BC Film + Media has released the list of designated Passport to Markets sites for the coming year. Through this international marketing program, BC Film + Media provides financial support to B.C. film and television documentary and drama producers selected to attend international markets, conferences/ immersions and a limited number of film festivals.

"We are extremely pleased with the success of the Passport to Markets program," 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 is one of our key priorities."

A number of domestic and international market sites, including exchanges and immersions, and a limited number of film festivals have been designated. Financial assistance is provided to producers selected to attend these markets to help with 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 selected producers.

New sites listed this year are the March du Film - Cannes Film Festival Market, the Berlinale Market at the Berlin Film Festival, the London Film Market & Screenings, and the Asia-Television Forum. New producer exchanges include the BC - German Co-production Immersion in July and the Canada -Australia Drama Summit scheduled for November 2001. In addition, producer mentorship programs have been developed for emerging producers at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and both MIPCOM and NATPE international television markets. The complete site list 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 Small Business, Tourism and Culture.