Boat Rocker uncovers third season of Secrets in the Ice

The media company greenlit a new season of the Shark Teeth Films unscripted series following a number of international acquisitions.

Pixcom promotes five to management team

The Montreal-based prodco has also announced the sale of dramedy Audrey est revenue to the Middle East.

Sundance Ignite x Adobe fellows

Quebec’s Rafaël Beauchamp among Sundance Ignite fellows

The year-round fellowship provides artistic and professional development support to emerging fiction and documentary filmmakers.

Directors Guild of America

DGA ratifies new contract, will not join WGA on picket lines

The guild stated that the new agreement with the AMPTP covers significant advances in such matters as wages, global streaming residuals, and creative rights.

NATPE Global announces new team for January event in Miami

The team includes Claire Macdonald as executive director of the North American content marketplace.

Deals: Amuz Distribution, Blue Ant International, Knowledge Network

Amuz Distribution closes format licence agreement for Writer’s Block, Blue Ant International secures sales of history-themed series and docs, plus more.

Karen Chapman embarks on feature directorial debut

Village Keeper has started principal photography in Toronto and is based on Chapman’s award-winning short film Measure.

CMF selects 54 companies for $4M in development support

The 2022-23 recipients of the Slate Development Pilot Program each receive $75,000 for up to three doc or children’s projects.

Bell Media asks CRTC to eliminate local news requirement

The broadcaster is also seeking a reduction in Cancon spending and more “flexibility” in how it serves local communities, citing mounting financial losses.

Corus makes cuts to original programming team

A spokesperson tells Playback the move is part of a restructuring and an “enterprise-wide cost review” amid economic uncertainty.

Vice Media to be acquired by Fortress Investment Group

The company confirmed the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved a bid of US$350 million.

All3Media International secures rights to Paul Kemp’s Bitcoin doc

Searching for Satoshi: The Mysterious Disappearance of the Bitcoin Creator was commissioned by CBC for The Passionate Eye.

In Brief: CMPA’s Indiescreen Awards returning to TIFF

Plus: Terril Calder’s NFB installation Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics wins at Tribeca, Blown Away heats up for season four, and more.

Brett Harvey fixes lens on Dane Cook for Super Channel doc

Writer-director Harvey has started production on the doc, with Cook as executive producer alongside teams from Score G Production Films and Abrupt Films.

Entertainment One to lay off 20% of film, TV staff

Parent company Hasbro said the “workforce reduction” is part of global staff cuts announced in January.