EFP, OMDC and TIFF continue with successful co-production programme at TIFF

2011 Participants Revealed for Producers Lab Toronto


European and Canadian producers are joining forces yet again for international film projects with the programme PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO (PLT), now in its second year. European Film Promotion (EFP) has collaborated with the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) and the Toronto International Film Festival­ (TIFF) to offer a platform to combine creative, technical and financial energy. A group of 12 European and 12 Canadian producers will meet from September 7th to 10th within the framework of the 2011 Festival for an opportunity to gain knowledge about international markets and film projects and identify the potential for concrete Canadian-European co-productions. The MEDIA Mundus programme of the European Union, the participating EFP member organisations, the OMDC and TIFF are supporting PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO financially. The line-up of the participants can be found below. Detailed information about the 24 participants of Producers Lab Toronto 2011 can be found at www.efp-online.com .


Designed for independent producers experienced in international co-productions with appropriate projects in the pipeline, PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO will include pitching sessions, case studies and roundtables, as well as VIP networking events. EFP member organisations have selected the 12 European participants. All European participants have attended EFP's acclaimed Cannes-based programme PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE within the past 11 years. The 12 producers from Canada have been named by OMDC and TIFF from an open call for submissions.


Participants at PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO 2010

"For us, PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO is a perfect follow-up of our programme in Cannes", says Renate Rose, EFP managing director. "It gives access to talent and financial sources outside of Europe and facilitates global exchange and international collaboration. The feedback from last year's group underscored the mandate of this networking platform. A first co-production contract was sealed and many very concrete projects are being discussed at this time with contracts about to be signed."


"PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO provides a unique forum for our dynamic Canadian producers to meet their talented European counterparts and develop projects together," says Karen Thorne-Stone, President and CEO of the OMDC. "Co-productions are important because they enable producers to take advantage of financial incentives in each country while helping to open up new markets for Canadian producers."

"The success of PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO lies in the knowledge that is shared, the relationships that are forged, and the opportunities that are created," says Karen Bruce, Director of Canadian Initiatives, TIFF. "This is an exciting programme, one that is in line with our commitment to support and reinforce the industry by providing new and unique opportunities for filmmakers."

Several European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain have experience co-producing with Canada. Smaller countries in particular are now also co-producing with Canada following the creation of PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO. Contacts between Canada and Ireland were forged from among last year's participants.


European Participants
­lvaro Alonso, Jaleo Films - Spain
Gregory Athanasiou, Minus Pictures - Greece
Mario Gianani, Wildside - Italy
Tristan Orpen Lynch, Subotica - Ireland Nicolas Comeau, 1976 Productions Inc.
Daniel Mitulescu, Strada Film - Romania
Ieva Norviliené, Tremora - Lithuania
Stella Nwimo, Northpoint Pictures - UK Félize Frappier, Max Films
Viktória Petrányi, Proton Cinema - Hungary
Riina Sildos, Amrion Production - Estonia
Karla Stojáková, Axman Production - Czech Republic
Mariano Vanhoof, Fobic Films - Belgium
Anne Walser, C-Films - Switzerland



Canadian Participants

Muniré Armstrong, YN Films
Joseph Berger, Pitchstream Media Inc.
Sean Buckley, Buck Productions
Michael A. Dobbin, Quiet Revolution Pictures Inc.
Jean du Toit, Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc.
Cher Hawrysh, Phenomenal Films Inc.
Leah Jaunzems, Darius Films Inc.
Chantal Lafleur, Productions La Fête
Byron A. Martin, Byron A. Martin Productions Inc.
Alison Reid, Free Spirit Films



Detailed information about the 24 participants of Producers Lab Toronto 2011 can be found at www.efp-online.com

Associated EFP member organisations:
Baltic Films, British Council, Cinecittà Luce - Filmitalia, Czech Film Center, Flanders Image, Greek Film Centre, ICCA / Spain, Irish Film Board, Magyar Filmunió / Hungary, Romanian Film Promotion, Swiss Films

Contact EFP:
Jo Mühlberger, Project Director
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , +49 40- 390 6252

Mareen Gerisch, Head of Press
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Contact OMDC:
George McNeillie, Manager, Communications OMDC
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , +1 416-642-6619

Contact Toronto International Film Festival­:
Karen Bruce, Director of Canadian Initiatives
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Geneviève Parent, Communications Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , +1 416- 934 3296

­ Toronto International Film Festival is a registered trademark of the Toronto International Film Festival Inc.

PRODUCERS LAB TORONTO is supported by the MEDIA Mundus programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations as well as the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) and the Toronto International Film Festival­ (TIFF). The event is supported moreover by Telefilm Canada. In addition, EFP's promotional and PR activities are backed by the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC). The Hamburg-based office is supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the Ministry of Culture of the City of Hamburg.