Saturday, August 30th
Hotel Excelsior, Venice, Italy – Spazio Incontri
1:00 PM – Cocktail Reception & Networking
11:30 AM – Industry Conference

The ICFF is proud to return to the 82nd Venice International Film Festival with its flagship conference dedicated to fostering creative and commercial partnerships between Italy and Canada.

Join leading producers, distributors, and VFX innovators as we spotlight the dynamic landscape of international co-productions and unveil opportunities for deeper collaboration between our two countries.

This year’s panel will include the special participation of the team bringing Frankenstein (2025) to Venice: Academy Award–winning producer Miles Dale and VFX legend Dennis Berardi, among other speakers.

PART I — Creating in Toronto: From Location to Innovation

Overview:
This part explores Toronto’s role not only as a popular shooting location but as a leader in visual effects, post-production, and creative collaboration — a full-service hub for international productions. The panel will delve into how local incentives and tax credits support the industry, and how the city blends versatility with its own unique identity.

Intro:  Pascal Diot, director of Venice Production Bridge, Jeremy Adler, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Canada to Italy, Janine Steele, Director for Interactive and Digital Media for the Canada Media Fund (CMF).

Discussion Themes:

• Why Toronto is a top choice for international film and TV productions
• How tax incentives and government support contribute to production success
• The city’s strength in VFX, post-production, and technical infrastructure
• Toronto as both “a city that disappears into others” and a character in its own right
• Behind-the-scenes on Frankenstein and The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox — using Toronto as a creative base

Speakers:

• Miles Dale – Discussing his experience producing major films in Toronto and how the city continues to evolve as a filmmaking centre
• Dennis Berardi – On the growing demand for VFX, Toronto’s post-production talent, and building a creative ecosystem with global reach
• Nick Iannelli – Sharing insights on long-running productions in Toronto, studio collaboration, and infrastructure scalability.
• Jeff F. King,  Director | HOURGLASS S2

PART II — Beyond the Shoot: Distribution, Co-Productions & International Pathways

Overview:
The second part focuses on what happens after the cameras stop rolling — especially regarding theatrical distribution in Canada and the role of co-productions with countries like Italy. The discussion will look at how Italian films can gain traction in Canada, what distributors look for, and how Toronto can act as a launchpad for international titles.

Speakers:

• Alfredo Romano – From an Italian-Canadian producer’s perspective: building bridges across industries, funding strategies, and lessons from past co-productions
• Attilio De Razza – Acclaimed Italian producer (Familia, Comandante), sharing insights on international co-productions and the evolving role of producers in cross-border collaborations
• Gianna Isabella Magliocco | Canadian Director Gate67 Films (Doge: A Portrait of Redemption)