While producers around the world try to adapt to a multitude of new platforms, the APFTQ will return to the source at its annual conference in Gatineau this week — providing content.

The theme of this year’s gathering, which runs Wednesday to Friday and is expected to draw around 300 industry professionals, is ‘Les contenus avant tout’ or ‘content before all else.’

‘We wanted to come back to the question of content. That’s the essence of our work, after all,’ says Céline Pelletier, the conference organizer and APFTQ spokesperson. ‘We’ve been talking lots lately about new platforms and broadcasting regulations. And that’s important. But if people aren’t watching our films and TV programs then there isn’t an industry.’

Federal Heritage Minister Bev Oda will open the three-day event on Wednesday evening, followed by a screening of the Alain Desrochers action film Nitro, from Cirrus Communications and due in theaters through Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm on June 29. The new head of the CRTC, Konrad von Finckenstein, will speak on Thursday, as will Quebec’s new culture minister, Christine St-Pierre, though the details of their talks aren’t available.

Also on Thursday, Pascal Josèphe, the founder of International Media Consultants Associates, will discuss international TV trends in nine of the world’s biggest television markets, while Zone3 producer Vincent Leduc, consultant Gilbert Ouellette and Pierre-Alexandre Labelle of Universciné.com – an online window for independent film in France – will participate in a roundtable discussion on video-on-demand and copyright.

Catherine Lottier of Canal+ will speak about programming film on TV, while programmers from conventional and specialty channels will participate in a roundtable discussion on innovative TV. Scheduled to appear are: Francine Allaire, head of dramatic programming at Radio-Canada; Marie Collin, VP of programming and communications at Canal Vie, Ztélé and Vrak.TV; Martin Roy, director of new media programming at Télé-Québec; and Louis Trépanier, VP of programming at TQS.

‘This event is an industry meeting for independent producers. We propose a theme and hope they will be inspired. Basically, it’s a great chance to get together and talk,’ says Pelletier.