Knightscove, Random Harvest ink feature deal

Toronto’s Knightscove Family Films and U.K.-based Random Harvest Pictures have formed a joint venture to codevelop and coproduce a slate of commercial- and family-aimed features. Most of the films will be Canada/U.K. treaty copros. Knightscove has recently produced movies such as Virginia’s Run, Kart Racer and Blizzard, while Random Harvest copro’d Born Romantic with BBC Films. Random Harvest is headquartered at London’s Pinewood Studios and also runs the genre label Four Horsemen Films.

Global airs in HD

Global has announced that it will begin broadcasting in high definition beginning Oct. 11. The net will initially offer six hours a week of primetime HDTV, with further programming added down the road as it becomes available. The Global programs that will be available in HDTV are Las Vegas, LAX, Gilmore Girls, Without a Trace, One Tree Hill and Crossing Jordan, available to Rogers Ontario customers on Channel 286 and on ExpressVu Channel 801.

Lapham on tap for confab

Author and Harper’s Magazine editor Lewis Lapham will deliver the closing speech at the World Congress of History Producers, in Toronto, Oct. 27-30. Lapham, known for his political and social think pieces, will speak about the role of dissent in democracies, and about political influence in the news media. His speech, curiously, will follow the keynote address by Conrad Black. See www.history2004.com for details.

Vision cuts prime Cancon

VisionTV will charge more for its signal and may show less Canadian content during primetime according to the terms of its new seven-year licence, granted last month by the CRTC. The religion-themed channel must now show only 50% Cancon during evening hours, down from 60%, and has raised its wholesale rate from $0.10 to $0.12. The hike will generate an extra $1.8 million, says Vision, which has been earmarked for drama production and promotion.

The CRTC raised the channel’s overall Cancon requirement to 65%, up from 60%, while also raising its expenditure requirement by 2% to 47%.

Vision will soon air three one-hour pilots funded by its drama program. St. Jamestown airs Oct. 12, followed by Kink in My Hair and Hotel Babylon later in the season.

Comedy fest entry deadline

The World of Comedy International Film Festival wants features and shorts for its third annual fete in Toronto, to be held Feb. 9-13, 2005. The final entry deadline is Oct. 29. See www.worldcomedyfilmfest.com for details.