More than halfway through 1998, international coproduction activity is on par with 1997’s mid-year tally, a strong indication that last year’s benchmark of $509 million in coproduction volume is set to be repeated.

As of July 22, Telefilm Canada had approved 45 Canada/overseas treaty coproductions, the same number of projects registered at this time last year. The 1998 projects are worth $262.8 million in budgets, with 64% of the total to be spent in Canada.

Canada/overseas coproductions soared from 41 projects with cumulative budgets of $255.4 million in 1996 to 68 projects at $509 million in ’97.

Continuing last year’s trend, television is the key area of activity thus far, accounting for 33 projects, while 12 are feature films. In 1997, the final tally was 38 tv projects and 30 features.

Animation was up in ’97, from six projects in ’96 to 20, representing combined budgets of $224 million. So far, 15 animated coproductons are in the works for 1998.

France remains the strongest partner for Canadian producers, representing 23 of the 1998 projects. Activity with France increased from 22 to 36 projects with cumulative budgets of $293.1 million in 1997.

However, the u.k. is beginning to catch up.

Partnerships with the u.k. account for 13 of the 1998 copros, with combined budgets of the projects tallying $99.7 million.

The steady growth in Canada/ u.k. partnerships began in 1997 when the number of projects soared to 16 from six the previous year.