ICC Canada
Every year, the Institut français du Canada proposes projects aimed at French and Canadian professionals in the cultural and creative industries, with the goal of supporting expertise and structuring professional sectors. This cross-Canada program, called ICC Canada, focuses primarily on innovation and digital technology.
This strategy aims to support the significant growth of the cultural and creative industries in France and Canada, which represent 2.3% (2019 figures) and 2.7% (2020 figures) of national GDP, respectively. Canada and France are therefore strategic, competitive markets with strong potential for French and Canadian content and players, who have every interest in collaborating.
ICC Canada 2025
In 2025, ICC Canada is focusing on 3 key industries in Franco-Canadian cooperation: video games and esports, cinema, and immersive realities.
It aims to promote French cultural and creative industries’ exports and encourage the structuring of local sectors in collaboration with French professionals. Particular attention will be paid to issues of inclusion in these sectors and to supporting the independent market.
The program is organized in 2 phases: in June, in Toronto and Vancouver, and in September-October, in Ottawa and Vancouver.
June 2025: Spotlight on video games and esports in Toronto and Vancouver
From June 9 to 11, 2025, Christine Kev, board member of Women In Games France, an association of professionals working to promote diversity in the video game industry, met with key figures in esports and gaming in Vancouver and visited several studios: NGU Consultants Inc, TGS Esports, Blackbird Interactive studio, Adamas Esports, Galint Gaming Inc., Brace Yourself Games, etc.
She then joined a French esports delegation, organized in partnership with Esport Canada, from June 11 to 15 in Toronto.
After several selection stages, broadcast live on Twitch, Akaane and Bila, 2 young French players (one a girl and the other a boy), were chosen to represent France and compete against 2 Canadian players selected by Esport Canada in the fighting game Tekken 8 during an exhibition match held on June 14 at the Humber International Graduate School.
Akaane, Bila, and Christine Kev also participated in professional meetings as part of Toronto Games Week and took part in a panel discussion on issues related to inclusivity in esports on June 12 at the XP Game Summit.
The delegation visited the Lycée Français de Toronto to share their passion and discuss career-related issues with the school's students.
Fall 2025: Focus on Animation and Immersive Media in Vancouver and Ottawa
In September, Laura Chrétien (Special Touch), Terry Kalagian (Gaumont), David Sauerwein (Zephyr Animation) and their Canadian partners Daniela Mujica (Ocho Films) and Dylan Edwards (Copernicus) took part in a conference on France–Canada coproduction during the Animation Conference (TAC) at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. The session, moderated by Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos, Ottawa’s Film Commissioner, brought together around one hundred participants, and the producers benefited from numerous professional meetings.
In October, Emmanuelle Mauger, Deputy Executive Director of the Syndicat des Producteurs Indépendants, travelled to Vancouver to take part in professional meetings, the first professional days of the francophone association “Créaxion,” and to engage with organizations such as the Vancouver International Film Festival, CreativeBC, as well as numerous local producers, directors, and screenwriters.
