Was it cold feet or golden handcuffs?

That's what the film industry is left wondering after Michael Jenkinson left Telefilm Canada at the altar on May 15, backing out of his new job as the agency's feature film executive for English-language cinema.

This, after a beaming Telefilm executive director Wayne Clarkson personally introduced the former 20th Century Fox exec to a handpicked audience at the media watering hole Spoke Club in Toronto on April 24.

Jenkinson, who did not return phone calls following the announcement, said in a statement that "unforeseeable circumstances" left him unable to exit Urban Entertainment - the Los Angeles-based independent production house he founded in 1999 and runs as CEO - in time to begin his Telefilm duties.

The Toronto-raised Canadian Film Centre graduate was to be key in Telefilm's effort to revive English-language cinema, and the decision maker for its $80-million Canada Feature Film Fund.

His April debut made only a lukewarm impression on reporters, but Clarkson denies his film-czar-to-be had any second thoughts about the job.

"As far as I am concerned, he has worked with the toughest industry of them all -­ Hollywood. Besides, his meeting with the industry and the media at the press briefing was very positive, and he left a very good impression with everyone," he said.

Urban Entertainment represents a roster of African-American screenwriters and directors, including John Singleton (Four Brothers), George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor) and Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother).

Jenkinson also has equity investors to consider. These include Provender Capital Group, a venture capital fund, and AOL Time Warner's Opportunity Investment Fund.

In June 2001, AOL Time Warner announced it would invest around $100 million over three years in companies owned or managed by visible minorities. Three months later, it poured $5.5 million into Urban Entertainment, which specializes in African-American and urban-themed entertainment. Releases include the blaxploitation spoof Undercover Brother.

As part of that AOL Time Warner investment, Urban Entertainment secured first-look agreements with Time Warner's New Line Cinema for feature films and Warner Bros. Online for Internet content.

Clarkson was vague about Telefilm's cancellation and no-show policy, except to say Jenkinson did sign a contract to work at the federal agency, but would not be compelled to fulfill that legal obligation.

Clarkson added that, until he restarts a job search to fill the vacant feature film executive post, he will take on the film investment responsibilities that Jenkinson was to assume.

www.telefilm.gc.ca