Toronto/IBNS-CMEDIA: The Toronto International Film Festival’s industry platform, TIFF: The Market, hosted the signing of modernised audiovisual coproduction treaties between Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain, strengthening the festival’s role as a gateway for international film and television partnerships.
The agreements were signed on the sidelines of TIFF 2026 by Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller, UK Minister of State for Creative Industries Ian Murray and Marta Serrano, Director General of Spain’s Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales.
The treaties are intended to make it easier for Canadian, British and Spanish producers to collaborate, access public funding and develop projects for international audiences once the agreements are ratified.
TIFF’s growing industry role
The signing took place at ‘TIFF: The Market’, an industry initiative supported by a C$23-million federal investment through Budget 2024.
The platform connects filmmakers and production companies with international partners, helping them negotiate deals and take projects to audiences beyond their domestic markets.
The Canadian government said the agreements reflect the importance of building a more resilient and internationally connected audiovisual sector at a time of rapid digital change.
“TIFF: The Market helps Canadian filmmakers connect with international partners, strike deals and bring Canadian stories to audiences around the world,” the government said.
Canada–UK ties in film and television
The modernised Canada–UK treaty will replace the agreement signed in London in September 1975.
Over the past 10 years, the two countries have collaborated on 98 coproductions, comprising 26 films and 72 television series, with combined budgets of approximately C$629 million.
The UK is Canada’s leading partner for television coproductions and its second-largest partner for film coproductions.
Murray said the new agreement would deepen the existing cultural and economic relationship between the two countries.
“Both Britain and Canada have world-class film and TV industries, and I look forward to seeing what we create together following this landmark deal,” he said.
Updated framework with Spain
The Canada–Spain treaty will replace the bilateral agreement signed in January 1985.
Since then, the two countries have collaborated on 16 coproductions, including 11 films and five television series, representing nearly C$123 million in combined budgets.
Serrano said the updated treaty would give Canadian and Spanish production companies a modern legal framework for collaboration, including access to public funds in both countries.
The agreement comes as Spanish cinema gains a stronger presence at international festivals, including TIFF 2026.
Wider international network
Canada has audiovisual coproduction agreements with 59 partners. Between 2015 and 2025, the country participated in 508 treaty coproductions with combined budgets of approximately C$3.5 billion.
The latest agreements follow Canada’s signing of a modernised audiovisual coproduction treaty with South Korea in April.
The UK and Spain treaties will enter into force only after ratification by both countries. In Canada, treaties are tabled in the House of Commons for 21 sitting days before ratification.
The signing at TIFF: The Market underlines the festival’s expanding role not only as a showcase for films, but also as a venue for securing international partnerships and shaping the future of Canada’s screen industry.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
