BC Film + Media has announced a new international marketing initiative for British Columbia film and television producers called Passport to Markets. The program will provide financial support to BC resident producers selected to attend international markets, conferences and industry immersions.

"Producers have told us they need access to international markets," reported Rob Egan, President and CEO of BC Film + Media. "We are committed to supporting the ongoing development of British Columbia producers through this program."

A number of domestic and international market sites, including exchanges and immersions, have been designated for support throughout this fiscal year. BC Film + Media will provide financial assistance to producers selected to attend these markets to help with registration, travel and living costs. An individual call for applications will be announced for each market site. Where possible, BC Film + Media will organize pre-market preparatory sessions for selected producers.

The first designated site is the Toronto Documentary Forum on May 3 & 4, 2000 where BC Film + Media will support the participation of up to 4 documentary producers as observers. This first ever event, modeled after Amsterdam's FORUM for international co-financing of documentaries and organized as part of the Hot Docs Festival, will bring together TV commissioning editors, distributors, and documentary producers from all over the world. Selected participants will observe the 2 day roundtable pitching forums where teams of producers pitch their projects to 40+ international commissioning editors. Observers will also participate in Pitching Workshops and Buyer Information sessions prior to the Forum.

"We are excited that through this program BC producers will gain valuable experience and exposure to the skills required to market and finance their projects in the international marketplace, " said Liz Shorten, Communications and Corporate Affairs Coordinator.

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 Small Business, Tourism and Culture.