Strategic Partners

Pitch Projects. Explore Partnerships. See the Possibilities

ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

Strategic Partners is the place to co-produce/co-venture with Canadians. Taking place annually in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, it has become a one-stop-shop featuring top traditional and multiplatform producers, broadcasters, sales agents, financiers, distributors, and film agencies from Canada and around the world. Each year SP evaluates the global environment and shines a spotlight on countries that are a natural fit to co-produce/co-venture with. SP maintains a unique and intimate sensibility by 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 of being efficient and stress-free.

The three-day event focuses around pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings. International broadcaster, provincial, state and country sessions, relevant and practical panels and visionary keynote speakers complement these meetings. Delegates also enjoy the screenings and galas at the Atlantic Film Festival and on the closing night are treated to the Film Nova Scotia lobster dinner by the sea.

Strategic Partners is led by internationally renowned industry consultant, Jan Miller, and is a presentation of the Atlantic Film Festival Association.

WHAT SETS US APART?

SP has established itself not only as Canada's top coproduction market, but also as a market that sets itself apart from the burgeoning number of coproduction markets around the world. The differences are threefold:

1. SP accepts projects at all stages of development to encourage seeking out right coproduction partnerships from the very beginning.
2. SP accepts film, television and multiplatform projects, (to better reflect the make-up of Canadian production companies) looking for co-production partners.
3. SP balances the experience of the producer as well as well as the projectÕs viability in making its selections. Many other markets often focus primarily on the director and project package.

RECENT SUCCESSES

In 2010, 154 projects were reported as directly benefiting from Strategic Partners. In 2009, delegates brought with them 22 Emmy Awards, 10 BAFTA Awards and 23 Academy Awards as well as 102 Oscar nominations. TV projects such as The Passionate Apprentice, Burn Up, Diamonds, as well as film projects such as Love & Savagery, Norteado, Surveillance, Helen, Shake Hands with the Devil, Dolan's Cadillac, Counter Swirl, Out in the Cold and The Games Maker all credit their participation at SP as being integral to their success.

With close to a 50/50 split between national and international producers attending over the past 3 years, feedback has proven that SP is celebrated globally as a championing event.

BACKGROUND

In 1998 the Atlantic Film Festival recognized a significant developmental gap in the Canadian film, television and recently, the multiplatform 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. Strategic Partners is now recognized as one of the pre-eminent co-production markets in the world.