• Apparently undaunted by the prospect of jail time, Garth Drabinsky is planning a comeback to the live theater scene in Toronto and London’s West End. The former Livent boss and occasional TV producer (Triple Sensation) tells the Toronto Star he is planning to remount two of his previous shows — Kiss of the Spider Woman and Barrymore — and to take the musical Finian’s Rainbow on tour across Canada. Drabinsky was sentenced to seven years in prison last summer for his role in the Livent debacle. He is free on bail pending appeal.

• Guy Maddin will have a new job next week, in residency at the Cinema Studies Institute, part of the University of Toronto, where he will present a series of autobiographical lectures and films ‘in a rare, extended self-examination of his work to date.’ The lineup includes screenings of his My Winnipeg and Brand Upon the Brain.

• Keira Knightley and Christoph Waltz have reportedly been cast in The Talking Cure, David Cronenberg’s film version of the 2002 play about the early days of psychoanalysis. Waltz, still flying high for his turn as the lead Nazi in Inglorious Basterds, is said to be playing Sigmund Freud.

• Sophie Deraspe’s handiwork is headed to The Netherlands, where her Les signes vitaux (Vital Signs) will play in competition at this month’s Rotterdam film festival. It is the only Canuck film in the competition lineup, alongside titles including Autumn Adagio by Japan’s Inoue Tsuki and the U.S./Suriname pic Let Each One Go Where He May from Ben Russell. The fest runs Jan 27 to Feb 7. Les signes vitaux • Jennifer Chambers has joined E1 Entertainment as VP of creative affairs — based in L.A. and reporting to SVP Michael Rosenberg. She will be responsible for all scripted development. Chambers was previously at Maverick Television where she worked on titles including The Riches.

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