MONTREAL — Telefilm’s Canadian Pavilion is helping homegrown audiovisual producers and distributors increase sales at international film and television markets, according to a recent survey by the federal agency.

In order to evaluate whether international markets are worth supporting, Telefilm conducted exit surveys with more than 200 Canadian executives at the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes, the E3 expo, MIPTV and MIPCOM. According to the survey results released last week, 86 companies reported successful sales activity and 43 companies reported likely or completed presales. This represents nearly $64 million in sales and likely sales, and an additional $40 million in completed or likely presales, says the federal funding agency. In total, actual closed deals accounted for nearly $5 million.

‘We are trying to learn how we can better serve the industry. And our clients seem to be very satisfied,’ Danny Chalifour, Telefilm’s director of industry development operations, tells Playback Daily.

Telefilm estimates that for every dollar it spent on overseas markets and festivals, Canadian companies reported $5 worth of sales. This figure goes up to more than $100 when likely sales are considered, says the agency.

On average, more than 92% of respondents said they used the agency’s Canadian Pavilion and most believed it was useful and that staff were very helpful, says Chalifour.

In 2006, Telefilm launched a new international marketing program, Perspective Canada, which promotes Canadian products through special screenings. The program’s official launch was in Cannes, where 13 films were screened. More than $213,000 in deals were closed as a result of the new program, says the agency.

Chalifour says the biggest challenge facing Canadian audiovisual companies these days is staying competitive in the multi-channel, multi-platform universe. ‘There is just so much product out there. I think that 10 years ago it was a lot easier to make a sale.’