• CCI Releasing has picked up the international rights to the tween comedy Alice Upside Down. The series – featuring Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen), Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical), Luke Perry and Penny Marshall – is the third recent pickup by the Toronto shop following the family comedy feature A Plumm Summer and Gemini-nominated MOW Sticks and Stones. It is handled in the U.S. by Starz Entertainment.

• Hot Docs has named Elizabeth Radshaw as director of its Toronto Documentary Forum. Radshaw comes to the festival’s market event from U.K.-based distributor TVF International Television, where she was head of acquisitions. She replaces TDF founder Michaelle McLean, who stepped down in June after nine years.

Legendary sound engineer Patrick Spence-Thomas died of natural causes in Toronto on Oct. 12 at the age of 75.

Last time we checked, it costs about $1,000 to send someone to France – $2,000 if they plan to come back, and closer to $4,000 if they want leg room. A big and perhaps unwelcome expense when stacked up against the recent turmoil in the market. So we can’t help but ask:

The Alberta government provided $5.5 million in funding to the feature Passchendaele. The film did not draw any additional money from the Alberta Film Development Program. Incorrect information appeared in the Oct. 13 issue.

Media kept quiet for 28 days while Melissa Fung held in Afghanistan

Third-quarter numbers up at both exhibitors, thanks in part to Dark Knight

Prebuys international sales and Canadian releasing rights for Guy Pearce thriller

Market downturn has an upside for distributor, getting a deal on repurchase of $400 million

Defying Gravity marks third team-up by CTV with international partners. James Parriott of Grey’s Anatomy to showrun, Ron Livingston and Germany’s Florentine Lahme to star

Commission sides with OUTtv in squabble over marketing and channel placement

Reporters allowed in, filmmaker held back from hearings on controversial hydro project