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Sunday, June 11
| 1:00 PM |
New To The Festival Tour (1:00pm - 2:00pm)CASCADE BALLROOM Informal guided tours designed to help you make the most of BANFF. Our team members will be on-hand to guide you through the event features that'll help you meet your business goals. Drop in only. No sign-up required. |
| 2:00 PM |
BANFF 101: Turn A Blind Date Pitch Meeting Into A Hot Love Story (2:00pm - 3:00pm)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM Should you bring a box of chocolates to woo a buyer? No... but you should know the flow; what moves to make and when to make them. Pitch experts, Mark and Jeanne Simon, co-founders of SellYourTvConceptNow.com, will reveal how to flirt... tease... and make bold advances to spark a True Romance deal in a pitch meeting.
This is an interactive session! A few brave volunteers will get the chance to pitch their shows on stage to the Simons who will critique the pitches with tough but Big Love…and pitch it back to them. Featuring:
   
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| 4:00 PM |
Media Leaders Series: Canadian Media Leaders (4:00pm - 5:00pm)CASCADE BALLROOM This year, our annual Canadian Media Leaders panel will feature a discussion on the future of production, development, and broadcast of screen-based content in Canada. With the onslaught of streaming opportunities commanding the attention of viewers’ eyeballs, broadcasters must explore all possible revenue streams to ensure they maintain viewership and financial success. What strategies will the employ and how can producers hope to succeed as models continually shift? This high-level conversation is your best opportunity to hear directly from the leaders of Canada’s content industry as they share their visions for the future. Moderating:
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| 5:00 PM |
Media Leaders Series: Studio Competition In The Peak TV Era (5:00pm - 6:00pm)CASCADE BALLROOM In the age of Peak TV, viewers have never had more choice when it comes to what content they are going to watch next, but what does that mean for the studios that are creating it? To stay competitive in this market, studios need to embrace their creativity in their production and financial strategies. Budgets are booming, traditional programming methods are evolving, and new players in original content like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu are able to attract both creators and consumers in ways that linear broadcasters couldn’t have imagined a decade ago. These studio heads will opine on what they are doing to ensure their brand stays strong and how they are finding the best homes for their productions. Moderating:
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Monday, June 12
| 9:00 AM |
Company Of Distinction Keynote: Channing Dungey, President, ABC Entertainment (9:00am - 10:00am)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM President of ABC Entertainment Channing Dungey will deliver the annual Company of Distinction keynote, on behalf of this year’s recipient Disney|ABC. Moderating:
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| 10:00 AM |
Keynote: The Honourable Mélanie Joly (10:00am - 11:00am)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM The Banff World Media Festival is proud to announce that The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will join BANFF with a special keynote presentation. Following up on her popular keynote last year, Minister Joly will discuss how digital technology is transforming our world, and explore the role of government in supporting innovation and creativity to create new opportunities to bring the best of Canada to the world. Moderating:
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Digital Innovators In The Content Industry (10:00am - 11:00am)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM The latest developments in new technologies are unlocking brilliant new levels to storytelling and re-shaping the way that content gets made. Our panelists will chat about how technology goes hand in hand with art and how these innovative technological creations are trailblazing creative projects from the ground up. New technological advances inspire creative people to reach further creating immersive stories. From the latest tech inventions to specific data analysis, our panelists will speak to how to inspire audiences, and how to keep them. Find out the challenges and successes that come with leading content creators into the future. Moderating:
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| 11:00 AM |
Toast to China Reception and Signing Ceremony (11:00am - 11:30am)NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM Join us as AMPIA and China’s Guangdong Delegation sign their MOU and celebrate with a Toast to China. |
| 11:30 AM |
International Scripted Buyers (11:30am - 12:30pm)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM BANFF's Buyers Series is an in-depth examination of what major international content buyers are looking for to fill their programming blocks in the coming year. Our scripted deep-dive will feature leading comedy and drama commissioners from broadcast networks, cable channels, and digital platforms will share the different strategies they utilize when taking pitches for new programming. You'll find out exactly what types of shows buyers are seeking out, what trends have been overdone, and how to find the right home for your content. Moderating:
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From A Best-Seller To A SVOD Success Ready To Conquer The World (11:30am - 12:30pm)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM A special conversation about the partnership and ingredients behind the success story of the drama series Victor. Based on the best-selling book franchise Victor Lessard, the psycho-thriller released on Club illico in March garnered more than 1 million viewings in 2 weeks and earned unanimous critical acclaim. The partners will tell you the secrets behind this innovative creative process, and their approach to bring this series to the international audiences. Moderating:
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Creative Unscripted: The Golden Era Of Prestige Factual Content (11:30am - 12:30pm)ALBERTA ROOM Between Making a Murderer, The Jinx, and Planet Earth our industry is seeing a boom in beautifully produced, long-form, engaging storytelling in the factual realm. Due to increased budgets, advances in technology, and growing audience curiosity, unscripted content is gaining traction on the critical and mass appeal of traditional drama and comedy programming. Learn from producers and broadcasters of leading non-fiction content as they discuss the current appetite for prestige factual programming, where this genre is going in the coming year, and how you could find great success with your productions. Moderating:
