The MontrealInternational Film Market is putting a new spin on trade shows.

The nine-daymarket, which coincides with the Montreal World Film Festival, is abandoningthe trade-booth format of traditional markets to focus on an increased numberof meet-and-greet cocktails and enhanced meeting areas.

In a statement,market director Gilles Beriault said the changes would give buyers and sellersgreater opportunities for face-to-face discussions and negotiations. He saidthe market expects 1,000 international attendees, including executives from UScompanies such as Sony Pictures Classics, Miramax Films, Focus Features,Zeitgeist Films, Strand Releasing and the Sundance Channel. The market will belocated in the festival's headquarters hotel, the recently renamed Hyatt Hotelin the Complexe Desjardin. Market dates are August 28 to September 5. Thefestival proper runs August 26 to September 6.

Features of thisyear's event include Production Exchange, a catalogue-based venture featuringco-production opportunities. Producers can submit their projects at themarket's web site.

Market participants willhave access to the more than 700 festival screenings, as well as a videolibrary equipped with 50 screening stations capable of tri-band playback andmulti-zone compatibility.