is looking forward to seeing the exciting projects that are emerging this year."
Brett Gaylor, Director Mozilla Popcorn said: "We're excited at Mozilla to see how the makers chosen for this year's Pixel Market will transform the web."
Nuno Bernardo, MD beActive said: "We're very impressed with the quality of the projects submitted that make the jury decision very difficult. We are seeing an increase not only in quality but also in the diversity of the projects submitted. This year comedy-based projects are strong contenders, and we are excited about the projects that are eligible for the beActive Pixel Market Comedy Prize."
Fleur Winters, Head Cinekid for Professionals said: "I’m extremely pleased to partner with Power to the Pixel, especially with this great selection of 30 innovative projects. The new frontiers they tap into matches ours and are so important! Producers will hopefully find a perfect follow up of their children’s cross-media projects after the renowned Pixel Market at the Junior Co-production Market, here at Cinekid in Amsterdam.”
Beth Janson, Executive Director Tribeca Film Institute said: "The Pixel Market is an essential destination if you are looking for the best and the brightest independent producers in this quickly evolving space. We are thrilled to be partners with Liz Rosenthal and her team.”
Full List of The Pixel Market 2012 Participants
In Competition:
Stephan Bonnefoy & Christophe Findji, 2 Minutes & Jus de Prod, Ori&Gami! (France) Edward Dallal, Spring Films, The Super 8 Complex (U.K.) Steven Grisales & Jose Luis Rugeles, Rhayuela Cine, Buenaventura Mon Amour (Colombia) Natalia Imaz & Luisa Romeo, Parabellum Film & Frida Films, The Incredibles (Spain/Germany) Jeff Norton, Awesome Media & Entertainment, Metawars (Canada/ U.K.) Uffe Savery & Mads Damsbo, Copenhagen Phil in cooperation with Makropol, World Online Orchestra Project (Denmark) Arash & Arman T. Riahi, Golden Girls Filmproduktion & Filmservices, Everyday Rebellion (Austria) Mahyad Tousi, BoomGen Studios, Birthright (U.S.)
General Selection:
Sarah Arruda, Mary Dickie, Mike Robbins & Alex Wittholz, Helios Design Labs, Queen West - Art.Noise.Mayhem (Canada) Jakob Balslev & Petter Madegård, Nordisk Film Production, Cinema dell'Arte #3 – Thunders of Thor (Denmark) Enrica Capra, GraffitiDoc, Europe for Sale (Italy) Matthieu de Laborde & Samuel Aubin, Iskra and Rhizome, It is That Way (France) Nicolas Deprost & Julien Krizek, Whac Média, Ukiyo-e, Stories of the floating world (France) Bruno de Sa Moreira & Edouard Lussan, Normandy Productions, William the Conqueror (France) Bruno Felix, Submarine Channel, The Last Hijack (Netherlands) Marcos Ferreira, MobContent, Music.Art.Place (Brazil) Fabrizia Galvagno, Doc in Progress, Docusound (Italy) Ellin Hare & Magnus Dennison, Amber Film & Photography Collective and Meerkat Films, Between the Mud and the Farthest Star (U.K.) Annika Hellström & Petra Revenue, Anagram Produktion and Cinenic Film, Blasting Bängtssons (Sweden) Gabriela Isas, Chocolate Albino, Victor (U.S../ U.K.) Esben Kjær Ravn, Kong Orange, Let’s Dance - A Casual Game About Death (Denmark) Kristoff Leue, Sancta, ZOOks (Belgium) Zack Lieberman, Exit Strategy New Media & Max & Charlie Productions, Max & Charlie (U.S.) Michael Luda, Thomas Langhanki & Sven Sund, Saxonia Media and Experimental Game, The Slumbers - Wish Tales (Germany) Zach Niles, SodaSoap Creative, Lakou Mizik (U.S.) Lucas Ochoa & Hugh Garry, Pulse Films, In Your Voice In Your Heart (U.S./ U.K.) Lise Saxtrup, Dajana Dimovska & Trine Laier, Klassefilm & KnapNokGames, Cosmic Top Secret – Black Holes Expansion (Denmark) Kent Sobey & Catherine Tait, Farmhouse Productions/ Duopoly Canada/ Baby Cow Productions, Sos: Save Our Skins (Canada/ U.K.) Alex Steyermark & Lavinia Jones, 1m1 Trax, The 78 Project (U.S./ Canada) Juliet Tzabar & Dominic Minns, This is Pip/Plug-in Media, Ha Ha Bonk (U.K.)
