Canada is back at the Berlinale and European Film Market, starting February 10th, 2022!
With 13 Canadian films and one series in the official selection, over 150 Canadian producers registered to attend (both virtually and in person), and countless key coproduction initiatives with international industry partners, our delegation is ready to take on every opportunity that Berlin has to offer.
Berlinale (February 10 – 16)
The Berlinale will take place physically, with 50% less cinema capacity. Red carpets, screenings and Q&A’s will take place from February 10th to 16th. Don’t miss out on works featured at this year’s festival! After finding great success at last year’s Berlinale with Social Hygiene (Hygiene Sociale), Denis Côté’s latest film, That Kind of Summer (Un été comme ça), is in competition this year.
EFM Market (February 10 – 17)
The European Film Market will be held online! Canada is once again participating in the EFM’s Doc Toolbox Programme, and in the first edition of the Fiction Toolbox programme! 15 Canadian producers and filmmakers selected by Canadian BIPOC organizations and partners will take part in networking and matchmaking events, as well as business modules and workshops at the EFM.
At the Virtual Canada Pavilion, you’ll have the chance to meet the following 9 sales and distribution companies, and their respective projects. Most are participating in the Perspective Canada initiative, organized by Telefilm Canada, where their films will be part of a series of market screenings held in the Canada Virtual Cinema.
Be sure not to miss our industry session, How Colonial Funding Institutions Can Better Serve Indigenous Filmmakers, hosted by Telefilm Canada’s Lead, Indigenous Initiatives and Content Analyst Adriana Chartrand on February 11th.
19th Co-Production Market (February 12 – 16)
This year’s Co- Production Market is ripe with opportunities to find your next Canadian coproduction. Through the Producers Without Borders initiative, you’ll have the chance to learn about 10 in-development projects from Canadian producers seeking coproduction partners.
Two Canadian films and one Canadian series have been selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market, available to all registered participants:
- The Trials of Alien Life by Ian Lagarde, produced by Sarah Mannering (Colonelle Films)
- Mehal Sefari by Abraham Gezahagne, produced by Tamara Dawit (Gobez Media) and Abricom Multimedia (Ethiopia)
- You Are Obsolete by Steve Cochrane, produced by Jennifer Kawaja (Sienna Films), a CO-PRO SERIES
Want to learn more about coproducing with Canada? Along with 5 other countries, Canada will be hosting a Country Session on Saturday, February 12 to inform producers about Canada’s coproduction possibilities and funding opportunities! We’ll also be taking part in the Fund Meetings on February 14, a series of one-on-one meetings organized by the Co-Production Market.
Berlinale Talents (February 12 – 17)
The Berlinale Talents programme is a networking platform and creative development program for emerging talent around the world. The Berlinale Talent is open to a myriad of creative positions within the filmmaking industry, from writers to directors, to composers. This year’s theme is ‘Labours of Cinema: How to make Sustainability Work’ – examining the problematic past and current working methods in filmmaking, and developing innovative working models to find a better balance for all.
Here are the 6 Canadians who were selected to participate in this year’s cohort:
- Antoine Bourges – Director
- Omar Elhamy – Editor, Director
- Philippe Grégoire – Director, Screenwriter
- Sarah Mannering – Producer, Colonelle Films
- Stéphanie Demers – Distributor, h264
- Virginia Kilbertus- Composer
JETS Initiative (February 22 – 23)
The JETS initiative connects filmmakers from around the world (currently developing their first, second, or third features) with producers, sales agents, distributors, and financiers from Germany, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Canada, the U.K. and U.S. During this year’s virtual edition, 4 Canadian projects are set to compete at the annual pitching and networking initiative:
- Boiling Point by Kate Kroll, produced by Ambrose Abi Akundaye
- Queen Maeve by Barb Taylor, produced by Deborah Devgan
- Something Like Truth by Jim Donovan, produced by Byron A. Martin
- Superluminal by Kristina Wagenbauer, produced by Jeanne-Marie Poulain
