Coprod treaty with Brazil

Canada and Brazil have signed a film and television coproduction agreement.

Canada now has international coproduction agreements with 27 countries.

The treaty with Brazil was signed recently in Brasilia by Brazil’s Minister of External Affairs Luiz Felipe Lampreia and Canada’s Secretary of State for Latin America/Africa Christine Stewart.

In making the announcement, Heritage Minister Michel Dupuis said a commercial visit by Canadian producers and distributors to Brazil is under consideration.

Brazil is Canada’s second largest export market in Latin America.

In other news, Telefilm staff in Paris report new signs Germany is ready to open its lucrative market to new partners and suppliers.

In 1994, Canada coproduced 26 projects with France and seven with the u.k., but only four with Germany.

However, Telefilm says developments in Germany, including the advent of new private tv channels and a stronger independent production sector, are changing the landscape, renewing the idea Germany may become ‘the next big coproduction partner in Europe for Canada.’

Telefilm also reports a successful meeting with Henrik Bering-Lusberg, head of the Danish Film Institute, to discuss the potential of a coproduction treaty between Canada and Denmark. The dfi says inquiries about Canada are on the rise and the need for a treaty has become clear. The dfi funds 12 to 20 films annually on a budget of cdn$20 million.

Cultural council

The Ontario government has announced the Cultural Industries Council of Ontario, a 16-member body that will convey industry concerns to government and promote relations between business, labor and government. Members include Michael MacMillan, Steven DeNure, Paul Hoffert and Sandy Crawley.

King of the DGC

For the sixth term running, Allan King will chair the Directors Guild of Canada Ontario District Council. In a mid-March election, Alan Goluboff was elected 1st vice-chairperson, Avrel Fisher 2nd vice-chairperson, Susan Murdoch treasurer and Rob Burton was posted to secretary.

Caucus representatives of the DGC Ontario Council are Eleanore Lindo, John Board, Marilyn Stonehouse, Byron Martin, Harold Thrasher and John Witcher.