Canada/Japan treaty

Canada and Japan have signed an official coproduction agreement designed to encourage film, television and video coproduction. The first of its kind to be signed by Japan, the agreement aims to help producers in the two countries work together creatively, financially and technically in order to share cost and risk as well as facilitate foreign distribution.

Miniseries planned

Following its third successful sale of an Anne of Green Gables package to Japanese distributor Shochiku-Fuji, Sullivan Entertainment is talking to the company about developing two miniseries: Rilla of Ingleside (the final installment of Anne) and The Blythes of Ingleside (a ‘community series’).

Shochiku-Fuji, Japan’s largest film distributor, has bought the rights to a 190-minute package of the popular Anne miniseries.

Advance sales have determined a sell-out for the first two months of the run, which starts Aug. 1.

In other news, Sullivan’s Road to Avonlea is up for two Emmy Awards: Outstanding Children’s Program and Outstanding Guest Actress for Stockard Channing.