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Strategic Partners, a presentation of the Atlantic Film Festival, will host a visionary line-up of speakers including keynote addresses presented by Tornasol Films Producer Mariela Besuievsky and Vimeo Director of Audience Development and Content Operations, Peter Gerard, as part of the event taking place September 11 - 14 in Halifax.

"With our spotlight shining brightly on Spain, Latin America, and the USA at Strategic Partners in 2014, having Mariela as our esteemed Opening Keynote couldn't be more relevant,” says Director of Strategic Partners, Laura MacKenzie. “Her impressive background as a producer, as well as her co-production experience around the globe (not to mention her incredible presence in the room) will ensure an inspirational conversation."

Originally from Uruguay, Besuievsky has produced over 90 films and has been a partner at Tornasol Films in Spain since 1999. She is renowned for her work on illustrious films such as "The Secret in Their Eyes" (winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2010), "The Oxford Murders" (starring Elijah Wood and John Hurt) and Oscar nominated "Son of the Bride" (Best Film at the Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards 2002) among many others. Besuievsky has a rich history of bringing raw, character-driven stories to the screen.

"I'm very excited to attend Strategic Partners this fall! It is an optimal place for networking and providing an opportunity to find global partners,” says Besuievsky. “It is also a perfect environment to exchange impressions with other industry professionals, and to find new ideas and different points of view for your projects."

Vimeo Director of Audience Development and Content Operations Peter Gerard will also deliver a highly anticipated keynote address. Gerard set the stage for his impressive career by founding Accidental Media in Edinburgh and leading this groundbreaking company for more than ten years.

In 2010, Gerard founded Distrify to establish “direct-to-fan” digital film sales and in 2014, Peter moved to New York to join Vimeo, where he now manages marketing partnerships within Vimeo’s Audience Development team. His focus is on growing the Vimeo on Demand solution for independent film sales.

“I am excited by the opportunity to meet talented producers at Strategic Partners and talk about the possibilities of online marketing and sales for films and series," says Gerard. "The Vimeo On Demand catalogue is growing fast and we are empowering creators to connect with their global audiences through direct distribution."

"There's no doubt the digital first conversation will be overarching at Strategic Partners this year, and therefore I'm very excited to present industry leader, Peter Gerard, to deliver a keynote address on the topic of Producers as Entrepreneurs," says Mackenzie. "Vimeo's foray into original content with the series High Maintenance further solidifies the commitment and platform of self-distribution to supporting producers and content creation - this is exactly who we want represented at Strategic Partners!"

Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters and distributors are selected to attend Strategic Partners. Offering over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, and screenings and receptions – Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results.

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About Strategic Partners: An International Film, Television and Digital Co-Production Market

The Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners is one of the world’s preeminent co-production/co-financing markets focusing on feature film, TV and web based fiction. Strategic Partners offers an intimate, organized forum for projects looking for financing as well as those still at an early stage, looking for the right partner.

Over the past 17 years, Strategic Partners has established itself not only as a one of a kind co-production market, but also as a cutting edge, intimate environment that delivers solutions to existing and foreseeable industry challenges. The intelligence and program offered at Strategic Partners is developed over many months of research into current global issues. However, this information is only a complement to Strategic Partners’ primary function – to build, establish and nurture relationships between producers and their partners.

Strategic Partners is a part of the Atlantic Film Festival family of programs. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, the Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.

Fourteen: That's the number of hours we have left of Mad Men. So what better time to savor Matthew Weiner's masterpiece than the lead-up to the Season Seven premiere? In a perfect world, you would just re-watch Season Six – or re-read our episode recaps from last season. Tempting, yes, but not practical. Therefore, we've condensed the highlights of the past season into this handy primer that reminds us where we left each major character circa Thanksgiving 1968 (when the finale, "In Care of," took place). Before the big questions are...

