CWG calls for docs

CanWest Global is calling for submissions to a new documentary strand, meant to reflect ‘a new journalism’ in Canada, with character-driven stories about socially relevant issues. The one-hour Global Currents specials will be presented by news anchor Kevin Newman.

The docs do not necessarily need to be shot in Canada, but must qualify as 100% Canadian priority programming. An editorial board from CWG and its Global news team will assess the pitches.

The deadlines for 2005 are March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 16. For information, call Global Television development manager at (416) 446-5333 or, in the west, at (604) 742-8879.

ACTRA salutes Gross

Paul Gross will receive ACTRA Toronto’s 2005 Award of Excellence for his contributions on and off the screen. The award, to be presented on Feb. 18, acknowledges both his film and TV work and his lobby efforts on behalf of the industry. ‘Paul Gross has demonstrated true leadership in the campaign to foster English-Canadian culture on our screens,’ says ACTRA Toronto president Richard Hardacre. ‘Working toward that goal, Paul has won the admiration of his fellow performers and industry colleagues alike.’

Past winners Gordon Pinsent and Sonja Smits will present the prize.

More tsunami relief

Three third-language channels have lent a hand to victims of the Asian tsunami. Chinese-aimed Fairchild Television aired two telethons on Jan. 2 and 8, raising $1.2 million, which, matched dollar-for-dollar by the federal government, is being divided between World Vision and the Canadian Red Cross. OMNIs 1 and 2, meanwhile, aired a two-hour commercial-free telethon on Jan. 9 and raised more than $1 million – including a $150,000 contribution by parent Rogers Communications – for the Red Cross and Oxfam Canada. VisionTV also recently contributed $20,000 to the Canadian Red Cross.

Cookie Jar adds Rainbow

Montreal’s Cookie Jar Entertainment, producer and distributor of children’s television shows such as Caillou, has added U.S.-based Rainbow Bridge Publishing to its educational products division, part of a strategy to expand its educational product line. Rainbow Bridge produces educational materials for preschoolers to eight-year-olds to help them retain their reading, writing and math skills during the summer. Cookie Jar was previously known as Cinar.