Strategic Partners’ final co-pro panels line-up

The Halifax co-production market, Strategic Partners (Sept. 16-19), announced that panel discussions will include Sergei Bespalov of Sunrise Films (Whistle Blower, Flutter); Electric Entertainment’s Kearie Peak (Flyboys, The Long Kiss Goodnight); Anne Marie La Traverse (Flashpoint, Hunt for Justice: The Louise Arbour Story) and Universal Network’s Fraser Robinson (Haven, Shattered).

Its annual Academy Luncheon series, A Conversation With…Martin Katz spotlights Katz whose credits include Hotel Rwanda and Spectacle: Elvis Costello. He will be interviewed by Montreal vanguard filmmaker, Jacob Tierney (d. The Trotsky),  whose third feature, Good Neighbours, premiered at TIFF.

“Next to Toronto and Vancouver, Halifax is the third largest English-speaking film production hotspot in Canada – and we’re thrilled to welcome delegates from across the globe to our beautiful backyard,” said Jan Miller, director of Strategic Partners in a release.  “Our goal each year at Strategic Partners is to offer programming that is engaging, informative and productive. This year, we’re presenting a stellar offering of panels, keynotes and special guests.”

As previously reported, the opening keynote “The Future is Unwritten” will be on Friday, September 17, with producer Damon D’Oliveira in a conversation with groundbreaking indie producer, Christine Vachon, whose acclaimed films include Far From Heaven, Boys Don’t Cry, One Hour Photo and I Shot Andy Warhol. This kicks off the first full day of one-on-one meetings, a component unique to SP, where close to 1000 prescheduled business meetings provide delegates with unparalleled access to prospective international partners.

Spearheading the first of three panels on Friday will be veteran industry financier, Peter Graham of 120db films, who will moderate “Herding Equity Fat Cats: How to Source and Coordinate Financial Capital for Indie Production.” Speaking to the challenges of raising capital and corralling public funding will be panellists Georg Hoess - Bavaria International; Kevin Forrester – Myriad Pictures; Sergei Bespalov – Sunrise Films; Kearie Peak - Electric Entertainment and Sandra Desrosiers Karr – Telefilm Canada.  

On Saturday, September 18, Canadian entrepreneur and esteemed industry veteran Laszlo Barna, President of Entertainment One Television, presents his keynote address titled “An International Success Story: Canadian Television.”  
 
Following Barna’s delivery on the topic of television cop-pros will be “Co- For It! Strategies, Complexities and Co-Pro Conundrums.” Temple Street Productions Vice President of Drama, Tecca Crosby and her panel candidly explore the challenges that broadcasters and producers face in co-venturing or co-producing with international partners. She will be joined by Anne Marie La Traverse - Pink Sky Entertainment; Fraser Robinson – Universal Networks International; Tasja Abel – ZDF Enterprises and Trish Williams – CTV.
 
“Opportunity Knocks: Your Right to Digital Rights” is the final panel that will take place on Sunday, September 19, moderated by Janet Brown of Cinetic Rights Management. This conversation will consider the conditions and demands of digital rights from a platform, marketing and rights perspective. Brown will be joined by panellists Naveen Prasad – Alliance Films; Ryan Barlow – Vuguru; Zachary Soreff – Sawyer Studios; and Daniel Page - Rogers Communications and Chris Harris – Canwest Broadcasting.