CBS's new fall comedy Partners has run into an odd roadblock: It looks an awful lot like a 1995 Fox sitcom, also called Partners. The old one was written by Will & Grace writer Jeff Greenstein — and the new one is written by Will & Grace co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Both shows are about architects, one of whom gets engaged on the pilot; both shows feature salty secretaries. And both pilots were directed by James Burrows. (When it debuted in 1995, Partners was criticized for being a Friends knockoff. It lasted one season.) Mutchnick and Kohan downplayed the similarities at the CBS TCA panel yesterday, with Mutchnick saying the overlaps are just an "unfortunate coincidence" and that he'd never seen the nineties show. Plus, on this new Partners, one of the leads is gay, whereas on the old one, one was just lousy with women!It seems pretty...

Ray Richmond contributes to Deadline’s TV coverage. In 1995, Fox premiered a new sitcom entitled Partners that starred Tate Donovan and Jon Cryer as architects and best pals who have an offbeat secretary. In the pilot, one of them gets engaged, tossing their friendship and partnership into jeopardy. That pilot was directed by top sitcom helmer James Burrows. Seventeen years later, CBS this fall will premiere a new sitcom — also entitled Partners — starring David Krumholtz and Michael Urie as architects and best pals with a zany secretary. In the pilot, one of the guys gets engaged, threatening their friendship and partnership. Like its namesake predecessor, it was directed by James Burrows. The similarities between the two projects were front and center at TCA this morning when Partners creators/exec producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick appeared with their stars to promote their new show. Kohan and Mutchnick essentially dismissed the...

You’ve seen the commercials. You’ve heard the hype. Now there’s only one thing you want to know: Which of the new fall shows are worth watching and which should be avoided at all costs? In this continuing series, we give you the scoop on some of the most highly-anticipated shows of the season, with today’s subject being CBS’ Partners.

The Boilerplate: Since these pilot presentations may go through numerous rewrites and casting changes prior to premiere, this by no means should be considered an official review. Rather a preview of what one can expect come Fall.

The Plot: From multiple Emmy® winners David Kohan and Max Mutchnick comes this personal story of Joe and Louis, lifelong friends and business partners whose bond has lasted longer than any of their romantic relationships. But now that Joe plans to get married, the friends wonder how a spouse may change their dynamic.

Maleficent has found its prince in Aussie Brendon Thwaites. But can the young Home and Away star hold his own against an evil queen played by Angeline Jolie?

Director James Burrows, who executive produced Will & Grace for the entire run, has joined with David Kohan and Max Mutchnick again for Partners. Burrows directed the pilot, and will stay on with the series. He's considered the premiere director for multicamera comedy.

The California senate has passed the bill outlawing reparative therapy for underage people. If it makes it through the house and the governor signs it, California will become the first state to outlaw sexual orientation change therapy for minors.

Slate proposes that comic books are the perfect place for same-sex characters and romance, since most superheroes lead double lives to begin with, and this provides a natural jumping off place for gay characters.

Sky Atlantic is set to show a...

Exclusive: James Burrows, who directed the pilot for the new CBS/Warner Bros. comedy Partners, will be staying with the series as executive producer/director. He will segue to Partners from another CBS/Wbtv comedy series, Mike & Molly, on which he served as an executive producer and primary director for the past two seasons. Partners marks a reunion for Burrows and the series creators/executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Burrows served as an executive producer/director on the duo’s Will & Grace for the entire run of the hit NBC comedy series, marking the first series he took up such a role on since Cheers. After almost 40 years in the business, ICM-repped Burrows remains the preeminent multi-camera comedy director. He has directed the pilots for a whopping five of the 12 multi-camera broadcast series that will air next season, CBS’ Two And A Half Men, The Big Bang Theory,...

