Telefilm Canada wants to build bridges to Europe and has launched a three-year effort to boost cross-Atlantic cooperation on film, TV and new media projects – starting with animation in France.

Sixty Canadian and French broadcasters and animation producers met in Paris last month for a day-long series of talks about France-Canada copros, looking to turn around their recent decline. The ‘mini immersion’ was organized by Telefilm and other cultural agencies. Meetings are expected to follow in other territories.

‘We want Telefilm’s international activities to foster a better understanding of markets and help increase coproduction opportunities,’ says Danny Chalifour, the agency’s head of international operations. ‘Our three-year plan will make it possible for groups having similar interests to meet and exchange information.’

Among the companies in Paris were Canadians Breakthrough Films & Television and Cookie Jar Entertainment and, from France, Téléimages Kids and Euro Visual.