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Montreal, get ready to support another local filmmaker this week at the Fantasia Film Festival, with the with the world premiere of Mark Wiltshire’s most recent short film, My Avatar. Personally selected to work with renowned film director Oliver Stone, who supervised and mentored the editing of My Avatar, Wiltshire employs a mixed-media approach in the film’s production, combining live action scenes shot in Singapore on HD with animated scenes produced in the virtual world Second Life. Additional assistance came from internationally-praised writer/director Todd Solondz, who guided the screenwriting process of My Avatar. The film also co-stars acclaimed actress Christine Ghawi, winner of a Gemini Award for her portrayal of Céline Dion in the CBC biopic.

Synopsis: In My Avatar, a married man finds love in the virtual world Second Life and begins an online affair which eventually jeopardizes his real-life relationship. Dissatisfied with his marriage, Michael...

Idiosyncratic Canadian writer-director Patrick Downing draws on various long-held interests in his first feature, I Heart Doomsday. A comic mix of sci-fi and romance, the film charts the efforts of a mad scientist, Maximillian Von Max (Dan Beirne), to win back his lost love (Christine Ghawi) with the aid of a specially constructed android (also played by Beirne).    "The scenario came about through a crossing of a couple of avenues," Downing explains.  "One was the idea of using an actor to play two parts to try and make the movie seem larger with less... which is not such a new notion, but still I felt that it could be used to explore interesting relationships.

Toronto -- The CBS cop drama "Flashpoint" caught fire Saturday night at the Gemini Awards, Canada's TV awards, as it grabbed three trophies, including best dramatic series.

The Canadian-made drama, which airs here on CTV, also earned Enrico Colantoni the best actor award and Kelly Makin the best drama director honor.

Fellow "Flashpoint" lead actor Hugh Dillon, while losing out to Colantoni in the best actor category, picked up a Gemini for best supporting actor for his star-turn in the TV movie "Of Murder and Memory."

"Flashpoint" came into the Geminis with a field-leading 19 nominations, and earlier won another three trophies in pre-telecast award hand-outs.

The 24th annual Geminis, held this year in Calgary, also saw the "Rick Mercer Report" win for best comedy series, and "Burn Up" take the top prize for best dramatic mini-series.

Other acting prizes handed out in Calgary included David Suchet winning for best performance in a mini-series for "Diverted,...