Strategic Partners international coproduction market in Halifax has selected 88 projects from more than 20 countries to participate in the 20th annual event.

The Canadian projects heading to the market include Two East Productions’ TV fictional series The Great Farini. Producer/director Michael Amo (Pure, The Listener) and director Ken Girotti (Pure, Orphan Black), will present the project to potential copro partners. 

Hungry Eyes Film and Television producer Jen Holness (Shoot the Messenger) and director Sudz Sutherland (Home Again), will present the feature film Operation Red Dog, while Shaftesbury Films’ will present the limited TV series Fall on Your Knees, produced by Mackenzie Donaldson and directed by Deepa Mehta. Donaldson and Shaftesbury are also bringing the feature Wondrous Stage to the market. Meanwhile, Big Motion Pictures’ producer David MacLeod will showcase the feature Trespassers, with Bruce MacDonald attached to direct, as well as his fictional TV series, Super-Recognizers (no director is yet attached).  

Last year, Strategic Partners announced it would move from a producer-focused model to a project-based format. Priority is given to projects with an available script in place, that have financing attached and that are suited for coproduction or cofinancing between two or more countries.

The market attracts more than 180 producers, investors, sales agents, funders and broadcasters from around the world and aims to connect producers with industry members looking to invest.

Of the international projects selected is a feature film from Oscar-winning producer Kim Magnusson (Helium). He’ll present Angels (Denmark), directed by Tue Wallin Store and Michael Hansen. Academy Award-winner Mark Lwoff (Armi Alive!) will present Memory of Water (Finland) with writer Ilja Rautsi.

Strategic Partners takes place Sept. 14-18 in Halifax as part of FIN: The Atlantic International Film Festival. 

Photo: A past Strategic Partners conference