The Canadian Film Centre will introduce a series of short films by Canadian filmmakers to the international community at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market, marking the first time an English-Canadian film organization has had a presence at the marketplace.

The 14th annual event, which falls under the umbrella of the Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival, takes place in France from Feb. 1-5. Distributors, broadcasters, government agencies and acquisitions agents will be on hand, and according to cfc distribution manager Jenna Donohue-Bourdeau, Clermont-Ferrand has ‘gained the reputation as the Cannes of the short film festivals.’

While Donohue-Bourdeau has shopped the cfc catalogue around the marketplace for the past three years, 1999 marks the first time the center will have a booth, hold screenings and host a reception to raise awareness and sales interest in Canadian shorts.

Famous Players is supporting the cfc at the market.

Aside from promoting the center’s catalogue of over 30 short films, Donohue-Bourdeau will also be touting a selection of shorts from other independent Canadian filmmakers that performed well in the last season of festivals. She says this year’s ‘experiment’ at the market is a first foray into the possibility of the cfc distributing shorts outside of its own catalogue.

‘It’s the Centre’s response to the growth in the short film marketplace worldwide,’ she says. ‘A whole array of opportunity has opened up for short filmmakers. We have the resources and the system in place and I think it would be valuable if we could offer what we have developed for independent short filmmakers.’

Independent shorts going to the market include Moving Day from Chris Deacon, Hustle My Crush by Heidi B. Gerber, Shoes Off! by Mark Sawers, The Rogers’ Cable from Jennifer Kierans, The Pargonopers by Alex Pugsley, When Ponds Freeze Over from Mary Lewis and The Elimination Dance, directed by Bruce McDonald, Michael Ondaatje and Don McKellar.

New to the cfc’s short film roster is Keeper, directed by Carole O’Brien, Sway by Paul Carriere and Bridal Path by Cynthia Roberts. Jim Allodi’s Cold Feet will screen in the festival’s international competition.