HALIFAX — Jan Miller, founder and director of Strategic Partners, the international coproduction market now in its 11th year, has seen the program grow from a small adjunct to the Atlantic Film Festival to the point where it is at capacity, hosting international producers, broadcasters, distributors, financiers and agents.

‘There was a 36 percent increase in applications this year,’ says Miller, who caps the delegate list at 200 to maintain the intimate, hands-on environment where people can really do business. ‘The word of mouth is remarkable. I spent my time this year in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, and then New York, London and Cannes, and I never had to explain what Strategic Partners was.’

Indeed, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico are this year’s spotlight countries. The AFF will focus on those film industries by screening pictures from each nation, including fest opener Blindness, a Canada/Brazil/Japan copro.

Panels this year will address topics such as forecasting the financial future of film projects, to Internet/multiplatform storytelling, and how to tailor programming to suit specific international markets.

Keynote speakers at the event are BAFTA winner Frida Torresblanco (Ritmo Films), producer of Pan’s Labyrinth, and Canadian TV producer Noreen Halpern, one of the principals behind L.A.-based Blueprint Entertainment (Noah’s Arc, Kenny vs. Spenny).

‘Noreen is going to talk about how the writers strike has actually opened up the market for those outside Hollywood in a really positive way,’ says Miller. ‘And Frida is going to talk about how there are no boundaries to independent film [and] how she works globally.’

Strategic Partners takes place Sept. 12-14.

www.atlanticfilm.com/sp/