While it was no surprise that the Canadian box office was a little flat through February, it was even less of a revelation that Christal Films releases claimed the top two box office spots.
Quebec-made ensemble thriller Que Dieu bénisse L’Amérique broke past the sagging drama Histoire de Famille for top spot with a total gross of $76,000 in 16 venues and a healthy per-screen average of $4,800 as of Feb. 28, after debuting Feb. 17.

The Hot Sheet tracks Canadian box-office results for the period Feb. 17-23 and television ratings for the period Feb. 20-26.

Montreal: With an eye to the future of new media platforms, the Quebec film and TV producers association has struck a committee to look into the ramifications these changes will have on the industry.

Former MuchMusic director of programming and the man behind The New Music, producer John Martin died in Toronto on Feb. 23 from complications related to throat cancer. He was 57.

Broadcasters on both sides of the border have unveiled several new plans for streaming their programming.

The U.S. channel Bravo is now selling eps of its hit series Project Runway via iTunes, and Comedy Central has just cast porn star Jenna Jameson in its first original, all-mobile series, Samurai Love God.

Hot Music at Blizzards

Brightlight Pictures – which won the CFTPA’s Entrepreneur of the Year award at last month’s Prime Time conference in Ottawa – is no overnight success.

* Michel Fortin is the new president of Jet Films in Montreal, moving up after 12 years as a partner and executive producer.

Toronto – Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman arrive in Toronto later this month to shoot the fancifully titled Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, a fantasy drama for newly formed Mandate Pictures in the U.S. Hoffman reportedly plays an eccentric toy store owner who leaves his business to a depressed young woman, played by Portman. The picture is booked at Cinespace Film Studios until June, with first-timer Zach Helm at the helm under exec producers Joe Drake (Lords of Dogtown) and Nathan Kahane (The Grudge).

Tories committed to the arts

Playback readers are mostly unhappy with the CBC’s latest programming move. In a recent online poll asking ‘Do you agree with CBC’s decision to cancel This Is Wonderland, Da Vinci’s City Hall and The Tournament?’ – 40% voted no, as these were quality shows. 31% of respondents thought it was the right move, as the shows’ ratings were weak, while 29% disagreed with the CBC, believing that at least City Hall, in its first season, should have been given more of a chance.