About Us
Background
In 2008 Strategic Partners will celebrate its 11th year of bringing people and projects together for discovery and development. SP began when the Atlantic Film Festival Association recognized a significant gap in the Canadian film and television industry landscape. Canadian producers were traveling all over the globe to look for partners, but there was no dedicated co-production event in Canada, despite our country being one of the most active co-production partners in the world with over 50 co-production treaties in place. In 1998 all this changed when the AFFA introduced Strategic Partners; now recognized as one of the preeminent co-production markets in the world.
One-stop shopping for the global community
Today SP is the place to co-produce with Canadians. Taking place annually in Halifax, Canada, it has become a one-stop-shop featuring top producers from across the country, all major broadcasters, film commissions and distributors. In addition, SP features delegations from the US and UK along with annual spotlight countries. In 2008 SP will throw the spotlight on Argentina, Mexico and Brazil. This mix is rounded out by delegates from around the globe. SP maintains a unique and intimate sensibility accepting only 200 delegates. The size of the event ensures easy access to key industry players, promotes relationship building, and has helped garner SP a reputation as efficient and stress-free. SP ensures that the producers selected from those who apply and the invited industry delegates will both benefit from their SP participation.
Projects in film and television
With a goal of providing a relaxed, effective and efficient venue for producers to find national and international partners for current and future projects the three-day event centres around pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings. Prescient to the industry trends of producers moving more and more towards working in film and television, the projects featured are primarily early-stage, film and television fiction (live action) and docs. These meetings are complemented by international broadcaster and film commission sessions, relevant and practical panels and keynote addresses. Delegates also enjoy the screenings and parties of the Atlantic Film Festival and on the closing night are treated to the Film Nova Scotia lobster dinner by the sea.
Recent Successes
Strategic Partners is led by industry vet Jan Miller and is a presentation of the Atlantic Film Festival Association. Recent SP successes include Emotional Arithmetic, Shake Hands with the Devil, The Rape of Nanking, Generation XXL, Surveillance, Mythquest and Words Of My Perfect Teacher.
Click here to download the SP08 Backgrounder.
