Class ACTs

The Alliance for Children and Television presented 10 English- and six French-language awards to honor the best in Canadian children’s television at its 20th annual festival and awards ceremony, held last month in Winnipeg.

English-language awards for outstanding programming went to Wildside ‘Episode 12,’ Atlantis Films (Family Channel); aidscare, aidscare, cbc (cbc); Ready Or Not ‘He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not,’ Insight Productions (Global); Paper Camera, PC&B Productions (cbc); Kidzone ‘Family and Friends,’ Knowledge Network and Open Learning Agency (Knowledge Network); Spirit Rider, OWL Television and Credo Group (cbc); Theodore Tugboat ‘Theodore’s Whistle,’ Cochran Entertainment (cbc); Northwood ‘Chains,’ Soapbox Productions (cbc); Join In! ‘Red Riding Hood,’ tvontario (Channel 19); YTV News ‘South Africa Special,’ ytv and CTV News (ytv).

French-language awards went to: Pacha et les chats ‘Le bebe sapin,’ Les Productions Prisma (Radio-Canada); La princesse astronaute ‘Une princesse pas commes les autres,’ Les Productions Sogestalt (Canal Famille); Zap ‘Le saut de l’ange,’ Verseau International (Radio-Quebec); Jeune autrement III ‘Corps accord,’ Les Productions Concep (tvo-La Chaine); Betes pas betes + Emission 154, Radio-Canada (Radio-Canada); Clip’Art ‘Le baiser,’ Les Productions de l’Impatiente (Canal Famille).

Malofilm invests

Montreal’s Malofilm Communications has acquired a minority share of International Keystone Entertainment, an l.a.-based motion picture production company with an office in Vancouver.

Malofilm is investing $500,000 in Keystone, and Malofilm ceo Rene Malo will sit on Keystone’s board of directors.

The investment comes on the heels of an exclusive agreement signed with Keystone in July in which Malofilm Distribution acquired all Canadian rights to Keystone features for the next two years.

Keystone’s principals, brothers Robert and William Vince, have produced eight features since 1992, including Double Cross and Killer. Robert Vince says the company intends to produce eight movies a year and is currently prepping on two shoots, Dirty Money and One Cut From Paradise.