CBS released full trailers today for the network’s new series that were announced last week. Trailers were shown to press covering CBS’ upfront presentations but were not made available for general release until today. CBS’ Elementary Produced by CBS Television Studios. From executive producers Rob Doherty, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Michael Cuesta. Directed by Michael Cuesta (pilot): CBS’ Made In Jersey Produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios. From executive producers Jamie Tarses, Kevin Falls, Julia Franz and Mark Waters. Written by creator/co-executive producer Dana Calvo (pilot). Directed by Mark Waters (pilot): CBS’ Partners Produced by Warner Bros Television. From executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Directed by James Burrows (pilot): CBS’ Vegas Produced by CBS Television Studios. From executive producers Nicholas Pileggi, Greg Walker, Cathy Konrad, Arthur Sarkissian and James Mangold. Directed by James Mangold (pilot):...

The recently announced TV network fall line up seems to have some common themes this year. Did anyone order some revived sitcom actors? Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC sure did, and these new shows will all have some very familiar faces.

Fox's new series The Mindy Project stars Mindy Kaling in a quirky sitcom about a young woman who has professional success as a gynecologist but just can't quite figure out that love life of hers. Mindy's character on the show is not totally unlike her ditzy, celebrity-obsessed character Kelly Kapoor on The Office, which looks like it will add to the show's likability. Kelly was irritating, sure, but nonetheless comically entertaining. I think Kelly's incredible naïveté has at lest been removed from Mindy's new character, which is definitely necessary if this series is going to work. You just can't have the star of a show plotting to dupe her...

The TV upfronts are in full swing, and CBS has announced its upcoming slate of shows for 2012 - 2013. There are 19 current series returning and four new series. Dramas include Elementary, Vegas, and Made in Jersey. The only new comedy is titled Partners.

CBS is moving around a few of their returning shows. 2 Broke Girls will be moving to Monday at 9 p.m., Two and a Half Men moves to Thursday at 8:30 p.m., CSI: NY will open Fridays at 8 p.m. and The Mentalist moves to Sundays at 10 p.m.

Here is the press release from CBS:

CBS announced today its new 2012-2013 primetime schedule, ordering four new series and making four key time period moves to further enhance television’s top-rated schedule. CBS will finish the season as America’s most-watched network for the ninth time in the past 10 years, leading in viewers by the widest margin of any network in 23 years.

Note: The network will release full trailers of all its shows in the next few days. CBS did provide behind-the-scenes featurettes of the fall-premiering shows, noted below. Related: CBS’ 2012-13 Schedule: ‘Two & Half Men’ Moves To Thursday, ‘Mentalist’ To Sunday CBS’ Partners – Comedy Produced by Warner Bros Television. From executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Directed by James Burrows (pilot). Here’s a behind-the-scenes look: CBS’ Elementary – Drama Produced by CBS Television Studios. From executive producers Rob Doherty, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Michael Cuesta. Directed by Michael Cuesta (pilot): CBS’ Vegas – Drama Produced by CBS Television Studios. From executive producers Nicholas Pileggi, Greg Walker, Cathy Konrad, Arthur Sarkissian and James Mangold. Directed by James Mangold (pilot): CBS’ Made In Jersey – Drama Produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios. From executive producers Jamie Tarses, Kevin Falls, Julia Franz and Mark Waters. Written by...

CBS has announced its schedule for the fall 2012-2013 season and it's one that features many returning shows. The eyeball network is enjoying a commanding lead against its competitors, finishing the regular '12 season as the country's most-watched television network for the ninth time in the past 10 years.

However, one long-running show won't be coming back next fall: CSI Miami, the first spinoff from Jerry Bruckheimer's massive crime drama franchise, got its walking papers two weeks back.

Among the new series that CBS is launching this fall are:

Elementary

Jonny Lee Miller (Dark Shadows, Hackers) stars as detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson in a modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD’s most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with...

We here at Zap2it noticed something a little strange in looking at the resume of TV legend James Burrows ("Taxi," "Cheers," "Friends") Wednesday morning (May 16) following the CBS upfronts announcement of their new 2012-13 lineup: "Partners," a new comedy for which Burrows directed the pilot, is already on his list of credentials -- a sitcom from 1995 also named "Partners."

