The UK and Canadian governments have signed an updated film and TV cooperation agreement at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The modernised treaty allows companies to co-produce films and TV shows while being able to enjoy the same treatment as solely British or Canadian films.
British and Canadian companies will benefit from “greater access to domestic funding and tax incentives, more flexibility, clearer rules on sharing copyright and revenue and stronger guarantees around distribution and broadcast when collaborating on a production.”
The Co-Production Treaty was signed by Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray, alongside his counterpart Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, during a visit to the Toronto International Film Festival.
Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray said: “The cultural, historical and economic bonds between Britain and Canada are already incredibly strong and thanks to this new agreement, we will be able to forge even deeper ties. Both Britain and Canada have world-class film and TV industries and I look forward to seeing what we create together following this landmark deal.”
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, said: “Around the world, Canada’s audiovisual sector is known for its world-class talent, innovation and stories that showcase our values and diversity and resonate with millions of people. We’re proud to see this shine at the Toronto International Film Festival. As we build a more resilient sector at home, ensuring it remains competitive in an increasingly digital world is key. These modernized coproduction agreements will make it easier for our filmmakers to collaborate with partners around the world, bring Canadian stories to new audiences, and strengthen our audiovisual industry as a pillar of our cultural and economic sovereignty.”
Harriet Finney, Deputy Chief Executive of the BFI, said: “The UK has a fantastic track record in partnering with Canada, and we are thrilled to see our co-production treaty updated which will enable more collaboration between our two territories. The treaty is more user-friendly and recognises the major shifts we’ve seen in our sector, where building finance for new film and television projects now regularly requires numerous partners and territories. Providing greater flexibility and covering both film and television, there is now more scope for UK producers to look to Canada for their next creative partner.”
Jon Creamer
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