For updates on the Pixel Market and more information on the Cross-Media Forum go to http://powertothepixel.com/events-and-training/pttp-events/london-forum-2012/pixel-market-1718-oct
Power to the Pixel’s clients and partners include: Arte; BAFTA; BBC, Bbh; Berlin Film Festival; BFI; Canada Media Fund; Cannes Film Festival (Marché du Film); Eave; EU Media Programme; Edinburgh International Film Festival; Ifp; Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg; Mozilla; Nordisk Film & TV Fond; Orange; Telefilm Canada; TorinoFilmLab.
www.powertothepixel.com...
Power to the Pixel(PttP) has named the 30 cross-media projects which have been selected to participate in The Pixel Market 2012, its two-day co-production market to be held in London on 17 and 18 October, during the annual Cross-Media Forum held in association with the 56th BFI London Film Festival.
Watch the Power to the Pixel Introduction here:
Of the 30 teams, eight have been selected to compete for the prestigious Arte Pixel Pitch Prize, an award of £6,000 generously sponsored by the French/German broadcaster. The eight projects in the running for this prize will be presented at The Pixel Pitch, to be judged by a panel of international commissioning executives, decision-makers and financiers who face the hard task of choosing an ultimate winner. For participants and the audience of PttP delegates who will also be in attendance, The Pixel Pitch offers a unique opportunity to hear how cross-media projects are financed, and by whom.
Liz Rosenthal, CEO & Founder of Power to the Pixel said: “Making the selection of 30 projects for this year’s market was a hard task for all the right reasons. Creators are increasingly working on the development of their story ideas and content, and as a result this year’s Pixel Market and the whole arena is growing fast. We have selected 30 projects from nearly 100 entrants, well up from 25 last year which is hugely exciting for potential international partners and investors. As a result, this year's Pixel Market is bigger and bolder, with new prizes introduced to help support projects and their creators. We’re delighted to be expanding the opportunities that The Cross-Media Forum brings to the BFI London Film Festival and to the UK creative sector as a whole.”
The eight projects in competition at The Pixel Pitch include The Super 8 Complex, a user-generated interactive archive celebrating 8mm film, by award-winning production company Spring Films, the U.K. production partner of Werner Herzog Films. Jeff Norton, a finalist at last year’s Pixel Pitch, returns with his immersive dystopia Metawars. The Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Arash Riahi also makes a return: his project, Everyday Rebellion, was developed through PttP’s European cross-media workshop The Pixel Lab in 2010.
In addition, all 30 producer-led teams at the Market stand a chance of winning one of three new prizes, backed by international sponsors: the beActive Pixel Market Comedy Prize, the Mozilla Pixel Market Prize for Non-Fiction, and the Cinekid Pixel Market Prize, for projects aimed at children aged between 4 and 14.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 18 October.
The Pixel Market is a unique event, dedicated to financing international cross-media properties. It puts the best cross-media projects from around the world on show in front of more than 100 leading international financiers, commissioners and decision-makers from film, broadcast, games, publishing, advertising, the arts, mobile, tech and interactive media, offering producers one-to-one meetings with these experts that could be decisive in taking their projects forward. It lies at the heart of PttP’s Cross-Media Forum, now in its sixth year, which covers the latest trends in audience behaviour and new business models in the cross-media and transmedia space.
The Pixel Market is supported by the Media Programme of the European Union. Additional support from the BFI, Arts Council England, Creative Skillset's Film Skills Fund, Canada Media Fund, Arte, Creative Industries Ktn, Telefilm Canada, beActive, Cinekid, Mozilla and Tribeca Film Institute.
