The Local Heroes International Film Festival in Edmonton wound up its 15th anniversary year with the sellout of the international premiere screening of Lyndon Chubbuck’s The War Bride, starring Molly Parker. However, some of the eight-day festival’s biggest moments came from…

Production in the Prairies continues to thrive, with Alberta leading the way, Saskatchewan registering a very healthy spike and Manitoba making respectable gains in 2000.
Saskatchewan reports a total production volume of $60 million, more than twice 1999’s figure of $27 million and a slight improvement over 1998’s production volume of $58 million.
The numbers reflect an increase in dramatic production in the province. While Saskatchewan has not seen an increase in pure offshore service deals, coproductions proliferate.

Calgary-based White Iron is one company involved in actively putting together product to feed the starving maw of specialty channels.
‘The specialty channels are looking for product that they feel has a strong place,’ says president and COO Lance Mueller. ‘They have strong audience desires for their channels. What we do is we watch a lot of TV, talk to a lot of broadcasters and ask, ‘What don’t you have that you need? What would you like to see?’ So we’re not just sitting here flogging idea after idea [that misses the mark]. We try to have intelligence so when we go to them we have a sense we’re already ahead of the game.’

A generous helping of government funding, a godlike mentor and the conjunction of two subterranean rivers make Winnipeg the artistic centre of the country, nay the universe….

Among the praise attracted by James Dunnison’s critically acclaimed Stuff (produced by Toronto’s Bull’s Eye Films) was this from Toronto urban entertainment weekly eye: ‘possibly the greatest Canadian film you’ve never seen.’…

Attributing a lack of suitable scripts and subject to a case of strike chill, the Saskatoon Initiative has fallen behind its original schedule….

With the January departure of its sole staff member, Saskatchewan’s Crew Call program seems to have crumpled in a heap….

Canadian buyers heading to mip-tv have needs as closely targeted as the various channels for which they are buying….

Winnipeg: The third round of the Local Heroes Canadian Film Festival in Winnipeg was a roaring success, with daily jam-packed sessions and the festival’s first-ever feature film sellout with closing film Hey Happy!…

Filmmakers are being invited to submit to the third round of the National Screen Institute’s Features First program. Aimed at filmmakers in the early stages of their careers, the program is designed to help teams composed of a writer, a producer…

Winnipeg: A new source of marketing assistance for Canadian producers has opened up with the announcement of the NSI Global Marketing Program….

Winnipeg: Heater was the big winner at this year’s Blizzard Awards, presented March 2-3 in Winnipeg….