Vancouver: Attendance was up 18% at Vancouver International Film Festival’s 17th annual Film and Television Trade Forum, which ran Sept. 25-28 including the popular New Filmmaker’s Day.

‘We were delighted with our new venue, the Roundhouse Community Centre,’ says Trade Forum producer Melanie Friesen. ‘It proved to be the ideal space for networking opportunities. Most gratifying, though, was the generosity of our guest panelists, who not only contributed to the forum but stayed on afterwards to chat informally with our delegates.’

Panels a big draw

Financing panels are still the major draw, says Friesen, including discussions about independent production and coproduction. Other highlights include the panel featuring DOP Ed Lachman (Erin Brockovich) and director Bryan Singer (X-Men) discussing the relationship between cinematographers and directors, and a panel with writers Milo Addica (Monster’s Ball) and Karyn Kusama (Girlfight) about successful first screenplays.

Television writers Al Jean (The Simpsons) and Kerry Lenhart (Boston Public), screenwriters Larry Gross (Prozac Nation) and Nicholas Kazan (Reversal of Fortune), producer Chris Hanley (The Virgin Suicides), cult directors Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Curtis Harrington (What’s The Matter With Helen?), and composers Rolfe Kent (Legally Blonde) and Basil Poledouris (Cecil B. DeMented) also participated in panels.

The 21st annual VIFF wrapped Oct. 11. A full report will run next issue.

-www.viff.org