Costas Daskalakis, Head of Media programme unit at Eacea said: "Cross-media projects have attracted a lot of attention over the last few years. Media is happy to support events such as The Pixel Market so that they also attract funding. The Media programme has developed an overall strategy to support cross-media projects including training, financial support for development, markets and distribution."
Clare Stewart, Festival Director, BFI London Film Festival said: "The Pixel Market is an integral part of the BFI London Film Festival’s Industry programme, providing tangible opportunities for innovative cross-media projects to attract marketplace support.”
Dan Simmons, Head of Film, Creative Skillset said: "The impact of digital and new technology continues to be a funding priority for Creative Skillset under the UK's film skills strategy 'A Bigger Future 2'.
We have funded Power to the Pixel since its inception six years ago. Events such as The Pixel Lab and The Pixel Market are powerful opportunities for cross-media professionals - spanning different sectors of the creative industries - to network with leading digital pioneers; developing new business and transmedia opportunities in an international environment."
Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund said: "The Canada Media Fund is pleased to partner once again with Power to the Pixel which brings together a world of creative talents. We recognise the important role of The Pixel Market as a key event where producers share their wealth of knowledge amongst each other. The diversity of voices and projects presented here illustrate the unique opportunities that exist within the world of cross-media.”
Michel Reilhac, Executive Director of Arte France Cinéma said: "There is no better place today then the London Pixel Market to keep myself informed of the best transmedia stories in the making. It is a fast evolving new field and this is where I feel I can stay on top of what is happening creatively.”
Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada's Executive Director, said: "We’re excited to support Power to the Pixel for a second year running. At Telefilm, finding innovative ways to engage audiences and to stimulate demand across borders and platforms is at the centre of our priorities. This unique international forum provides trend-setting producers from Canada with an opportunity to showcase their work and to engage with leading decision-makers in this dynamic marketplace."
Jeremy Davenport, Deputy Director Creative Industries Ktn said: "Power to the Pixel is exploring the cutting edge of digital convergence, where creativity, content and technology are forging new ways of storytelling for a global audience. Ciktn is looking forward to seeing the exciting projects that are emerging this year."
Brett Gaylor, Director Mozilla Popcorn said: "We're excited at Mozilla to see how the makers chosen for this year's Pixel Market will transform the web."
Nuno Bernardo, MD beActive said: "We're very impressed with the quality of the projects submitted that make the jury decision very difficult. We are seeing an increase not only in quality but also in the diversity of the projects submitted. This year comedy-based projects are strong contenders, and we are excited about the projects that are eligible for the beActive Pixel Market Comedy Prize."
Fleur Winters, Head Cinekid for Professionals said: "I’m extremely pleased to partner with Power to the Pixel, especially with this great selection of 30 innovative projects. The new frontiers they tap into matches ours and are so important! Producers will hopefully find a perfect follow up of their children’s cross-media projects after the renowned Pixel Market at the Junior Co-production Market, here at Cinekid in Amsterdam.”
Beth Janson, Executive Director Tribeca Film Institute said: "The Pixel Market is an essential destination if you are looking for the best and the brightest independent producers in this quickly evolving space. We are thrilled to be partners with Liz Rosenthal and her team.”
Full List of The Pixel Market 2012 Participants
In Competition:
Stephan Bonnefoy & Christophe Findji, 2 Minutes & Jus de Prod, Ori&Gami! (France) Edward Dallal, Spring Films, The Super 8 Complex (U.K.) Steven Grisales & Jose Luis Rugeles, Rhayuela Cine, Buenaventura Mon Amour (Colombia) Natalia Imaz & Luisa Romeo, Parabellum Film & Frida Films, The Incredibles (Spain/Germany) Jeff Norton, Awesome Media & Entertainment, Metawars (Canada/ U.K.) Uffe Savery & Mads Damsbo, Copenhagen Phil in cooperation with Makropol, World Online Orchestra Project (Denmark) Arash & Arman T. Riahi, Golden Girls Filmproduktion & Filmservices, Everyday Rebellion (Austria) Mahyad Tousi, BoomGen Studios, Birthright (U.S.)
