Canada’s two principal coproduction partners in 2002 are again the U.K. and France, accounting for more than 80% of all coproduction activity.

Telefilm Canada issued advanced rulings for 108 international coproductions in the first 11 months of ’02, 82 in TV and 26 feature films. The coproductions represent cumulative production budgets of $632.2 million, with $344.4 million of the financing, or over 54%, from Canada. An additional $242.1 million in financing originates with primary coproduction partners and $45.7 million of the financing comes from third-and fourth-country sources.

In 2001, Telefilm issued advanced rulings for 107 coproduction projects (83 in TV and 24 feature films) representing budgets of $792.8 million, with $432.9 million of the financing from Canada.

In the first 11 months of ’02, Canadians coproduced 50 film and TV projects with U.K. partners, representing budgets of over $330 million, up from the $248.6 million coproduced with the U.K. in ’01. An additional 32 film and TV projects were coproduced with French partners in ’02, representing budgets of close to $190 million, a significant decline from the $280.4 million coproduced with France last year.

This year, China (seven projects with budgets of $38.7 million) ranked third, signing a flurry of animation series deals, followed by South Africa (four projects with budgets of $11.6 million), Australia (three projects with budgets of $23.3 million) and New Zealand (three projects with budgets of $21.2 million). There were no official coproductions with Germany in ’02. In 2001, German producers partnered on three projects with combined budgets of $16.2 million.

In TV, 82 coproduction projects received advanced rulings this year, representing combined budgets of $452.3 million, with $254.1 million of the financing from Canada. That is a substantial decline from ’01, when TV coproduction totaled $615.4 million, with $384.1 million in financing from Canada.

The were 30 youth coproductions in ’02, including 24 animation coproductions (23 series and one feature film) and four mixed live-action/animation series. The 24 animation series represent combined budgets of $180.2 million, with $93.9 million in financing from Canada.

In the first 11 months of ’02, 26 Canadian feature film coproductions received advance rulings from Telefilm, 19 of which were partnered with France and/or the U.K. The projects represent total budgets of $179.9 million, with $90.2 million (or just over 50%) of the financing from the Canadian side. Canada accounted for $82.2 million of the spending.

In features, principal coproduction partners accounted for $70.7 million in financing, while third-country financing (tripartite coproductions) was $15.6 million. In ’01, Canada coproduced 24 feature film projects with cumulative budgets of $177.4 million.

There were 11 feature coproductions with the U.K. in ’02, mostly majority Canadian. Canada put up $62.5 million of the $102.5 million in total financing, or 60%. The expenditure total in Canada was $55.5 million.

There were eight feature coproductions with France in ’02, including six majority French projects. Canada put up $18.7 million of a total of $53.2 million in financing, or 35%. The total spent in Canada was $18.2 million.

Of the total 108 film and TV coproduction projects in ’02, 81 are English ($472.7 million) and 27 are French ($159.4 million).

At present, Canada has coproduction agreements with more than 60 countries.