Lions Gate sells Mandalay

On Nov. 13, Lions Gate Entertainment, headquartered in Vancouver, sold its five-year-old, 45% stake in Mandalay Pictures for US$10 million.

The sale to Mandalay principals Peter Guber and Paul Schaeffer comprised $2.5 million in advance distribution guarantees and cash. LGE had previously written down its profit-killing investment in Mandalay to $10 million at the end of fiscal 2002.

Boudreault sells alexfilms, launches Zoom

Carole Boudreault, founder of Quebec exhibition consultants alexfilms.com, has sold the company after 10 years to partner Simon Beaudry.

Her new outfit, Zoom Services, provides research to exhibitors and distributors, government and the private sector. Boudreault also compiles Canadian box-office data on behalf of the Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada and has been the head coordinator for Show Canada since 1995.

Hosted by MPTAC, Show Canada 2003 unspools April 30 to May 4 in Ottawa.

Mainframe launches international division

Vancouver-based CGI animator Mainframe Entertainment has opened a new international business development division to expand the company’s presence in the U.S. and global marketplace.

Overseen by Joy Tashjian, who has been appointed VP worldwide sales and marketing and is based at Mainframe USA in Los Angeles, the new division will handle international distribution and domestic sales for Mainframe’s properties including Tony Hawk’s Feasters, Dot’s Bots, Betty Boop, Wubbies, and Scary Godmother, among other titles.

Sextant gets licence

While Sextant Entertainment Group of Vancouver languishes in receivership, it made some gains with the CRTC. On Nov. 6, the broadcast regulator approved a seven-year licence for The Hallmark Channel (Canada), a long-standing Category 2 special service application. The channel plans to offer programming for youth and family audiences including adapted literary works, historical dramas, adventure stories and romance – much of it coming from the Hallmark library.

The new channel is to be owned in partnership with Corus Entertainment and U.S.-based Crown Media Holdings.