One of Canada's biggest TV hits in recent years has been the CBC's Irish co-production The Tudors, starring Annabelle Wallis and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. One of Canada's biggest TV hits in recent years has been the CBC's Irish co-production The Tudors, starring Annabelle Wallis and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. (Jonathan Hession/Showtime/Associated Press)

Canadian film and TV series earned about $85 million in foreign sales in 2008, up roughly 21 per cent from the previous year, according to a study by Telefilm Canada released Thursday.

The federal agency's 2008 International Markets report boasts of a healthy international scene for homegrown producers and distributors, with sales of nearly $14 million and ongoing negotiations expected to bring in an additional $71 million.

But the report noted the figures for the sales under negotiation had not yet closed at the time of its survey.

A Telefilm spokeswoman said firm numbers won't be available until next year.

Some of Canada's biggest TV hits in recent years have involved high-profile foreign sales and co-productions, like CTV's Flashpoint, also airing on CBS, and CBC's Irish co-production The Tudors.

Michel Roy, chairman of Telefilm's board of directors, credited the successes to $1.2 million in support the agency gave to TV producers and filmmakers trying to make inroads overseas.

"Over the past few years, we have made a priority of forging alliances with foreign partners and promoting co-production activities across international markets, as they help build industry capacity and ensure its long-term viability," Roy said in a release.

The Telefilm report found that in 2008, co-production and co-venture partnerships increased by 20 per cent over the previous year. Sixty-five companies were involved in 115 deals, reported to be worth more than $23 million, with 21 different countries.

Much of that success appeared to come at MIPTV, the annual international TV market in Cannes, France, where 96 per cent of Canadian participants said they scored deals. They reported sales worth roughly $5.2 million.

Canadians also promoted TV and film projects at the European Film Market Berlinale, Hong Kong Film Mart, Cannes Film Market and MIPCOM.