-eXistenZ delayed

Lensing on David Cronenberg's latest feature film project eXistenZ has been put on hold until spring '98 due to casting glitches.

Hollywood names are reportedly being approached for the project, and although speculation has it Alliance Communications is seeking to cast Jodie Foster and turned down Jennifer Jason Leigh in the process, Rose Mangone, director of promotions and publicity for Alliance, says Alliance has full control over casting and that neither one has been approached.

eXistenZ was to have started shooting this month with a budget of around $25 million for a summer '98 release.

-Two Gemini Awards in '98

In an attempt to make the Gemini Awards more current and relevant to the viewing public, the Canadian English-language television awards are being moved from the spring to the fall.

This will result in two Gemini Awards held next year ­ the 12th annual awards taking place Feb. 27, 28 and March 1, 1998 and the 13th annual awards occurring on Oct. 2, 3 and 4, 1998.

For the October 1998 awards date, shows aired between Sept. 1, 1997 and May 31, 1998 will be eligible for competition. Entry forms will be available in February.

-Davis heads B.C. Film

Lauren Davis has been named executive director of funding agency British Columbia Film, a role she has filled since former ceo Wayne Sterloff left a few months ago. A graduate of ubc's film program and a holder of a master's degree in applied economics, Davis has been with B.C. Film since 1995.

As an independent filmmaker, her work includes producing the documentary Chore Wars and line producing the feature Live Bait. She's now responsible for the daily operations of B.C. Film.

-Cineplex gets Cube

Cineplex Odeon Films has acquired Canadian distribution rights to director Vincenzo Natali's feature film Cube.

A psychological thriller, Cube is a production of the Canadian Film Centre's Feature Film Project and Cube Libre. Natali's feature directorial debut was cowritten with Andre Bijelic and Graeme Manson and produced by Mehra Meh and Betty Orr.

Cube will make its world premiere at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival and is slated for Canadian theatrical release in January 1998.

-Tele-Action into distrib

Productions Tele-Action, Montreal, coproducer on The Boys of St. Vincent and Margaret's Museum, has opened a tv distribution division, Distribution Cine Tele-Action.

Michelle Stratford, a former sales executive with Mediamax International and The Multimedia Group of Canada, is the division's new director.

-Vidatron's First Wave

With the exit of Greenlight Communications and Everest Entertainment from the project, Vancouver-based Sugar Entertainment, a subsidiary of Vidatron, is set to produce a full 22-episode season of the hour-long drama First Wave with Francis Ford Coppola's American Z'etrope, Chris Brancato and Pearson Television International.