Germany could be fertile ground for Canadian producers with the right project to pitch, says coproduction/coventure consultant Bob Linnell. Based in London, Eng., the former Telefilm Canada deputy director says he’s increasingly busy dealing with inquiries about Germany, ‘because there is more room for coproduction, particularly French-Canadian coproduction because they dub everything.’

German tv is flush and ‘they can afford to pay amounts like $800,000 a hour for their own documentaries,’ he says, adding:

‘The only really solid piece of advice (to producers) is that you’ve got to see the type of programming being done here so you can target your submission. And even thenin the u.k. as well as Germany, they already have enough money. If they acquire a project, it’s because they like it.’

In Germany, the public broadcasters are big-time producers, but Linnell says indie-commissioned production is on the upswing.

There were reports of renewed interest on the part of French tv nets in French-track Canadian drama at the last mip-tv. Series such as Urgence and Jasmine attracted attention, but these shows are likely to end up being broadcast in dubbed versions. In recent years, Quebec exports have fared better in Germany.

There are a number of funds in Germany active in international projects:

Filmstiftung Nord Rhein Westfalia (Dusseldorf)

Phone: (49-211) 930-500

Fax: (49-211) 930-505

Filmboard Berlin Brandenberg

Phone: (49-331) 721-2859

Fax: (49-311) 721-2848

Filmforderung Hamburg GMBH

Phone: (49-40) 3982-6265

Fax: (49-40) 3982-6261

Bayerische Filmforderung (Munich)

Phone: (49-89) 2124-2286

Fax: (49-89) 2429-2509