So much of what makes it onto Canadian TV screens is triggered by the Canadian Television Fund – more than $927-million worth of homegrown production in 2005/06 – and producers and broadcasters have to stay on top of all the fine points to acquire crucial CTF cash.

Alliance Atlantis’ Bon Cop, Bad Cop has busted the all-time Canadian box-office record for a domestic film, having hit $11.7-million over the Thanksgiving weekend to beat Porky’s long-held mark, even as another homegrown comedy made some opening weekend history of its own.

After more than 15 years in the post-production industry, Vancouver’s Northwest Imaging & FX has launched an animation production division to bring greater stability to the company.

The latest offering from Allan King headlines a half-dozen Canadian feature docs making their world premieres at TIFF2006, up from four last year. A total of 10 Canuck feature docs will unspool at the fest.

Jocelyn Deschênes, one of Quebec’s hottest producers, is making his first foray into English television with a remake of his hit Radio-Canada sitcom Rumeurs, and who better to help him navigate the murky waters of the English market than TV visionary Moses Znaimer.

Shaw Cable will now offer wider carriage of OUTtv, after a long-standing conflict between the owners of Canada’s gay-themed channel and Shaw Communications was settled last month. Similar negotiations with Bell, however, are ongoing.

After its third week on the big screen, Aurore, the directorial debut of screenwriter Luc Dionne (Monica la mitraille), has grossed more than $3 million.

Hockey-hungry Canadians were quick to jump at one of the first NHL-related broadcasts since fans were assured that hockey would be back for the 2005/06 season.

It’s been a busy summer for The Comweb Group. Not only has the company scrambled to meet a sudden surge in demand for production services, but it has also sold its L.A.-based equipment supplies operation, ended a long-standing partnership with Toronto prodco Protocol Entertainment, and entered a new partnership with Vancouver-based post company Rainmaker.

Montreal: Production has wrapped on a new feature about Quebec’s greatest hockey hero from two of the province’s most acclaimed producers, Denise Robert and Daniel Louis of Montreal’s Cinémaginaire, recent Oscar winners for Les Invasions barbares.
Principal photography on Maurice Richard ran May 29 to July 31 in and around Montreal and Quebec City.

Calgary-based video post, FX and animation house White Iron Digital is expanding south of the border and, on July 6, opened the doors to its new Southington, Connecticut, offices.

As Montreal’s Le Bureau de Post Productions celebrates its 13th anniversary this summer, the video post house is making a major push into the 3D animation and special FX market, while formalizing its motion graphics and broadcast design department.