In-Demand: Québec Creates—Part 1

In the first of three special Québec Creates reports before MIPCOM, we’re highlighting a broad selection, encompassing kids’ animation, superhero adventures, inspiring preschool content, a melodramatic teen parody, poignant drama series, funny sketch comedy series, a rom-com film collection and a reality cooking competition in the wild.

Québec has a unique position in the global television market as a generator of French-and English-language media in North America, with productions that are both distinctive and highly exportable. One of its main assets is the variety and the appeal of its dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, children’s content and entertainment formats. In association with the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), the Québec cultural agency, World Screen is spotlighting this dynamic industry and its presence at MIPCOM this year.

Overseen by Québec’s Minister of Culture and Communication, SODEC promotes and supports the development of Québec’s cultural industry, at home and abroad. SODEC also coordinates umbrella operations and co-production initiatives at major international markets through the “Québec Creates” banner.

4 Days Before Christmas

Commissioners: Canal+, TVE & SRC, with support from the Canada Media Fund and Shaw Rocket Fund
Producers: PVP Media, 3 Doubles Producciones, Capitán Araña
Description: (Animation, 1×88 min., 4×22 min.) Longing for wilder adventures, Santa Claus’s wish comes true when he bumps his head and starts believing he’s SuperKlaus: the famous superhero Christmas Crusader.
Pitch Perfect: “With the help of Billie, a tech-savvy 11-year-old, and Leo, his elf executive assistant, SuperKlaus will take on a megalomaniacal toy-obsessed businessman to save Christmas.” —François Trudel, VP & Executive Producer
Sales Contact: François Trudel.

Be Mine, Valentine

Commissioner: Incendo
Producer: Incendo
Distributor: Incendo
Description: (Romantic comedy, 1×90 min.) A proposal planner poses as the best man’s new girlfriend to get to know her clients better and help concoct a perfect Valentine’s Day proposal.
Pitch Perfect: “With a diverse slate of original, multi-genre programming available, Incendo’s curated romantic comedy film collection includes a variety of unique, heartwarming stories.” —Gavin Reardon, International Sales & Co-Productions
Sales Contacts: Gavin Reardon; Cynthia Kennedy, VP, Distribution.

The Beachbuds

Producers: J-Toon Holdings, Syon Media
Distributors: Odin’s Eye (worldwide excluding France), Syon Media (France)
Description: (Animation, 52×11 min.) Welcome to the tropical island paradise known as the Zoobak Resort, home of the Beachbuds, a group of bird friends who live and work together at the resort.
Pitch Perfect: “When the Beachbuds are not busy giving their guests their best day ever, they go on zany adventures the whole family will enjoy watching. Every episode is a vacation you’ll never want to end!” —Danny Bergeron, CEO & Producer
Sales Contacts: Danny Bergeron; Johanna Veysset, Sales & Marketing.

Before the Crash (Avant le crash)

Commissioner: Radio-Canada
Distributor: Encore International
Description: (Drama, 10×45 min.) A brilliant mind in finance, Marc-André got out of the rat race while his friends have incredibly successful careers—until an offer comes up. Will he accept?
Pitch Perfect: “Set in the world of finance, Before the Crash is a fascinating series where ambition, money and success can be extremely rewarding or bring the worst out of you. When at the crossroads, the question is: how much are you willing to lose in order to win?” —Chrystine Girard, Head, International Distribution
Sales Contacts: Chrystine Girard; Dominique Simard, VP, Business Development & Partnerships.

The Coco Boo

Producer: Image-in Atlantique
Description: (Animation, 52×5 min.) Everything starts from an egg…
Pitch Perfect: “Barely out of their shells, the Coco Boos wonder what to do today: sing, paint, cook, dream? They don’t know where to turn with their vivid imaginations. Fortunately, Mammoth is there to bring everyone back to their shells before dark.” —Jean de Vivie, Executive Producer
Sales Contacts: Jean de Vivie; Annick De Vries, Executive Producer.

Complètement Lycée

Commissioner: Noovo.ca/Crave
Producer: Productions ToRoS
Description: (Comedy, 10×12 min.) This quirky parody of melodramatic teen series tells the highs and lows of Allie Thompson, the new girl in New Garden Hills Valley’s high school.
Pitch Perfect: “Complètement Lycée is a parody of those iconic, oh-so-melodramatic teen series that we all know and love—they were a quintessential part of our own coming-of-age television rituals. This contemporary series borrows from all the rules of the YA genre to create an absurd high school universe where the tone and humor are updated and refreshed and totally binge-worthy!” —Marc S. Grenier, Producer
Sales Contacts: Marc S. Grenier; Marie-Pier Gaudreault, Executive VP.

Dear Flora

Commissioner: Radio-Canada
Producer: Nish Media
Distributor: Attraction Distribution
Description: (Drama, 6×45 min.) Inspired by true events, tells the moving story of an Algonquin brother and sister, who, in the 1960s, were taken away from their parents and sent to an Indian residential school. The series shows how both are now trying to make peace with their painful past.
Pitch Perfect: “A poignant drama that reveals Canada’s 100-year-long dark history: Indigenous children were forcibly taken into residential schools to be ‘civilized’ by the Catholic Church. How painfully they were uprooted, and how, as survivors today, they struggle and reconcile. Inspired by true events.” —Xiaojuan Zhou, President
Sales Contacts: Xiaojuan Zhou; Max Oliveras, VP, Television.

Pillow Talk

Commissioner: Crave
Producer: KOTV
Distributor: KO Distribution
Description: (Comedy, S1: 10×30 min., S2: 10×30 min. in prod.) A comedy that presents couples of different ages, social classes and origins, living out realistic situations in funny and touching ways, without taboos.
Pitch Perfect: “The wildly popular Pillow Talk is a sketch comedy series that takes place in the bedroom, that last refuge where we are completely free to be ourselves. The series revolves around the lives of six different couples who live out situations that are realistic, funny and touching.” —Mia Desroches, VP, Global Distribution
Sales Contacts: Mia Desroches; Barbara Vallant, Sales Agent.

Wild Cooks (Chefs de bois)

Commissioner: Quebecor Media
Producer: Toast Média
Distributors: Banijay Rights (format), Québecor (tape)
Description: (Lifestyle/competition, S1: 8×30 min., S2: 8×30 min.) Professional chefs are left in a hostile environment with the bare minimum to survive and cook. They must create a dish to impress a judge.
Pitch Perfect: “The new normal we live in brought a need for people to reconnect with nature. In this cooking reality TV format, the hostile location and survival skills bring contestants to excel using a minimum of resources. Cooks find themselves in a precarious environment that leads them to survive this unique competition.” —Ian Quenneville, Producer & Co-President
Sales Contacts: Ian Quenneville; Sylvie Langlois, Québecor; Carlotta Rossi Spencer, Banijay Rights.