VMedia launches its skinny basic service via Roku
VMedia has launched its ‘skinny’ basic package as a live-streaming offering via Roku, allowing users to watch up to 20 Canadian and U.S. channels, including CTV, CBC, Global, ICI, TVA, V, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and PBS. In Canada, VMedia TV is available on all Roku televisions and Roku streaming services and costs $17.95 per month. VMedia is based in Toronto and currently serves about 20,000 households across Ontario, Quebec and Canada’s western provinces.

TUFF prize winners named
The Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) handed out more than $20,000 to Canadian and international filmmakers at its awards ceremony Sunday (Sept. 18). The festival features 60-second silent films from around the world, which are screened in Toronto’s subway platforms. Rakib Boby’s Presence of Time won the Viewers’ Choice Award, while Alicia Krawchuk’s Ringing claimed the Special Jury Prize. Other projects to receive awards were Julia Krolik, Owen Fernley and Elaine Whittaker’s Screened For (Canadian Urbanism Award), Michiel Vaanhold’s Hang on – Carry On (also a Special Jury Prize winner) and B.H. Yael’s No Lies (Most Original Film by a Local Filmmaker). In addition, Toronto film commissioner Zaib Shaikh selected his favourite film of the festival, with Spencer Ryerson and Peter Widdrington’s A New Home claiming first place and a cash prize of $3,000 from Pattison Onestop.

Elevation Pictures gets green with Bullfrog Power
Elevation Pictures has partnered with green energy provider Bullfrog Power to bring a series of advance screenings of Deepwater Horizon to eight Canadian cities. The film, which charts the 2010 oil spill that released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, will be screened using 100% renewable power. Screenings will take place in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax on Sept. 28, ahead of the film’s wide release on Sept. 30. Screenings of the film will include 30-second information spots about the importance of using renewable sources of energy.

TIFF, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg unveil residency exchange
The Toronto International Film Festival and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg have partnered to launch the Residency Exchange program, a new initiative that will see TIFF’s Len Blum resident and Medienboard’s artist-in-residence living in Berlin and Toronto, respectively. Beginning in 2017, the exchange will allow participants to experience the culture of the other city, as well as learning from a new roster of mentors. Participants will also receive accommodation, living expenses and travel allowance from both organizations.

History preps season two of Gangland Undercover
History Canada has set the premiere date for the season-two return of Cineflix-produced biker-gang drama Gangland Undercover. The new season (8 x 60 minutes) debuts on History on Monday, Sept. 26. The series is produced by Cineflix, in association with A&E Television Networks and Corus Entertainment. Executive producers on the series for Cineflix are Stephen Kemp and Charles Tremayne.

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