CANNES — Seven of Quebec’s top film producers have joined together to call for changes to the way Telefilm Canada and SODEC fund international coproductions.

The producers — Roger Frappier of Max Films, Denise Robert of Cinemaginaire, Pierre Even of Cirrus Communications, Richard Goudreau of Melenny Productions, Lyse Lafontaine of Equinoxe Productions, Lorraine Richard of Cité-Amérique and Claude Veillet of Telefiction and Films Vision 4 — have formed the Regroupement des producteurs indépendants de cinéma du Québec.

The Regroupement argues that Canada’s copro treaties need to be revamped to take into account global market realities. By reducing the minimum participation level of minority partners, more countries would be encouraged to participate in Canadian projects. The group is also calling for an increase in funding from Telefilm and SODEC specifically for international copros.

In a statement, Frappier said the group was inspired by forums such as the European Producers Club and the U.S.-based Independent Film and Television Alliance. ‘We want to find a way to build new bridges so that we can make these projects that are so close to our hearts,’ he said.

Announced in Cannes, the group’s move came a day before Telefilm and its Quebec peer SODEC announced an international coproduction development fund with France and the Francophone regions of Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

That agreement, initiated by Telefilm, aims ‘to encourage cinematic alliances between the signatory Francophone countries in a rapidly evolving international context. The fund will serve to foster creative exchanges on French-language fiction feature films with the object of developing projects that have broad audience appeal.’

The fund, administered by a committee of signatory agencies, will have an annual budget of €300,000 (approximately $470,000) with €200,000 provided by Telefilm and SODEC and €100,000 provided by the European partners. The maximum grant per project will be €40,000 ($63,000). Guidelines and operating details are to come later.

‘We are pleased and proud of the outcome of these negotiations,’ said Telefilm chair Michel Roy in a statement. ‘This agreement is fully consistent with Telefilm Canada’s volition to bank on international coproductions as a means to drive industry development.’