Guru Studio has hired Lauren Leinburd as its SVP, business affairs and general counsel. The newly created Toronto-based role will have Leinburd (pictured, right) oversee the strategic and day-to-day legal operations of all Guru Studio departments and productions. Leinburd will report to president and executive creative director Frank Falcone. Leinburd most recently served as VP and general counsel at Breakthrough Entertainment and has a decade of experience in entertainment law and leadership in TV, film and new media. She has a civil and a common law degree from McGill University Law School, as well as a certificate in negotiation from Harvard Law School.

CBC licence renewal hearing to take place in January

The CRTC has set CBC’s licence renewal hearing for Jan. 11, 2021, following its postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing, which will now be held electronically, had initially been scheduled for May 25 of this year. Among the topics expected to be discussed is whether the CRTC will take a regulatory approach to CBC’s digital content.

The Commission has also requested the pubcaster submit data on how its programming includes key production roles for “women, Indigenous Peoples, ethnic and multicultural communities, Canadians with disabilities and Canadians who identify as LGBTQ2,” no later than Dec. 1. The information will be placed on public record, with interveners able to comment on it during the hearing. The Commission added that if CBC is not able to provide the data, it must submit a letter explaining “how it believes it can meet its diversity targets without such information.”

Umbrella Academy to return to Toronto

The Umbrella Academy (pictured, left) is coming back to Hollywood North. Netflix has renewed the superpowered series for a third season, which is set to shoot in Toronto beginning February 2021. The series is based on the comic book series created by Gerard Way, with Canadian writer and producer Steve Blackman set to return as showrunner and executive producer. The Umbrella Academy tells the story of an unconventional family of superheroes, each of whom were adopted by an eccentric billionaire, played by Colm Feore. Returning series stars include Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, Robert Sheehan, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min and Ritu Arya.

WFF’s Women in Focus Mentorship recipients announced

The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced the recipients of this year’s Women in Focus Mentorship program, which connects emerging B.C. filmmakers with industry mentors. The four mentees selected this year are writer/director/producer Joy Haskell for her project Cookies or Crack; writer/director Lauren Marsden for Mama D’Lo; writer/producer Amanda Verhagen for Saving for Space; and director/producer Luvia Peterson for Happiness-Grounded Sci-Fi. This year’s mentors include Emily Alden, VP of development at Brightlight Pictures; Maureen Levitt, producer and story consultant; and Kathleen Meek, manager of original content, drama and factual at Corus Entertainment.