Less than two weeks after its June 15 release by Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm, the French-language comedy feature Idole instantanée, from Montreal prodco Cinémaginaire, was approaching the $1-million mark. As of June 27, box-office totals were more than $950,000 from 104 screens.

The comedy is about four young women who strive for stardom on a Star Académie-type TV show.

Meanwhile, Vivafilm's Quebec period drama Le Survenant is slowing down as it approaches $3 million after nine weeks. Directed by Erik Canuel (Le Dernier tunnel), the Films Vision 4 production grossed over $2.9 million as of June 27, when it remained on only four screens in la belle province.

Also approaching $3 million after only four weeks is C.R.A.Z.Y., starring Playback 10 to Watch finalist Marc-André Grondin (see story p. 22). The French-language family drama stands poised to surpass Survenant, boasting box-office totals in excess of $2.9 million as of June 27, when it remained on 67 screens.

Vivafilm will release the latest feature from Cinémaginaire producers Denise Robert and Daniel Louis, Aurore, on July 8. Directed by Luc Dionne, the $7-million film is an early 20th century drama about a young girl who dies at the hands of her stepmother.

In English Canada, director Ruba Nadda's first feature, Sabah, starring Arsinée Khanjian and Shawn Doyle, had grossed $61,000 as of June 27. Toronto distributor Mongrel Media released the romantic drama on May 25, and has plans to widen its release throughout Canada over the summer, including an engagement in Edmonton opening July 8 and one in Montreal July 15.

Michael Dowse's mockumentary It's All Gone Pete Tong is also hitting a few more screens. The Odeon release has widened from six to 10 screens since its June 10 release. As of June 27, its total box-office take stood at $134,652.

Also due to hit theaters this month is Pinocchio 3000, a $12-million 3D animated, futuristic take on the Italian original by Carlo Collodi. Coproduced by Montreal's CinéGroupe and Spain's Filmax, the film will be released by Christal Films in both French and English versions across the country on July 29.