And there are more similarities than just Burrows as a director. CBS describes "Partners" as "two life-long best friends and business partners whose 'bromance' is tested when one of them is engaged to be married." The lead characters (played by David Krumholtz and Michael Urie) are architects, and Krumholtz's fiancee is named Ali.

The 1995-96 comedy from Fox is described as "Best friends Bob and Owen work together as aspiring young architects on the rise, their relationship complicated by Owen's recent engagement to Alicia."

Weird, right? Disappointingly, co-creator David Kohan...

CBS is spreading the love for the 2012-2013 TV season and making some moves.

Next season, "Two And A Half Men" will follow the network's No. 1 comedy "The Big Bang Theory" on Thursday nights and "The Mentalist" is heading to Sundays, airing after "The Good Wife."

CBS picked up six new series for the 2012-2013 TV season: four new dramas -- Sherlock Holmes-centric "Elementary," "Vegas" with Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, legal drama "Made in Jersey" and cop drama "Golden Boy" -- and two new comedies -- "Partners," a bromantic comedy, and L.A.-set "Friend Me." CBS added one new show to each weeknight (save Wednesday).

"These new series feature a great range of bold concepts, rich characters, big stars and fresh faces," CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said in a statement. “From a new take on Sherlock Holmes to an epic battle for control of 1960s Las...

CBS is spreading the love for the 2012-2013 TV season and making some moves.

Next season, "Two And A Half Men" will follow the network's No. 1 comedy "The Big Bang Theory" on Thursday nights and "The Mentalist" is heading to Sundays, airing after "The Good Wife."

CBS picked up six new series for the 2012-2013 TV season: four new dramas -- Sherlock Holmes-centric "Elementary," "Vegas" with Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, legal drama "Made in Jersey" and cop drama "Golden Boy" -- and two new comedies -- "Partners," a bromantic comedy, and L.A.-set "Friend Me." CBS added one new show to each weeknight (save Wednesday).

"These new series feature a great range of bold concepts, rich characters, big stars and fresh faces," CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said in a statement. “From a new take on Sherlock Holmes to an epic battle for control of 1960s Las...

Chicago – In the most interesting scheduling move of the Fall 2012 TV announcements, CBS is going to move “Two and a Half Men” to Thursday nights following “The Big Bang Theory.” After two years of trying to find a solid show to follow one of their biggest hits, CBS just decided to move another one of their biggest hits. The hour should be one of the highest rated of the week. They also plan to move “The Mentalist” and “2 Broke Girls” while launching four new shows.

The three dramas feature major stars including Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Dennis Quaid, and Michael Chiklis while the comedy stars David Krumholtz and Michael Urie. Full descriptions follow the daily schedule below.

The big comedy move of “Two and a Half Men” from Mondays to Thursdays leaves a hole in the schedule and the network’s smash hit, “2 Broke Girls,” will now take the...

CBS has greenlit seven new series for fall, including The Sherlock Holmes reboot Elementary and the Michael Urie-David Krumholtz comedy Partners from the creators of Will & Grace.

Also receiving series orders from the Eye net are the dramas Vegas, Golden Boy, Made In Jersey (formerly Baby Big Shot), and the sitcom Friend Me. On the reality side, the Michael Davies- Mark Burnett project The Job has been given the go-ahead.

Related | Fall TV Preview — Your Guide to What’s New

Here’s logline/casting/pedigree info on the new series…

* Made In Jersey (Sony Pictures TV, Fanfare,...

This is shaping up to be the Best. Pilot. Season. Ever.

Ugly Betty alum and Spoiler Alert! premiere guest Michael Urie has landed one of the male leads in Partners, the CBS comedy pilot from Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick.

Partners follows two architects — Charlie is straight, Louis (Urie) gay — whose friendship has lasted longer than either of their romantic relationships and almost seems like a weird marriage. When Charlie decides to propose to his girlfriend (One Tree Hill‘s Sophia Bush), Louis’ neurotic attempts to be supportive nearly result in the breakup of his own relationship.

