AS long as there has been a World Film Festival in Montreal, there has been a Montreal International Film Market. Organizers of the fest’s industry component have several events on tap for this year’s 28th edition, which will take place at the Hyatt Hotel and Complexe Desjardins.

WFF anticipates more than 1,000 industry members at this year’s market. In addition to a contingent of distributors, a large percentage of which are coming from the U.S., buyers from TV specialties Bravo!, Sundance Channel, and France’s Cine Cinema and Arte-TV are expected to be on hand.

There are four topics to be explored in this year’s market conferences: financing indie features, the European market potential for French-language Canadian prods, the U.S. market for all Canadian films, and the DVD explosion in Europe and the U.S. A separate conference, sponsored by Kodak, will take up the ongoing debate of film versus digital technology.

Speakers confirmed so far include Jean-Luc Zylberman from France’s Action et communication commerciales, Helene Coldofi from Arte-TV, Peter Belsito, EVP of L.A.-based worldwide film rights tracker Film Finders; Joe Matukewicz of the Paramount Classics acquisition team; and Frank Soloveicik of Paris distributor M5/Europe Images.

WFF is also holding three workshops on storyboarding a production for an effective pitch.

Production Exchange, the market’s coproduction venue, arranges meetings among producers, financiers, distributors, sales agents, public funders and broadcasters to complete financing on projects and launch new ones. Gilles Beriault, director of WFF’s market activities, says that 10 films have already been selected for this year’s program.

Aimed at buyers and sellers, WFF’s Videotheque provides participants with access to 50 tape or DVD screening stations and a catalog of productions screening at the fest, as well as recent Canadian films and other current notable distributor offerings. The Videotheque will be open Aug. 28 to Sept. 5.

Market accreditation is $100; WWF accreditation, including screenings plus full market access, is $300. Check the WFF website for further information. *

-www.ffm-montreal.org