Montreal: The federal government has extended Francois Macerola’s mandate as executive director of Telefilm Canada to July. Macerola’s mandate was officially terminated Jan. 3, but he was back in his rustic rue Saint-Jacques office on Monday, Jan. 15.

Industry insiders say the relatively short-term extension is a compromise. On one hand, it sets the stage for the appointment of a new executive director – Macerola has been in place for more than six years – and it’s now commonly understood the Department of Heritage wants some renewal at the federal funding agency. At the same time, the executive director has an additional six months to deal with a number of vital issues facing Telefilm, not the least of which is the current review of the Canadian Television Fund.

Telefilm is also slated to review and enhance its new media program with the injection of an additional $1.4 million in funding from Heritage. *

-www.telefilm.gc.ca

Leo Rice-Barker