Salter Street Films has picked up the international distribution rights to a number of Canadian-made projects from literally across the country. Salter’s vp of acquisitions and coproductions, Liliana Vogt, says the company has made a serious effort to step up its acquisition strategy with the implementation of her division.

Although the company is headquartered in Halifax, the acquisitions and coproductions division of Salter Street is based in Toronto (sharing an office with Salter New Media). ‘I think we all have recognized the importance of building our catalogue and stepping up the slate outside of the domestic arena,’ says Vogt from Salter’s Toronto boardroom.

‘In the last three months, we have finalized agreements with very talented producers and we are extremely pleased so far with the alliances we have fostered.’

The most recent projects being distributed internationally by Salter are an eclectic group, ranging from an animated, family-targeted series to a docudrama focusing on the sexual exploits of a group of friends.

The latter is known as Kink, a 13-part series being coproduced for Showcase by Paperny Films, with Salter taking a coproducing credit. Vogt is sure the sexy series will appeal to a wide audience, while raising a few eyebrows in the process. ‘It should be interesting,’ she laughs.

Salter will also distribute the animated series For Better or For Worse, produced by imX communications in Halifax and Ottawa’s Funbag Animation. The series, clocking in at 16 half-hours, is based on the syndicated comic strip of the same name.

The company will also distribute internationally for its Halifax neighbor Big Motion Picture. Big is currently working on the ctv mow Blessed Stranger, produced by Wayne Grigsby and David MacLeod. The movie, says Vogt, will be shot in the Maritimes and focus on the relationships that developed after the crash of Swiss Air Flight 111 in 1998.

Another mow to be distributed by Salter is called Chasing Cain and is being coproduced by Salter and Bernard Zukerman Productions for the cbc. The mow police drama may serve as a pilot for a series to come later.

Salter will also distribute 13 hours of drama with These Arms of Mine from Arms Length Productions. The thirtysomething-targeted series is set and shot in Vancouver.

On the doc front, Salter will distribute the fifth season of Michael Maclear’s Flightpath series, which airs on Discovery, and Halifax-based Collideascope’s hour-long doc Heart of Laughter, airing on ctv.

‘We will most likely be targeting mipcom this year as an official launch for these shows because they are all scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year,’ says Vogt, who will attend the Banff Television Festival this month to help generate a buzz about the new Salter-represented programs.

Vogt says she will be on the prowl for new prospects at the market. ‘We are looking to ally ourselves with talented producers in Canada,’ she says.

‘We recognize the importance of building our catalogue and finding product that is well-produced, has evergreen value and international salability. We feel we can do these projects justice because we have a very well- developed distribution division and key relationships with broadcasters around the world. We are confident we can generate good business.’