This FOCUS Connect session is exclusively for companies that registered their interest in the FOCUS Connect Scotland-Canada coproduction programme.

Join experienced Canadian coproducer, Sidney Chiu, and find out more about the opportunities, benefits - and challenges - of coproducing in Canada.

This is the third in our series of FOCUS Connect sessions. We are delighted to invite Sidney Chiu, to present his extensive experience of producing in Canada working on official international coproductions.

Using recent international coproductions he has worked on as 'case studies', Sidney will talk about:

Coproduction landscape in Canada today
What's available for international coproducers - funding & incentives at province/regional and national levels in Canada
Pros & cons of treaty vs non-treaty coproductions
Canada's offer in terms of e.g. landscapes, production expertise, etc.
Production logistics e.g. available talent, working with Unions, managing timezone differences, climate/weather considerations
E&O insurance requirements, work permits & legals
Partners
Financing - what makes sense, how to package it, differences between e.g. Telefilm/CMF
Best practice / what can go wrong (and how to learn from it!)

About Sidney Chiu

With a focus on films with international appeal, Sidney Chiu’s producing credits include: LOVE JACKED, a Canada-South Africa romantic comedy coproduction starring Amber West and Keith David, winner of the Best Narrative Feature at the Pan African Film Festival (Los Angeles) 2018; COCONUT HERO, a Canada-Germany coproduction with Six Island Productions and UFA Fiction directed by Florian Cossen and Lola nominated, winner of the Best Film in Focus at the Zurich Film Festival in 2015; BANG BANG BABY starring Jane Levy, and Peter Stormare for Scythia Films, winner of the Claude Jutra Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015.

Sidney was also the Production Manager on the Mandarin romantic comedy FINDING MR RIGHT, which grossed over USD 80m, and THREE DAYS IN HAVANA starring Gil Bellows directed by Tony Pantages and Gil Bellows, shot in Havana Cuba with E1 distributing in Canada.

Sidney’s first produced feature, A NIGHT FOR DYING TIGERS, written / directed by Terry Miles, premiered at TIFF in 2012.

FOCUS Connect - Session 3 - Coproducing in Canada with Sidney Chiu