* In preparation for the 20th anniversary of the Ottawa International Animation Festival, a festival advisory committee has been formed to provide consultation regarding retrospective programming, special events and organizational strategies.

The committee includes Linda Simensky, director of animation for Nickelodeon; Marc Glassman, associate editor of Take 1; Gene Walz, University of Manitoba film professor; Ellen Besen, animator and instructor at Sheridan College; Co Hoedeman, nfb animator; Mark Langer, associate professor of film at Carleton University; and Tom McSorley, director of programming for the Canadian Film Institute.

* Effective Aug. 31, New York-based Mary Ann Zimmer resigns her post as vp and general counsel for A&E Television Networks and embarks on a tv/media consulting biz and legal practice catering to domestic and international producers and distributors. Zimmer’s new digs are at 230 Park Ave. #3126, nyc.

* MIPCOM 95’s man of the year choice – screenwriter, director, producer Pierre Grimblat, chairman of France’s Hamster Productions – began his career as a Beat poet.

The look is in vogue again, however, it’s Hamster’s impressive output and reach that won him the honor.

Hamster has 52 mows or episodes on the tv slates this year, has film, animation and music publishing subsidiaries, and is expanding into interactive programming.

abc owns a 33% stake in Hamster.

The fall edition of the international program market runs Oct. 9-13 in Cannes, France.

* Cineplex Odeon Corporation has appointed mca executive Bruce Hack to its board of directors. Hack is the newly assigned executive vice-president of finance of MCA Inc., a major shareholder of Toronto-based Cineplex Odeon, and replaces recently deceased mca board representative Harold Haas.

* Jean Durocher, v-p sales and marketing with the TVA Television Network, has taken on the added responsibility of v-p general manager Regional Stations. Tele-Metropole president and ceo Guy Crevier says that the new division was created to allow more interaction between flagship station cftm-tv and the regional stations at the 10-station TVA Network.