Top animation and F/X this year goes to Toronto-based Red Rover Studio’s ‘Matrix’ spot for Toyota through Saatchi & Saatchi’s local office.

After screening more than 200 spots, it was the music from ‘Anthem’ that the judges were humming, and still are, and there was no argument over recognizing the spot for the Mini Cooper in the best music and sound design category.

For Michelle Czukar, editor at Toronto post house Panic & Bob Editing, the most important thing an editor can bring to a spot is a fresh perspective.

TV manufacturers and U.S. cable operators have agreed to eliminate set-top boxes for digital service, allowing cable to be directly plugged into digital sets, a pact that has ignited fears over the prospect of increased digital piracy on both sides of the border.

The Toronto Documentary Forum, an annual international pitch session held at Hot Docs, has proven invaluable to doc makers and commissioning broadcasters alike. A recent exit poll indicates 50% of the 36 projects pitched in May have since managed to secure additional financing as a result of their participation in the forum.

New technologies such as HD, in conjunction with more sophisticated color correctors, are making skilled colorists even hotter commodities as some directors and directors of photography begin to favor post-production solutions over in-camera approaches.

Measha Brueggergosman – Spirit in Her Voice, from Bill Kendrick’s Prince Edward Island-based Island Images, focuses on the 24-year-old Fredericton-born singer who is on the cusp of becoming a major voice in classical music. The performing arts documentary combines live performances with doc coverage of Brueggergosman’s art and life. Kendrick produces and directs the $700,000 production, which will air on CBC’s Opening Night in fall 2003.

Once touted as the perfect equation for a successful diginet, Toronto-based PrideVision TV, owned by Headline Media Group, was forced to close its Church Street studio Dec. 13, losing seven staff, leaving it with a total of eight full- and part-time staff at its King Street headquarters.
Launched in fall 2001, targeting the niche gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered market, the station has struggled to grow beyond its current subscriber base of 20,000.

Guy Maddin’s critically acclaimed Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary adds the International Emmy for best arts programming to its growing list of awards. It was one of only seven programming awards presented at the 30th annual gala held in New York City Nov. 25.

A study released by Statistics Canada on Dec. 2 reflects the findings of the CRTC Broadcasting Policy Monitor Report that specialty television and pay-TV services are having a dramatic impact on the Canadian television industry, cutting into the market share of conventional television.

Six of Canada’s most promising documentary filmmakers have been chosen to participate in the inaugural year of The Documentary Studio. Conceived by celebrated filmmaker Allan King (Warrendale), the Studio aims to promote and mentor emerging doc makers. Drawing on his extensive experience in documentary film, King seeks to guide participants through the process of producing innovative and commercially viable Canadian documentary content.

Le Collectionneur is one of Quebec’s biggest box-office successes of 2002 and, as a commercially driven film, marks a departure from Montreal director Jean Beaudin’s traditionally politicized fare. The film has earned Beaudin his third Genie nomination for best director.