General Selection:
Sarah Arruda, Mary Dickie, Mike Robbins & Alex Wittholz, Helios Design Labs, Queen West - Art.Noise.Mayhem (Canada) Jakob Balslev & Petter Madegård, Nordisk Film Production, Cinema dell'Arte #3 – Thunders of Thor (Denmark) Enrica Capra, GraffitiDoc, Europe for Sale (Italy) Matthieu de Laborde & Samuel Aubin, Iskra and Rhizome, It is That Way (France) Nicolas Deprost & Julien Krizek, Whac Média, Ukiyo-e, Stories of the floating world (France) Bruno de Sa Moreira & Edouard Lussan, Normandy Productions, William the Conqueror (France) Bruno Felix, Submarine Channel, The Last Hijack (Netherlands) Marcos Ferreira, MobContent, Music.Art.Place (Brazil) Fabrizia Galvagno, Doc in Progress, Docusound (Italy) Ellin Hare & Magnus Dennison, Amber Film & Photography Collective and Meerkat Films, Between the Mud and the Farthest Star (U.K.) Annika Hellström & Petra Revenue, Anagram Produktion and Cinenic Film, Blasting Bängtssons (Sweden) Gabriela Isas, Chocolate Albino, Victor (U.S../ U.K.) Esben Kjær Ravn, Kong Orange, Let’s Dance - A Casual Game About Death (Denmark) Kristoff Leue, Sancta, ZOOks (Belgium) Zack Lieberman, Exit Strategy New Media & Max & Charlie Productions, Max & Charlie (U.S.) Michael Luda, Thomas Langhanki & Sven Sund, Saxonia Media and Experimental Game, The Slumbers - Wish Tales (Germany) Zach Niles, SodaSoap Creative, Lakou Mizik (U.S.) Lucas Ochoa & Hugh Garry, Pulse Films, In Your Voice In Your Heart (U.S./ U.K.) Lise Saxtrup, Dajana Dimovska & Trine Laier, Klassefilm & KnapNokGames, Cosmic Top Secret – Black Holes Expansion (Denmark) Kent Sobey & Catherine Tait, Farmhouse Productions/ Duopoly Canada/ Baby Cow Productions, Sos: Save Our Skins (Canada/ U.K.) Alex Steyermark & Lavinia Jones, 1m1 Trax, The 78 Project (U.S./ Canada) Juliet Tzabar & Dominic Minns, This is Pip/Plug-in Media, Ha Ha Bonk (U.K.)
For updates on the Pixel Market and more information on the Cross-Media Forum go to http://powertothepixel.com/events-and-training/pttp-events/london-forum-2012/pixel-market-1718-oct
Power to the Pixel’s clients and partners include: Arte; BAFTA; BBC, Bbh; Berlin Film Festival; BFI; Canada Media Fund; Cannes Film Festival (Marché du Film); Eave; EU Media Programme; Edinburgh International Film Festival; Ifp; Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg; Mozilla; Nordisk Film & TV Fond; Orange; Telefilm Canada; TorinoFilmLab.
www.powertothepixel.com...
- 9/20/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
What a difference a year makes. Last year at Tiff I attended the reception for the launch of the Hollywood Suite Broadcasting by Catherine Tait, Jeff Sackman, Jay Switzer, Michael McLaughlin and David Kines. Hollywood Suite is four Canadian wide new HD channels featuring commercial free HD movies 24/7, uncut and unedited. Both Warner Bros. and MGM launched last year. One year later they are announcing that Sony Movie Channel and Axn Movies are also moving into residence on the channels (replacing Hollywood Storm and Hollywood Festival.) 450 different movies are available every month on TV on demand, online and on mobile for one low monthly fee. The cost of $4.99 per month stands in stark contrast to HBO and Showtime costs of $18 per month.
Catherine is widely known on the international circuit. She was responsible for getting the New York Independent Feature Project up to the level that it has maintained throughout the tenure of Michelle Byrd and currently by Joane Vicente, who is taking it upwards once again to new heights.
