MONTREAL: George Leclere, executive director, International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (International EMMYs) will offer the opening remarks as honorary chairman of Conferences 2003, the World Film Festival symposium program that runs Sept. 1-3.

The session ‘Distribution and Broadcasting’ (Sept. 1) features moderator Pierre Brossard of TF1 Video, Marvinia Anderson of Anderson Int’l – BET/Paramount Pictures, Sabine Carion of France 2, distributor Michael Mosca of Equinoxe Films, Dominique Zgarka of Koch Entertainment and Tania Khali of France Television.

‘Independent – ‘House deals’ and the Majors’ (Sept. 1) will be moderated by Conferences 2003 director Michel Zgarka. The panel includes Paramount Classics’ Sig Libowitz, Endless Entertainment producer Kerry David (Agent Cody Banks), Nelka Films’ Nelly Kafsky, industry PR specialist Sheila Morris of Morris Marketing, and Didier Sapaut of TF1 International.

‘Feature-length Documentaries’ (Sept. 2) will be moderated by National Film Board chair Jacques Bensimon and includes panelists Tom Perlmutter of the NFB’s English Program, filmmaker Jacques Perrin (Winged Migration), exporter Jan Rofekamp of Films Transit International, and L.A. director Jon Gunn (Mercy Streets).

‘Banks & Independents’ (Sept. 2) is moderated by Diane Dube of GLOBEX Media Finance. Panelists include Brenda Doby of Union Bank of California, Martin Katz of Grosvenor Park, Diane Cousineau of SEE, Silvia Laj of Coficine and Virginie Beck of RBC Royal Bank.

Another highlight session, ‘Producing feature films outside of the U.S.’ (Sept. 3), will be moderated by entertainment lawyer Sam Coppola, with panelists Paul Weber of MGM Television, Jane Wright of BBC Films, agent Paul Nicholls of Evolution Management, Norman Siderow of Lynch-Siderow, and Michel Trudel of Locations Michel Trudel/Mel’s Cite du Cinema.

This year’s keynote presentation is by Richard Sehlin, VP R&D and chief technical officer, Eastman Kodak. It takes place Sept. 2 at the Mount Stephen’s Club.