New projects involving the producer of The Babadook, Game Of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin and Lemon Tree filmmaker Eran Riklis will be front and centre when the first in-person Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (IFF) in three years kicks off at TIFF next month.
Now in its 17th year, the two-day co-financing and co-production market takes place from September 11-12 in association with TIFF and features 42 feature film producer teams – 20 from Canada and 22 from as far afield as Australia, India, Norway, Scotland and the US.
The producers will participate in one-on-one producer/executive meetings and networking opportunities to discuss arthouse and commercial projects ranging from adult animation and comedy to elevated horror and 2SLGBTQIA+ themes.
IFF will include an exclusive industry panel discussion about the present and future of the theatrical marketplace. This year’s edition of the forum will include an online version for attendees experiencing travel restrictions.
Among the Canadian producers and projects are English-language drama Alice exploring female sexuality and sex workers from Ontario producer Alex Lalonde (2021 TIFF selection The Desperate Hour starring Naomi Watts) from AMAZE Film + Television (Prime Video’s The Lake), and Australian producer Kristian Moliere (The Babadook) from Triptych Pictures. Theo James (The Time Traveler’s Wife, Divergent franchise) is attached to star and Josephine Mackerras (who directed the 2019 French-language sex worker drama Alice) will direct from her screenplay.
Ontario producers Mark Smith and Joanna Coathup of Copperheart Entertainment (In The Tall Grass, Ginger Snaps trilogy) have set Vincenzo Natali (In The Tall Grass, Splice) to direct sci-fi drama Infinity. Ontario’s Alison Murray (2005 TIFF entry Mouth To Mouth starring Elliot Page) and Spanish producer Felicitas Raffo of Argentina-based CEPA have romantic thriller Bone Creek, which Murray will direct.
Also from Ontario, producers Jessica Adams and Joanne Sarazen of JA Productions (TIFF 2019 selection Tammy’s Always Dying starring Felicity Huffman; Astronaut with Richard Dreyfuss) bring eclectic adult animation script Nine Dolls from Sarazen (Tammy’s Always Dying).
The roster of international projects includes romance Like We Never Said Goodbye. Producers are Isabel Marden and Kim Bailey of LA-based Corporate Witchcraft (2019 Tribeca entry Clementine). The cast includes Elisha Henig (Ramy, The Sinner), Daniel Lee (Alternatino With Arturo Castro). Chella Man (Trans In Trumpland, Titans) is the consulting producer and Alexander Tavitian-Mirecki (All Together Now) wrote and will direct.
Holocaust thriller Stolen Heart hails from Israeli filmmaker Riklis of Eran Riklis Productions (Lemon Tree, multiple Israeli Academy Awards winner The Human Resources Manager). Meanwhile Latvian producer Inga Pranevska (Blizzard Of Souls) and US producers Laurence Dumortier and Jocelyn Jansons (associate producer, Chuck & Buck) are behind coming-of-age fantasy script Because Maybe, to be directed by Anonymous Content client Jansons with George RR Martin on board as executive producer.
Scottish producer Karen Smyth (Bifa 2000 winner for One Life Stand) of production company La Belle Allée Productions (Valhalla Rising) is taking part in IFF with dark comedy-drama The World Is Ugly And The People Are Sad. Scotland’s Brian Welsh (Glasgow Girls, The Rack Pack, Beats) will direct. The full selection of projects is here.
Some 46 companies will attend the forum, with first-time appearances by Endeavor Content, FilmNation, Searchlight Pictures, United Talent Agency, and Walden Media / Anschutz Film Group. Returning companies include A24, Amazon Studios, Bankside Films, Beta Cinema, Cornerstone Films, Maven Screen Media, Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing, Memento Films, MK2 International, Netflix, Protagonist, Raven Banner, Sphere Films, StudioCanal and WestEnd Films.
Since 2006, more than 100 projects launched at the forum have been financed and produced, while others are in production and post-production. Completed projects include upcoming TIFF premieres Alice, Darling and The Swearing Jar, and in recent years Maudie, Castle In The Ground, Sharkwater Extinction, Night Raiders, The Tale, and Incendies.
IFF founding partners are Telefilm Canada and the UK department for international trade. Sponsors are Canadian Media Producers Association, Music Publishers Canada, and Nordicity.
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