Catherine's career in the film and television business spans two decades and includes leadership in the American independent film industry as well as in film and television financing and public company management. She is President of Duopoly, an independent production company that also provides business strategy services to the film and television industry. At Duopoly, she has executive produced a number of television programs including Pure Pwnage (a comedy based on Internet phenomenon www.purepwnage.com for Showcase), Chilly Beach (65 episodes of comedy animation for CBC), Yam Roll (39 episodes for CBC and Cartoon Network), as well as Lucky, a Sundance documentary which sold to HBO. Prior to founding Duopoly, Catherine was President and Chief Operating Officer of Salter Street Films, a publicly-traded television production & distribution company which produced hit programming such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine. Catherine serves on the Boards of March Entertainment and Paperny Films; she is a past Director of eOne Entertainment's Canadian Board, of Aliant, of Chum Ltd, and was Chair of the Independent Feature Project in New York.
Catherine is also the founder of iThenic, an online and mobile video destination site, launched in 2006, that aggregates, produces and distributes web series and short-form video content. The company is headquartered in Toronto with offices in New York City and backed by three engaged and prominent shareholders: eOne Entertainment, Canada's largest entertainment company, the founders of iThentic LLC (led by Catherine Tait), and Smiley Guy Studios, an award winning animation and new media studio. Smiley Guy Studios is the operating partner with Jonas Diamond as CEO and Catherine Tait as Chair of the company.
iThentic strives to unite communities that include the creators, curators and viewers. The management team has a depth of experience in global production, distribution and marketing and is connected to a powerful international network of writers, directors, producers, animators and artists. This ensures that iThentic showcases the very best new work. iThentic's creative network is rooted in the independent film and television industry and has generated some of the most groundbreaking entertainment of the last two decades.
This year, iThentic launched its highly successful interactive web-series Guidestones on Hulu. Guidestones won a 2012 Rockie Award for Best Web Fiction Series and is now in production on season two. In addition, Catherine represented the Canadian comedy hit Roller Town (Slamdance 2012) written by and starring Picnicface's Mark Little, Scott Vrooman and Andy Bush and directed by Andy Bush. Roller Town has been sold to VOD leader Gravitas Ventures and is available now.
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Catherine is widely known on the international circuit. She was responsible for getting the New York Independent Feature Project up to the level that it has maintained throughout the tenure of Michelle Byrd and currently by Joane Vicente, who is taking it upwards once again to new heights.
Catherine's career in the film and television business spans two decades and includes leadership in the American independent film industry as well as in film and television financing and public company management. She is President of Duopoly, an independent production company that also provides business strategy services to the film and television industry. At Duopoly, she has executive produced a number of television programs including Pure Pwnage (a comedy based on Internet phenomenon www.purepwnage.com for Showcase), Chilly Beach (65 episodes of comedy animation for CBC), Yam Roll (39 episodes for CBC and Cartoon Network), as well as Lucky, a Sundance documentary which sold to HBO. Prior to founding Duopoly, Catherine was President and Chief Operating Officer of Salter Street Films, a publicly-traded television production & distribution company which produced hit programming such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine. Catherine serves on the Boards of March Entertainment and Paperny Films; she is a past Director of eOne Entertainment's Canadian Board, of Aliant, of Chum Ltd, and was Chair of the Independent Feature Project in New York.
Catherine is also the founder of iThenic, an online and mobile video destination site, launched in 2006, that aggregates, produces and distributes web series and short-form video content. The company is headquartered in Toronto with offices in New York City and backed by three engaged and prominent shareholders: eOne Entertainment, Canada's largest entertainment company, the founders of iThentic LLC (led by Catherine Tait), and Smiley Guy Studios, an award winning animation and new media studio. Smiley Guy Studios is the operating partner with Jonas Diamond as CEO and Catherine Tait as Chair of the company.
iThentic strives to unite communities that include the creators, curators and viewers. The management team has a depth of experience in global production, distribution and marketing and is connected to a powerful international network of writers, directors, producers, animators and artists. This ensures that iThentic showcases the very best new work. iThentic's creative network is rooted in the independent film and television industry and has generated some of the most groundbreaking entertainment of the last two decades.
