Our lawyers are regularly engaged in the area of international co-productions in film and television. We have worked on some of the largest co-productions shot in Canada, including “Resident Evil: Afterlife”, which is the highest grossing Canadian film in history. Heenan Blaikie assists its clients in the drafting and negotiation of various international co-production agreements incorporating many complex provisions (ex.: financial, creative, legal, cultural, technical and budgetary) which the signing parties must satisfy.
Our lawyers’ expertise extends to all aspects of international co-productions, including advice on applicable legislation (Income Tax Act, Investment Canada Act, Citizenship Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), compliance with Telefilm Canada guidelines on the certification of international co-productions, the sharing of intellectual property rights, distribution control and revenue sharing, and equitable market sharing. Our extensive experience extends to the area of interpreting and advising on the many film and television co-production treaties which Canada currently has in place.