The Canadian Film and Television Production Association is presenting its annual conference Prime Time in Ottawa Feb. 2 and 3.

The conference will be host to film and television producers and would-be film and television producers looking to enhance their craft and acquire some tips. The cftpa has assembled a long list of notable speakers from the Canadian film and tv industry and government ready to share their secrets and insights.

Some of the events scheduled include a ‘State of the Industry Report’ as told by Linda Schuyler, chair of the cftpa, and Andre Picard, chair of apftq. The duo will discuss the findings of a 1999 statistical report examining the financial side of the Canadian production industry.

In the session ‘Beyond the Borders,’ Telefilm Canada chair Laurier LaPierre will lead commentator Jeffery Simpson (Globe and Mail) and panelists through a discussion about the future of the film and television industry and the changes affecting it.

Panelists are Andre Chaubeau (fiapf), Daniel Iron (Rhombus Media), Brooke Johnson (a&e), Daniel Lamarre (Groupe tva), Michael MacMillan (Alliance Atlantis), Gordon Ritchie (Strategico) and Catherine Tait (Salter Street Films).

As part of the Breakout series at this year’s conference is a panel on ‘Tax Credits: The Old and the New.’ Joining moderator Marie-Josee Corbeil (Cinar) in a discussion of the creation of new tax credits will be Steve Ord (Alliance Atlantis), Len Farber (Finance Ministry), Melwyn Machado (Revenue Canada – taxation), Robert Soucy (cavco) and Louise Usick (Government of Saskatchewan Tax Credits).

Another Breakout session examines ‘Innovative Financing for Medium & Small Film, Television, and Multimedia Producers.’ It is set to do just what the title promises. Moderator Ira Levy (Breakthrough Film and Television) and a collection of those in the know will explain how to get money to finance film and tv projects without having to leave the comfort of your home, except perhaps to stand in a few lineups.

Karen Franklin (Telefilm Canada), Robin Mirsky (Rogers Telefund), Charlene Paling (cavco), Ted Riley (Alliance Atlantis Distributing), Andrea Sheffer (Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund) and Garry Toth (Canadian Television Fund) will sit in on the discussion.

Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development, will address industry reps at a luncheon and give his spin on the latest issues.

New this year is the Producers Lounge, a place for producers to sit, chat, watch each other’s work and perhaps strike some deals.

At press time, approximately 300 registrants were confirmed. That number could swell, however, as last year the number of attendees doubled in size the week prior to the conference for a total attendance of 404.