This year, iThentic launched its highly successful interactive web-series Guidestones on Hulu. Guidestones won a 2012 Rockie Award for Best Web Fiction Series and is now in production on season two. In addition, Catherine represented the Canadian comedy hit Roller Town (Slamdance 2012) written by and starring Picnicface's Mark Little, Scott Vrooman and Andy Bush and directed by Andy Bush. Roller Town has been sold to VOD leader Gravitas Ventures and is available now.
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- 9/7/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Toronto -- Former Chum CEO Jay Switzer has resurfaced as head of a local consortium bidding to run four new Canadian cable channels.
Switzer, head of Canadian broadcaster Chum Ltd. until it was acquired by Rogers Media in 2007, has applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (Crtc) for a broadcast license to operate two action-adventure-themed niche channels, Velocity and Adventure.
Switzer, with backing from former THINKFilm founder Jeff Sackman and former Salter Street executive Catherine Tait, is also looking for two additional broadcast licenses for the female-skewing romance services Kiss and The Love Channel.
The Crtc will consider the license applications in April.
Switzer's 2007 exit from Chum came at the height of Canadian industry consolidation where sector leaders Canwest Global Communications Corp., CTVglobemedia and Rogers Media were buying up TV assets as others with less tolerance for risk in an increasingly digital environment looked to cash out.
Now the...
Switzer, head of Canadian broadcaster Chum Ltd. until it was acquired by Rogers Media in 2007, has applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (Crtc) for a broadcast license to operate two action-adventure-themed niche channels, Velocity and Adventure.
Switzer, with backing from former THINKFilm founder Jeff Sackman and former Salter Street executive Catherine Tait, is also looking for two additional broadcast licenses for the female-skewing romance services Kiss and The Love Channel.
The Crtc will consider the license applications in April.
Switzer's 2007 exit from Chum came at the height of Canadian industry consolidation where sector leaders Canwest Global Communications Corp., CTVglobemedia and Rogers Media were buying up TV assets as others with less tolerance for risk in an increasingly digital environment looked to cash out.
Now the...
- 3/2/2010
- by By Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 2006, Duopoly’s Catherine Tait and Liz Manne, along with a third partner Al Cattabiani (former CEO/Founder of Wellspring), developed and launched a new media start-up, iThentic (http://ithentic.com/), an online and mobile video company. In 2007, Barna-Alper Productions made a strategic investment in iThentic and the Company restructured its operations to be headquartered in Toronto with offices in New York City. Catherine Tait serves as CEO of iThentic.
- 7/8/2009
- by Sydney@SydneysBuzz.com (Sydney)
- Sydney's Buzz
TORONTO -- Canadian online producer iThentic is partnering with San Fransisco-based Independent Television Service to produce eight short films for online and mobile consumption, the company said Tuesday.
Unveiling a $500,000 production slate, Toronto-based iThentic said the pact with ITS will see eight films produced under the "Global Mobile" banner with food as their common theme.
The film series will launch in October for distribution on globalmobileproject.com, itvs.org and ithentic.com and to iThentic's distribution partners, including Cellfish in the U.S. and Rogers Vision in Canada.
Toronto-based iThentic, which has an office in New York, also is producing mobile content with themes as varied as the environment, fashion and comedy.
The latest news from iThentic follows Toronto-based producer Barna-Alper Prods. giving the online producer an unspecified cash injection as part of a joint venture project.
"Our production slate reflects a commitment to original storytelling designed for the third screen," iThentic CEO Catherine Tait said.
Unveiling a $500,000 production slate, Toronto-based iThentic said the pact with ITS will see eight films produced under the "Global Mobile" banner with food as their common theme.
The film series will launch in October for distribution on globalmobileproject.com, itvs.org and ithentic.com and to iThentic's distribution partners, including Cellfish in the U.S. and Rogers Vision in Canada.
Toronto-based iThentic, which has an office in New York, also is producing mobile content with themes as varied as the environment, fashion and comedy.
The latest news from iThentic follows Toronto-based producer Barna-Alper Prods. giving the online producer an unspecified cash injection as part of a joint venture project.
"Our production slate reflects a commitment to original storytelling designed for the third screen," iThentic CEO Catherine Tait said.
- 7/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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