Digital technology that enables new storytelling techniques, including cross-platform media, will help assure the future of the National Film Board through 2012, the public filmmaker said as it unveiled its latest strategic plan earlier this month.

• The National Film Board signed a handful of deals at MIPTV, selling The Wild Horse Redemption, Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma and Confessions of an Innocent Man to Sundance Channel, with home video rights on Redemption and Triage also going to New Video. A host of European deals also included sales of Weather Report, Dead in the Water, Humanima and Arctic Mission. Indonesia’s Metro TV, meanwhile, picked up Oscar winner Ryan and also-ran Madame Tutli-Putli.

• Comedy Network and Space VP Brent Haynes is leaving the fold at CTVglobemedia, and will exit the network in May after 10 years in its cable channels. Word has it that he’s going to New York to work for MTV, though at press time, neither side was able to confirm.

Ah, sweeps week. Where would we get stunt programming and season-ender cliffhangers without it? This year, though, offers another twist, in that the top-shelf series are only now starting to crawl out of the ratings crater left by the WGA strike. Will viewers remain aloof, or go running back to their Desperate Housewives? And so we ask;

CBC has given the go-ahead to two new dramas for its 2008/09 season, The Session and The Wild Roses.

Canadian Motion Picture Park is adding two major new purpose-built studios on its 16-acre property in Burnaby, BC.

Showcase sitcom not expected back for another season, say creators Mike Volpe and Barrie Dunn, though a new special is in the can and another feature is in the works

Federal Liberal Party leader to share his vision for film and TV community as APFTQ comes together for annual conference

Break on production costs jumps to 30% as Empire State looks to edge out competition

Calgary shop leads Alberta awards with 11 wins on the strength of Nutcracker and Joni Mitchell specials

Deal with Disney-ABC puts series, together with Desperate Housewives, online for free

TVOntario, Knowledge Network and SCN sign up for toon about talking dog