BC Film + Media is pleased to launch the Passport to Markets program for 2002/03 with the Hot Docs BC Producer Mentorship Program. Four emerging British Columbia documentary producers (Larisa Andrews, Nora Arajs, Stephanie Symns and Diana Wilson) will be teamed with veteran producer mentors (Trish Dolman, Cari Green, Gary Marcuse and Harry Sutherland) to prepare for and attend Hot Docs - the premiere Documentary Festival and Film Forum in North America.

"We are pleased to be able to offer the Passport to Markets program again this year," reported Rob Egan, President and CEO of BC Film + Media. "Providing British Columbia producers with greater access to international co-financing and co-production opportunities continues to be one of our key priorities."

Through this innovative marketing program, BC Film + Media provides financial support to BC Film + Media and television documentary and drama producers selected to attend domestic and international markets, conferences/ immersions and film festivals. Financial assistance offsets registration, travel and living costs. An individual call for applications is announced for each market site. Where possible, BC Film + Media organizes pre-market preparatory sessions for producers.

New market sites this year include the International Animated Film Market (MIFA) in Annecy, France and the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market in Clermont-Ferrand, France. In addition, producer mentorship programs have been developed for emerging producers at the Banff Television Festival and MIPCOM 2002 - two key international television markets. The complete Passport to Markets Site list for 2002/03 is attached.

BC Film + Media is a privately-administered, non-profit society established in 1987 by the provincial government with a mandate to expand and diversify the cultural industries of film and video in British Columbia. The Society gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise.