Today, the provincial government announces a much needed relief package for the city's flailing film industry. The news drops at the Toronto Film Studios, and you can bet the usual ACTRA activists will be on hand.

- Meanwhile, Torontoist offers up a film relief package for all you holiday filmgoers. A few day's back we reported (ahem) that the Toronto Film Critics Association had voted Sideways as the year's best movie. We erroneously attributed this travesty of a vote to Liam Lacey, who has also graciously informed us that he is, as of yesterday, not 112 years old. We don't know what film Lacey did consider the year's best, but as it wasn't Sideways, we'll guestimate the Globe's film-man's age back to under 40. And we'll champion his good judgement.

- More Meanwhile. It's rare that a film ever sells out in our fair city, so TOist was plum surprised to find itself stuck on the wrong side of the door for Friday's showing of Ocean's Dozen. And so we ventured into the darkened theatre of a movie we'd probably otherwise not have seen, Spanglish. And we were pleasantly surprised. That said, David Edelstein might be the only other person in the world who shares our opinion. So make of this what you will. And definitely do not attend if you don't like seeing films that attract packs of middle-aged ladies who chortle loudly, and comment on the cuteness of the furniture in the film. So it goes.

- The promos for the Canadian mini-series makeover of Nino Ricci's Lives of the Saint's are profoundly frightening. But who knows. Director Jerry Ciccoritti thinks Sophia Loren is still a babe, and has been ignoring his wardrobe to make time for editing.

- And another thing: John Harkness says The Life Aquatic sinks. But our hopes are still buoyed by rumours to the contrary.