Montreal: Ten European film export and promotion organizations are among the high-profile guests slated to attend the 1996 Montreal International Film, TV & Video Market Aug. 22 to Sept. 2.

Market director Gilles Beriault says Montreal is emerging as a specialty niche market for independent and art house films aimed at distributors such as New Line, Miramax, October Films and European buyers.

‘It’s important when people talk about Montreal they know the kind of people they’ll meet,’ he says. ‘If somebody has that kind of picture then they’ll be able to meet with 25 or 50 people who are genuine potential buyers. There’s no point in trying to meet with Columbia or Warners because that’s not their kind of picture. I just hope the Canadian producer will take advantage of this.’

American guests confirmed at this year’s market include Jim Byerley, hbo; Trisha Robinson, Medallion Entertainment; Amy Israel and Robert Hessel, Miramax Films; Paul Federbush, New Line; Susan Glatzer, October Films; Sara Rose and Leslie Goott, Orion Pictures; and Patrick Lynn, Samuel Goldwyn.

This market will again feature a computerized production exchange program, a database facilitating coproduction, says Beriault.

The market has eight video screening rooms and market films can be screened at the Cinema Desjardins theater complex located next door to the Hotel Meridien, the market venue.

This year’s WFF Symposium program, ‘Canadian Television: The Next Two Years,’ runs over four mornings from Aug. 26-29.

The program is free of charge and will feature conventional and specialty broadcasters talking strategy and original and acquisition program requirements.

Last year, some 900 industry professionals registered for the market.