Ottawa: The CFTPA’s 2003 edition of Prime Time in Ottawa, Feb. 5-7, was a sold-out success with more than 600 delegates and guests in attendance. Highlights included keynote addresses by CRTC chair Charles Dalfen, L.A. Consul General Colin Robertson, The Globe and Mail political correspondent Jeffrey Simpson and Canadian ex-pat and Hollywood movie producer Ivan Reitman.

Its director may have been inexplicably snubbed, but Ararat turned out to be the big winner at the 23rd Annual Genie Awards.

The Eleventh Hour dodged a bullet this month when CTV unveiled its ‘biggest dramatic slate ever’ for the 2003/04 season. The troubled series will be renewed and retooled for the coming year, slated to air alongside two new dramatic series, a host of minis and MOWs, and new cycles of both Cold Squad and Degrassi: The Next Generation. CTV senior VP, dramatic programming and development, Bill Mustos announced the order at this month’s CFTPA conference in Ottawa.

Ending two seasons of lackluster ratings, CBC announced the cancellation of Tom Stone earlier this month at the CFTPA conference in Ottawa. The Calgary-set drama, about an ex-con working undercover for the Mounties, has been pulled from the schedule and its final three episodes will not air.

Vancouver: After four years of successful business in Vancouver, Toronto-based Dufferin Gate Productions is closing its B.C. operation and leaving its lucrative Showtime Networks service production work with Dufferin Gate’s former West Coast vice-president.

Canada’s broadcasting system is adequately diversified to reflect and reach our ethnic communities and financial viability is improving, says the CRTC in a new 40-market benchmark survey.

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With North American production currently flat, Canadian post-production shops would be wise to consider partnering with other industry centres, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade sees Egypt as an ideal market.

The Spotlight Awards 2003, the fifth annual gala co-hosted by Women in Film & Video Vancouver and Wired Woman Society, has announced this year’s winners. The celebration, emceed by Stargate SG-1 actor Amanda Tapping, takes place March 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.

Serial Digital Post, an HD-enabled boutique TV post-production shop, has opened its doors in midtown Toronto. Equipped with an HD Avid system and a Symphony, the company offers picture editing, color correction and visual F/X. Credits so far include Hell on Heels: The Battle for Mary Kay and Open House, both HD shows for CBS Television, as well as The Baby Human and Forensics Detectives for Discovery.

Montreal: More than 200 productions, including 36 feature films and 59 documentaries, will be screened at the 21st edition of Les Rendez-vous du cinema quebecois, the annual Quebec film and video production retrospective running Feb. 20 to March 2.

Stuart C. Snyder has been appointed president and CEO of Cinar Corp.