Ugly Betty alum Michael Urie has landed one of the leads in CBS’ half-hour pilot Partners. The multicamera comedy, from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchick and David Kohan, centers on lifelong friends and business partners — one straight and one gay (Urie). Urie, repped by Gersh and Seven Summits, joins recently cast Sophia Bush, who plays the other guy’s fiance. James Burrows is directing. He currently stars on Broadway in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Pooch Hall (The Game) has joined the cast of Showtime’s drama pilot Ray Donovan starring Liev Schreiber. Written by Ann Biderman and directed by Allen Coulter, the Showtime-produced project centers on Ray (Schreiber), a professional “fixer” for La’s rich and famous who can make anyone’s problems disappear, except the ones created by his own family. Hall will play Daryll, a young fighter who trains at Terry Donovan’s Fite Club,...

Sophia Bush isn't waiting until the series finale of One Tree Hill to plan her next career move.

The actress, who wrapped up filming on that drama's final season in November, has signed on for CBS' Partners, an upcoming comedy pilot about two architects - Charlie, who is straight and Louis, who is gay - whose working relationship and friendship is tested when Charlie proposes to his girlfriend.

Bush will portray that girlfriend and is the first actor or actress cast on the series.

Partners will be written and executive produced by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, and directed by sitcom veteran James Burrows.

Sophia Bush is angling to put allllll that One Tree Hill drama behind her by joining the cast of Partners, a comedy pilot being developed for CBS by the creators of Will & Grace.

Pilot Season Lingo Guide (Including the ‘Scary’ Second Position), Plus a List of Picked-Up Pilots

Written and executive-produced by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, and to be directed by sitcom vet James Burrows, Partners follows two architects — Charlie is straight, Louis gay — whose friendship has lasted longer than either of their romantic relationships and almost seems like a weird marriage. When Charlie decides to propose to his girlfriend,...

Veteran multi-camera directors James Burrows and Pamela Fryman, always sought after for pilots, have booked two pilots each after each fielded several offers. Mike & Molly director/executive producer Burrows will direct two CBS comedies: the untitled Greg Malins/Greg Berlanti project, which just cast JoAnna Garcia Swisher as the the female lead, and Max Mutchnick and David Kohan’s Partners. Both pilots hail from Warner Bros TV, where Emmy-winner Burrows is based. The Malins/Berlanti project centers on Nick, who has a health scare and realizes that Wendy (Garcia Swisher), his best friend and business partner of 15 years, is “the one”. Now he has to figure out how to break it to her. Mutchnick and Kohan’s Partners is a personal story of two lifelong friends and business partners — one straight and one gay. This is the latest collaboration between Burrows and Mutchnick/Kohan; Burrows has directed most of the...

The history of queer characters in mainstream movies has been, at least in part, a history of heterosexual protagonists making fun of gay second bananas. It’s pretty much a given that the gay guy never gets to be the hero, so it boils down to how the supporting gay is going to be handled by the major players and what style of humor society has deemed appropriate for the era when the movie was made.

In the same way that gays off the screen spent the 20th century going from invisible to mocked to militant to a fact of life, so did the "funny" barbs sent our way on the big screen.

Phase One: “You’re gay, and you’re ridiculous.”

When movies began to talk in the late 1920s and beyond, gays were still pretty invisible in American society; that invisibility was mirrored on screen, particularly after the...

One of the things we've frequently lamented here at AfterElton.com is that when it comes to the umpteen million cop dramas and crime procedurals dotting the broadcast television landscape, there is nary a male gay cop or detective to be found.

Oh sure, we can be the murder victim (a drag queen or transgender person), the murderer (a closet case), or a witness (distraught partner proving the show is tolerant and diverse), but when it comes to actually carrying a badge, we never seem to be up to the job.

Thanks to NBC's new cop drama Southland, from ER's executive producer John Wells, that's about to change when the show premieres April 9th. That's right, someone in the photo above is gay! Learn more after the jump!

After the Southland panel during Thursday's Television Critics Association in Los Angeles, I spoke with Ann Biderman, an executive producer on the show,...