50th TIFF: 5th Co-production Crossroads Forum

TIFF 5TH CO-PRODUCTION CROSSROADS FORUM

The 5th Co-production Crossroads Forum opened on Monday November 16 in a friendly atmosphere. Its goal is to support producers of film projects geographically linked to the Mediterranean and the Balkans. This year’s programme hosts sixteen filming projects.

Georges Corraface, the TIFF president, in his welcoming speech stressed the importance of this initiative which began in 2005. “What we want to see in cinema are characters from every country, the reality of life in Europe. These are the elements that cinema must represent so that we can share not only Europe’s legacy from the past but also its present.” He wished all the Crossroads participants a pleasant stay in the city, full both of creativity and entertainment.

The artistic director of the Crossroads project, Marie-Pierre Macia – formerly managing director of the Cannes Director’s Fortnight- welcomed the participants to the event which is supported by the MEDIA European programme.

The sixteen projects which are competing for the Crossroads Award of 10,000 euros must be produced or co-produced in a Mediterranean or Balkan country, or else have a subject matter related to these areas. Crossroads introduces producers and directors to a variety of industry professionals from all over the world. The programme is varied and provides them with the opportunity to meet distributors, broadcasters, sales agents and consultants with whom they can talk about ways to promote their work.