montreal: Total financing for international film and television coproductions involving Canada in the first eight months of calendar 2000 has reached $571.3 million, with much of the action dominated by France and the u.k.

According to advance rulings data from Telefilm Canada’s international office, cumulative financing for 59 tv coproductions in 2000 stands at $382.6 million, including $256.1 million, or 67%, from Canadian sources, with $120.1 million, or 31%, from the primary foreign coproducer and $6.3 million from third-party sources.

Telefilm has issued 25 advance rulings for tv coproductions with France, our leading partner again this year in terms of projects, representing budgets of $157.9 million, 63% Canadian.

Coproduction with the u.k. continues to surge, with 20 advance rulings to date representing budgets of $166.3 million, 70% Canadian. Canada’s share of spending for tv projects is 62%.

In feature films, budget totals stand at $188.6 million, with $105.9 million, or 56%, from Canadian sources.

The u.k. is now Canada’s leading partner in features with 12 projects with combined budgets of $98.2 million, 64% Canadian. Nine new feature film coproductions with France represent budgets of $59.2 million, 51% Canadian. The domestic share of spending for features is $101.1 million, or 53%.

Animation coproductions in the first eight months of 2000 represent budgets of $154.6 million in tv, and $14.4 million in features.

More coproduction action is anticipated following this fall’s major mipcom market, Oct. 2-6. *

-www.telefilm.gc.ca