Cardinal XD has picked up all remaining international distribution rights to Jeremy LaLonde’s Canadian feature Ashgrove (pictured), which premiered in March at the Glasgow Film Festival. The sales agent landed rights to all territories except Canada (Northern Banner Releasing), the U.S. (Good Deed Entertainment), and the U.K., where (Yet) Another Distribution Company picked up rights last month.

The latest deal was negotiated by Cardinal XD CEO Jeff Goldman and Circus Road Films’ Glen Reynolds on behalf of the producers. Cardinal XD plans to launch international sales at the Toronto International Film Festival and the American Film Market.

LaLonde directed the psychological drama and co-wrote it with Jonas Chernick and Amanda Brugel. Chernick (Banana-Moon Sky Films) and LaLonde (Cryingman Productions) are producers alongside Peter Harvey (Peter Harvey Productions). Executive producers include Brugel, Cory Chernick, Daryn Chernick, Spencer Geise, David Kines and Sam Posner.

eOne

Entertainment One (eOne) and Mark Ford’s L.A.-based Creature Films prodco have extended their deal through 2024. The exclusive agreement began as a first-look deal in 2015 and has produced series like MTV’s recently renewed Siesta Key, Paramount+’s Behind the Music, and the upcoming documentary The Lady and the Legend, about Lady Gaga’s collaboration with Tony Bennett.

Creature Films also announced it has appointed Pat Lambert as head of development. Previously, Lambert worked as VP of development for 44 Blue Productions.

Spin Master

Toronto’s Spin Master has acquired Oklahoma-based board game manufacturer SolidRoots for an undisclosed amount. The family-run company will continue to operate independently in its home state, but is now structured as part of Spin Master Games’ global brand team.

The SolidRoots team announced the acquisition on Facebook, saying it gives the company an opportunity to grow its games portfolio and expand the scale of its existing brands. Confirming the news, a Spin Master spokesperson tells Playback sister publication Kidscreen that the acquisition strengthens the Toronto-based toyco’s foothold in the family gaming segment.

Spin Master posted that its games, puzzles and plush segment grew by 26% in Q2 2022 to US$123.6 million (about C$158.75 million), compared to the same period the year before

ICI Tou.TV

Helix TV, Videotron’s entertainment platform, has picked up CBC/Radio-Canada’s French-language VOD channel ICI Tou.TV. The ICI Tou.TV app is now available directly to Helix TV customers from their smart TVs, offering thousands of hours of content, according to a news release.

ICI Tou.TV, which has the subscription-based premium tier ICI Tou.TV Extra, has already been available online via iOS and Android mobile apps, as well as connected televisions such as Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV and certain Android TV models.

With files from Realscreen and Kidscreen