With no further ado, here’s the weekly roundup of briefs that are relevant to the Canadian screen-entertainment industry.

Premieres

Food Network Canada will launch Donut Showdown, a competitive reality series about the deep fried treats, on Apr. 2. Produced by Architect Films and hosted by Danny Boome, the program features professional donut competing each episode for a $10,000 prize.

And two Quebec-made films will receive their English Canada theatrical premieres during the 16th annual Cinefranco international Francophone film festival that runs in Toronto Apr. 5 to 14. They are Small Blind, by Simon Galiero and Catimini (pictured), by Natalie Saint-Pierre.

Distribution

In the leadup to MIPTV in early April, Breakthrough Entertainment Distribution has acquired Henry Less Productions’ Boundless, a reality series (20 by 60) that follows the adventures of friends and fierce competitors Simon Donato and Paul “Turbo” Trebilcock in a globe-spanning quest to outrace and outlast each other in epic endurance events such as ultra-marathons and multi-day kayak competitions.

Awards

Rose Bay, N.S.-based filmmaker William D. MacGillivray has been named a recipient of a Governor General Award in the the visual and media arts category. As part of the Canada Council on the Arts accolade handed out earlier this week, the council reported that MacGillivray’s films will be exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada throughout April. His films include No Apologies, One Heart Broken into Song, For Generations to Come and Life Classes.

Broadcast journalist and independent filmmaker Michael Maclear this week was named the recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation. Maclear, who has won numerous accolades over his long career, including Hot Docs awards and Geminis, will collect the honour at an awards event in Toronto June 13.

The Union of B.C. Performers’ Women’s Committee has named actor Catherine Lough-Haggquist their 2013 International Women’s Day Honouree. Lough-Haggquist, who started her acting career at 11, has recently appeared in a variety of films and TV programs, including Supernatural, Fringe, Continuum, and Arctic Air.

Nominations and finalists

The documentary My Father and the Man in Black (pictured) by Canuck Jonathan Holiff has received multiple nominations at two upcoming film festivals. The jury at the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival to be held in Maine Apr. 6 and 7 has nominated it for best documentary and best director (the festival will also screen Canadian short film Goner). And, the jury at the Madrid International Film Festival in Spain July 1 to 6 has nominated the production’s Robyn Rosenberg for best costume and Michael Timmins for best soundtrack.

TVO has announced the finalists for it second-annual short documentary TVO Doc Studio Contest. All the films were on the theme of poverty. The projects and directors are: I Am Excessive Wealth by Adam Corrigam Holowitz, Make It a Priority by Doug MacDonald, Poor Ink by Vince Vaitiekunas, Food for Thought by Luis Cornejo and 4 Kids by Craig Conoley.

The winner will be announced March 25 and see his or her film screen on TVO.

Asian channel

Shaw Cable has added Zee TV Canada to its offerings, through a deal with ZEE Americas and Ethnic Channels Group. With the listing unveiled this month, Zee TV Canada is said to now be available to 94% of South Asian households in Canada. South Asia-based Zee only recently launched in Canada.