The Frontières International Co-Production Market will debut next year with its new Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum, initiated by the Fantasia International Film Festival and the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes. The genre-focused Forum is an invitational event for projects at the packaging stage to work with a select group of industry experts in finance, marketing & distribution, from February 16-18 in Amsterdam.
12 genre projects from across Europe and North America in the final stages of financing have been invited to participate in the Forum. Project helmers include director Rachel Talalay (TANK GIRL, TV’s SHERLOCK), producers Julie Baines (DETOUR), Jonathan Bronfman (THE WITCH), François Cognard (THE STRANGE COLOR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS), Andrew Corkin (THE ANARCHIST COOKBOOK), Helena Danielsson (CALL GIRL), Tyler Davidson & Sophia Lin (TAKE SHELTER), Katie Holly (LOVE & FRIENDSHIP), Phyllis Laing (THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, MY WINNIPEG), Magnus Paulsson (SHELLEY), and Casey Walker (THE VOID). Projects from Canada, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States will be welcomed to Amsterdam to meet with leading industry experts to finalize their financing plans and develop their marketing & distribution strategies.
Next steps for the Frontières network will be a series of special events organised in partnership with the Marché du Film to take place in Cannes in May. A proof of concept presentation and work-in-progress screenings devoted to upcoming genre films are on the menu for the new Frontières Platform, as part of the Marché du Film’s 2017 slate of industry programming.
Said Jérôme Paillard, Executive Director, Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes : “Next May, with this exciting venture between Frontières and the Marché du Film, more industry events tailor-made for the genre film industry will be proposed at the Marché du Film with some screenings of works-in-progress (Frontières Goes to Cannes) and presentation of projects with a proof-of-concept. And of course, our traditional Fantastic Fanatics Mixer."
“We hope that the Forum will serve as a valuable springboard for these fantastic projects to complete their financing and develop their strategies for the international market,” said Lindsay Peters, director of Frontières. “Over the last 5 years Frontières has solidified its role as the central networking hub for international genre projects in development and we aim to increase our role as a facilitator for projects at all stages in partnership with our friends at the Marché du Film.”
Julie Bergeron, Head of Industry Programs, Marché du Film, added: “The creation of the Frontières Forum in Amsterdam aims at giving another push to projects looking to close their financing and improve their releasing and marketing strategies. Thus, Frontières becomes more then an annual copro market as it offers producers a 3-steps platform with strategic moments during the year to present their projects at various stages of production.”
The Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum is made possible thanks to the support of Creative Europe MEDIA and the Netherlands Film Fund. The 9th edition of the Frontières International Co-Production Market will take place July 20-23 at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. Project submissions will open in January.
Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum: Complete List of Projects
ANIMAS (Spain/France)
Directors: José Ortuño & Laura Alvea
Writer: José Ortuño
Producer: Olmo Figueredo Gonzalez-Quevedo (La Claqueta P.C) & Birgit Kemner (Manny Films)
THE BEACH HOUSE (United States)
Director/Writer: Jeff Brown
Producers: Andrew Corkin (Uncorked Productions), Tyler Davidson (Low Spark Films), Sophia Lin (Marquee Player)
EXTRAORDINARY (Ireland)
Directors/Writers: Mike Ahern & Enda Loughman
Producers: Katie Holly, Ailish Bracken (Blinder Films)
THE EXISTENCE OF LIBERTY WHITE (United Kingdom)
Director: Nick Parish
Writer: Gwilym Davies
Producer: Zack Winfield (Milkwood Productions)
THE HAPPY FACE (Canada)
Director: Alexandre Franchi
Writers; Joëlle Bourjolly & Alexandre Franchi
Producers: Alexandre Franchi (Les Films de la Mancha), Stephane Gérin-Lajoie (Line & Content Inc.)
HOUSE OF STAIRS (Canada)
Director: Rachel Talalay
Writer: Doug Taylor
Producers: Scott Hyman (Zest Productions), Phyllis Laing (Buffalo Gal Pictures), Michael Solomon (Band With Pictures)
MALEVOLENT (United Kingdom)
Director: Chris Cronin
Writer: Paul Thomas
Producers: Julie Baines (Dan Films), Jennifer Monks (Penciltrick Productions), Paul Thomas
MARIONETTE (Netherlands/Belgium/UK)
Director: Elbert Van Strien
Writers: Elbert Van Strien, Ben Hopkins
Producers: Claudia Brandt, Elbert Van Strien (Accento Films BV), Burny Bos, Jolande Junte (BosBros BV)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN JERUSALEM (Spain / France / Netherlands)
Directors: David Muñoz, Adrian Cardona
Writer: David Muñoz
Producers: Rafael Gonzalez Vallinas (Ek Degol Productions), Vincent Brançon & François Cognard (TBC) Jan Doense & Herman Slagter (House of Netherhorror) Xavier Crespo (DACSA), Oriol Maymo (Corte Y Confeccion de Peliculas)
ROOM SERVICE (United States)
Director: Yedidya Gorsetman
Writer: Mark Leidner, Yedidya Gorsetman
Producers: Matthew Smaglik, Josh Itzkowitz
SOME KIND OF MADNESS (Canada)
Director: Casey Walker
Writers: Pascal Trottier, Peter Vicaire, Casey Walker
Producers: Casey Walker (Cave Painting Pictures), Jonathan Bronfman (JoBro Productions)
WARG (Sweden/Canada)
Director: Anders Banke
Writers: Ian Barr, Jan Adolfsson
Producers: Magnus Paulsson (Solid Entertainment AB), Paula Devonshire (Devonshire Productions) & Helena Danielsson (Brain Academy)
Cannes 
