9:00 12th Annual Banff International Market Simulation.
Pat Ferns moderator.

Four producers pitch their projects. Three industry execs give their feedback and observations - Patrick Dromgoole, UK producer and former broadcasting executive, Norman Horowitz U.S. International TV Distribution Executive and consultant, and Serge Siritsky editor of France's Ecran Total. Pat Ferns singles out commissioning editors from Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland and the U.S. and discerns the amount of interest they may have and what commitments they may or not be able to make to the producers.

The Projects:

1 The Other Side of the Pole. A 90-minute Christmas musical special from Canadian producer Geoff Le Boutillier.

2 Lip Service. A 4-part documentary series which looks to disspell stereotypes of both women and men. Presented by Canadian producer Rachel Low with Canadian Kate Filion, author of best-selling book of same title. The subjects are love, sex and friendship.

3 Norman Normal. A 1/2 hour animated comedy series presented by Hamburg based German producer Ralph Christians. Commitment from ProSieben, Germany for 1/3 of $. Looking for co-production partner for this $330,000 per episode adult series described as Monty Python meets The Flintstones.

*4 Mrs. Cully and the Men. Pat McCann, considered one of Canada's best screenwriters, presents an original screenplay set in a coastal resort town in Northern Ireland. The story follows a 40-year old widow through romance, humiliation, and ultimately the possibility of romance once again.

2:00 p.m. Sharing Stories, Case Study in International Co-Production.

Ros Borland of BBC Scotland moderates a discussion about the challenges of the co-production HIROSHIMA - THE DECISION TO DROP THE BOMB, a Japan/France/Russia/ UK co-production. Mick Cassky, Chief Executive of Antelope Films UK, a producer of over 500 documentaries, and Vincent Macheras of TeleImages France discussed how they went from deal to production in 9 months. They had a deadline - to air the program at the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the bomb, and different program parameters from the partners. Teleimages needed 75 minutes for France, Antelope needed 60 minutes for the BBC, TV Asahi of Japan required 120 minutes. RTL, A&E and other broadcasters to whom the project was pre-sold, had their set of requirements.

3:15 Banff as Bridge, Europe Meets North America. Ted Riley, President of Atlantis, Canada, moderator. Seminar about dialogue and cooperation. How independent producers and the gatekeepers in their respective countries - the broadcasters and the distributors - establish and create a business rapport. Brian Harris. Pearson International TV. UK. Anne Julienne. La Cinquieme. France. Liam Miller. Radio Telefis, Ireland. Ives Swennen. RTBN Belgium.

Ted Riley says there has been a stunning growth with indies in Canada in the last 5-10 years. He asks each panelist for comment of the nature of the relationships between programmers and producers in Europe:

Harris. UK. Few privileged indies can access networks, it's improving, there'a new channel and growing smaller services. But it's not the most healthy climate. Lots of similarity with U.S. relationship with producers - broadcasters are continuing to take a share of profits from producers.

Julienne. France. La Cinquieme was launched in December 1994. We have no in-house production at all. Every program is made by indies. 110 programs to date. Good news for indie producers. Miller. Ireland. Difficult relationship. Small number of indies have access to broadcasters. Only one domestic broadcaster, RTE, creates tensions and expectations difficult to deliver on. Volume of co-productions in documentary and drama are driven, however, by independents. Next 12 months two more broadcasters will begin airing. Reestablishment of the Irish Film Board has helped with development $ for indies. There is lots of activiity, things are changing.

Swennen. Belgium. Presently producing 28 co-productions, more and more opportunities for independents.

Panel of execs representing Association of Film Producers from France, Canada, Germany and the UK make their comments. Everyone agrees that indie producers with track record and pre-agreed arrangements with distributors or other financing sources have the most muscle now.

The main sessions will be videotaped and are available for purchase from the festival four weeks after the close of the festival. NTSC videos are $25, PAL format $30 + $12 postage and handling for shipping to the U.S., $15 postage internationally.

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