Canadian and Australian indie producers in Cannes have inked a deal to create more film and TV projects between the two countries.

The Canadian Media Production Association, representing Canadian indie producers, and its Aussie counterpart, the Screen Producers Association of Australia signed a memorandum of understanding to encourage more collaboration, likely as part of increased co-production activity.

Closer ties will come in part from trade missions, as the CMPA organizes a delegation to go to SPAA’s conference in November in Melbourne.

During the last decade, Canada has had 24 official treaty coproductions with Australia for a total value of $127 million.

That’s far less than the coproduction activity Canada has with European partners, but the vast distance to Australia in part explains the disparity.

The agreement between the CMPA and SPAA, while looking to bridge the distance between the two countries in an increasingly global and digital business, does not set out contractual terms for possible co-productions and partnerships.