VENETIAN PRODUCTION COMPANY, VIP MEDIACOM DEALS AT AFM
"Shakespeare in Venice," a new fiction film from Venetian film production company VIP Mediacom is making its American debut at the American Film Market this week. Written by Alessandro Bettero and Gareth Jones, and co-produced by VIP Mediacom (Italy), Scenario Film (UK) and Ferns Productions (Canada), the film was a hit at this year's Rome Fiction Fest. VIP Mediacom hopes that its presence at the AFM will further secure the business connections between Venice and Hollywood.

FIRST MDA INTERNATIONAL FILM FUND PROJECT UNDERWAY
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) has announced the first film to receive the support of the International Film Fund that was launched at this year's Cannes Film Festival. "Neon Sign" will be the first Singapore-China-Korea film co-production and is scheduled for release in 2011. Dr. Christopher Chia, CEO of MDA said, "This tripartite collaboration represents the growing synergies among Asian Countries and our abilities to tell Asian stories concerning universal topics such as music and culture in a unique way for an international audience.

NELVANA SENDING LOADS OF PROGRAMMING DOWN UNDER
Nelvana Enterprises has completed programming deals with Australian broadcasters ABC TV, Playhouse Disney and Nickelodeon. New series "Spliced!" as well as new episodes of "6teen," "Class of the Titans" and "Jane and the Dragon" are headed to ABC3, the new kid-targeted digital and online channel from ABC TV set to launch in December. A large package of classic Nelvana fare, including 65 episodes each of "Babar" and "Franklin," are set for a fall 2009 start on ABC2, and the new CGI series of "Babar," now in production" is heading to ABC TV in 2010. Playhouse Disney is set to air "Willa's Wild Life" starting in 2011, and Nickelodeon has renewed "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch" series and specials.

TLN TO LAUNCH HOUR-LONG LATE NIGHT SHOW WITH GEORGE LOPEZ
Canada's TLN Telelatino Network is celebrating its 25-month anniversary with the launch of a new late night talk show starring George Lopez. "Lopez Tonight" will premiere at 11 pm on November 9, and is schedule to air Monday through Thursday. Anticipated guests include Ellen DeGeneres, Eva Longoria, Kobe Bryant, Jamie Foxx, Marc Anthony, Queen Latifah, Oscar de la Hoya, Larry David and Kelly Osbourne.

APT SECURES DEALS FOR 'BETWEEN THE FOLDS'
APT Worldwide, the international sales division of US public television distributor American Public Television, has secured broadcast deals for the unique origami documentary "Between the Folds" for the US, Japan, Australia, South Korea, China, Norway and the Middle East. The award-winning film profiles brilliant artists, mathematicians and scientists who are reinventing the ancient Japanese tradition of paper folding. Public broadcasters PBS (ITVS), NHK, ABC, EBS, and NRK have licensed terrestrial rights for their respective territories; Al Jazeera Documentary Channel secured broadcast for the Middle East and North Africa; and Leland International Corp. picked ip broadcast and IPTV rights for China.