The Department of Canadian Heritage has been particularly vocal about the need to better market domestic films aboard, and is putting its money where its mouth is as a supporter of the Marketing Assistance Program at TIFF 2005.

The Canadian Television Fund has dished out $130.8 million through its Broadcaster Performance Envelopes for 2005/06, paving the way for children’s shows, docs and variety programming in English in French Canada.

Canadians are watching less U.S. TV, and Statistics Canada has the graphs to prove it, showing that domestic news and current affairs shows are growing in popularity among Canadians at the expense of American-made dramas and comedies.

YTV and Teletoon lead the way with six nominations each for The Alliance for Children and Television 2005 Awards of Excellence. Programs in all genres and animation classifications will be recognized. This year’s award gala will see two new categories introduced: best interstitial or short program, and best website associated with a children’s program.

Telefilm Canada helped spread some cheddar earlier this month when it announced financing for five projects through the Canada Feature Film Fund and its Ontario and Nunavut and Western offices.

Saint Ralph, Corner Gas and H2O were among the winners on April 18 when the Canadian Screenwriting Awards were handed out at a packed downtown Toronto nightspot.

Stress, high drama and white-knuckled adrenaline characterize the annual 2880 Film Blitz, the third edition of which takes place in Montreal May 27-29. Over the course of one weekend, independent film crews will put themselves through sleepless misery as they compete for prizes in the indie film contest.