CIDC invests in first three projects

The Canadian International Documentary Consortium, launched at the Banff Television Festival in June, has announced its first investments. The joint venture between Great North Productions/Great North Releasing and PTV Releasing in association with Atlantis Releasing provides such services as funding, executive production and distribution to Canadian documentary producers.

CIDC will be assisting in the development phase of In Search of Moby Dick, produced by Jack Silberman and Gillian Darling of Vancouver; in the production phase of Strange Empire, by Great Plains Productions of Edmonton and Winter Rodes Production of Winnipeg; and in Brush With Life, produced by Glen Salzman of Cineflix Productions in Montreal.

Mills named TVO programming head

Adrian Mills has been appointed creative head of tvontario's children's programming. Mills began his career with bbc children's tv in the u.k. and has been producing with tvo since 1992.

Cronenberg has his day

Toronto Mayor June Rowlands recognized the outstanding contributions of writer/director David Cronenberg to Toronto by declaring a day in his honor. The presentation on Tuesday, Sept. 7 was part of a three-day celebration for Cronenberg that included the unveiling of the "David Cronenberg Exhibition" at the Royal Ontario Museum and the gala premiere of Cronenberg's newest film, M. Butterfly.

FUND's Yaffe moves on

After more than seven years as the first chairperson of the Foundation to Underwrite New Drama for Pay Television, Phyllis Yaffe has stepped down. Peter Pearson, Montreal filmmaker and newspaper columnist for the Gazette, will fill the post until a new chairperson is appointed. Yaffe leaves fund to spearhead a specialty tv service application.

Astral plows millions into Florida CD plant

Astral Communications, Montreal, has announced plans to open a compact disc and videocassette manufacturing plant in Boca Raton, Fla.

The project, launched with a capital investment of $10.5 million, was announced last month by Astral chairman and ceo Harold Greenberg.

While the plant will initially manufacture audio cds for the music industry, Greenberg says emerging formats such as cd-rom, cd-i and videodiscs will become an important part of the plant's mix. Astral will invest an additional $7 million in the facility over the next five years.

"We chose Palm Beach County because we fit well into its evolving communications industry cluster and because of its proximity to Latin America," says Greenberg.