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| 1:30 PM |
Partner Presentation: YouTube (1:30pm - 2:30pm)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM People around the world are now watching a billion hours of YouTube content every single day. How can content creators engage with this growing global audience? Join as we chat with companies that have been successful on traditional platforms and now are extending their reach and growing their businesses on YouTube. We'll discuss why and how they got started on YouTube, what's working, and what they've learned along the way. Moderating:
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International Unscripted Buyers (1:30pm - 2:30pm)In Partnership With  ALBERTA ROOM BANFF's Buyers Series is an in-depth examination of what major international content buyers are looking for to fill their programming blocks in the coming year. Leading factual commissioners from broadcast networks, cable channels, and digital platforms will share the different strategies they utilize when taking pitches for new programming. You'll find out exactly what types of shows buyers are seeking out, what trends have been overdone, and how to find the right home for your content. Moderating:
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| 2:00 PM |
No Laughing Matter: The Current State Of Comedy & Satire (2:00pm - 3:00pm)CASCADE BALLROOM From the beginning of the 2016 U.S. presidential race to the day-to-day actions of the current administration, we’ve been living in a time of great uncertainty. However, the one thing that we could be consistently sure of has been the outstanding efforts of comedy’s most talented creators. Whether it be through satirical news coverage, late night talk shows, or hilarious viral videos, the comedy industry has stepped up to create some of its best work when viewers need it the most. But beyond pure entertainment, what is their responsibility -- if any -- to the general public to do more than generate laughter? The Onion’s CEO, Mike McAvoy, will share his thoughts on the role comedy plays in the national discourse and how he sees that role evolving moving forward. Moderating:
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| 2:30 PM |
The Shifting State Of Kids TV (2:30pm - 3:30pm)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM The fact that the appetite for entertaining content appears to be bottomless may be the only consistent factor driving the children’s TV industry right now. Everything else, from distribution outlets to merchandising opportunities, is sitting on shifting sands. This panel of seasoned industry execs will look specifically at the changing nature of kids media consumption habits, broadcast/distribution paths, co-production models and auxiliary commercialization to present a clear picture of the biz and where it’s headed. Moderating:
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 Carving Out Your Place: How To Succeed Amongst The OTT Giants (2:30pm - 3:30pm)In Partnership With  ALBERTA ROOM In a world full of OTT juggernauts, how do OTTs outside of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video successfully cut through and stand their ground? In the thick of the digital revolution, all OTT platforms face the risk of consumer choice oversaturation amongst other issues. Hear our panelists speak to what keeps them not only surviving but inspiring. Find out how they curate their premier libraries, what catches their eye content-wise, and how they continue to profit through their unequivocally independent business trajectories. Moderating:
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| 4:00 PM |
Company Of Distinction Keynote: Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide (4:00pm - 5:00pm)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM Don’t miss this exclusive keynote presentation by Disney Channels Worldwide President and Chief Creative Officer, Gary Marsh. Featuring:
Partner Presentation: CMF Key Trends Report Presentation (4:00pm - 4:30pm)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM The major technological innovations and new digital strategies that have marked the last few years have led to significant. Changes in the audiovisual industry around the world. In fact, they have redefined infrastructures, uses, relationships with the audience, business models, and the competitive environment. While most of the big names in the industry have adapted to the new digital ecology, some fundamental questions remain. How has the new audiovisual value chain been reconfigured? Which players are best positioned to make the most of it? These questions served as the framework for the 2017 edition of the Trends Report in which the Canada Media Fund examines the value creation opportunities that have emerged from this major industrial reorganization. The digital environment has become a virtual battleground, where competitors battle each other to seize the best opportunities and to position themselves in the evolving value curve. Featuring:
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| 4:30 PM |
Move Fast And Break Things With Jonathan Taplin (4:30pm - 5:00pm)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM Move Fast and Break Things tells the story of how a small group of libertarian entrepreneurs began in the 1990s to hijack the original decentralized vision of the Internet, in the process creating a set of monopoly firms—Facebook, Amazon, and Google—that now determine the future of the music, film, television, publishing and news industries. Jonathan Taplin will speak directly to creators as he outlines the best strategies to navigate the entertainment space and maximize their profitability & ownership. Featuring:
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Tuesday, June 13
| 8:00 AM |
CMF Breakfast With CRTC Chair JP Blais (8:00am - 9:00am)In Partnership With ALBERTA ROOM Broadband Internet is transforming our world: It not only empowers citizens and improves their quality of life, broadband also enables the free movement of ideas and content. Yet many policy makers and creators in Canada and abroad are still focused on the traditional divisions between telecommunications and broadcasting. Join Jean-Pierre Blais as he discusses the need to reject the status quo and embrace the Internet’s disruptive nature. Mr. Blais will also share his thoughts on future developments that he foresees because of broadband’s pervasive nature. Featuring:
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| 9:00 AM |
Company of Distinction Keynote: Patrick Moran, President, ABC Studios, Featuring John Ridley & Regina King (9:00am - 10:00am)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM ABC Studios President Patrick Moran is joined by BANFF’s 2017 Showrunner of the Year Oscar-winning writer/director John Ridley and multiple award-winning actress Regina King for a broad ranging discussion on the development process from idea to inception. Moderating:
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John RidleyWriter / Director/Executive Producer, American Crime, Guerrilla, Let It Fall and Oscar Winner for 12 Years a Slave ABC Studios VR Content - Innovations And Strategies (9:00am - 10:00am)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM Follow the VR industry’s heavy hitters as they discuss how to make sustainable revenue through virtual reality based content creation. Our panelists will discuss the latest developments in VR as well as the viability of this ever-growing technology. On this immersive content panel we will delve into the business of profitability and audience attraction strategies, hearing from both creators AND platforms. Moderating:
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| 10:00 AM |
Kids Buyers Panel - Focus On Preschool (10:00am - 10:30am)NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM Get a read on current buying trends for preschool content from some of the biggest names in the business. What are they looking for? What have they seen enough of? What do their wish lists look like? Find out all of this and more at our can’t-miss session for anyone working in the preschool space. Moderating:
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Media Leaders Series: Building Partnerships For A Global Audience (10:00am - 11:00am)In Partnership With  ALBERTA ROOM The world is shrinking with each passing day, opening up endless possibilities for content creators looking to bring their programming to new audiences worldwide. The tremendous amount of options viewers have has made them more sophisticated in what they are interested in watching, no longer content to simply watch whatever is put in front of them in traditional programming blocks. They search through the cable channels, networks, streaming services, and new platforms to find the next great show regardless of the language or territory of origin. This can be a challenge for producers, but also a major opportunity to build new partnerships and international co-production & co-financing models to create content that will hit in many different territories. The audience is increasingly global-minded so it is imperative that producers develop the same mindset and work together to transcend borders with worldly projects. Moderating:
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| 10:30 AM |
Kids Buyers Panel - Focus On 6-11s (10:30am - 11:00am)NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM This panel of seasoned acquisitions execs from some of the world’s most active kids platforms will give a lowdown on the current state of content targeting the six to 11 set. You’ll find out what’s resonating and what’s not, and more importantly, what’s next for this all-important demo. Moderating:
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| 1:30 PM |
Partner Presentation: Discovering New Voices (1:30pm - 2:30pm)In Partnership With  NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM The world has an increasingly insatiable appetite for new content. If “Content is King”, it’s more important than ever to find and nurture new talent – the new King-makers as it were. Join Telefilm Canada, the Coup Company and Wattpad for a half-hour conversation about innovative ideas for finding and supporting Canada’s next wave of story-tellers. Featuring:
Francesca AccinelliSenior Vice President, Program Strategy and Industry Development Telefilm Canada 
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| 2:00 PM |
Media Leaders Series: Strategies For Success in a Multi-Platform World (2:00pm - 3:00pm)In Partnership With ALBERTA ROOM To achieve success in the current landscape, industry players need to navigate the ever-growing maze of networks, services, studios, and OTTs. The buyer/seller ecosystem is no longer as straightforward as it once was: content creators must be increasingly strategic in determining the best outlet for their content and which partners to collaborate with on any given production, while traditional broadcast platforms face increased pressure to find the perfect programming to align with their brand in order to compete with the massive expenditures that SVOD players are dedicating to original content. Meanwhile, traditional broadcasters generate consistent revenue through licensing deals with these SVODs so they must maintain strong relationships. This group of industry leaders will discuss their relationship strategies and give an insider’s look at what it takes to run a global business in such a complicated sector. Moderating:
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| 2:30 PM |
Keeping Up With Kid Culture: A Disney Research Presentation (2:30pm - 3:30pm)NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM Join Disney Channels Worldwide SVP of Consumer Insights Jane Gould as she unveils new proprietary research on the current state of kid culture for the two to 14 set in the US. In an effort to understand the culture being created by--and having an impact on--today's kids, the findings reveal that a distinctly different generation is emerging. This group is being shaped by shifting family structures, the explosion of creativity and their' drive to be creative, intersectionality in terms of gender ideas and cultivating personal interests, and a craving for new frontiers and a global perspective when it comes to content. And Jane will tell you all about it at this can't-miss session for anyone working in the children's content space. Featuring:
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| 3:30 PM |
Media In The Age Of Trump With ABC News President James Goldston (3:30pm - 5:00pm)CASCADE BALLROOM The biggest story of 2017 is the new – and unpredictable – administration. People are eager to understand what’s happening in the world, and there have never been so many sources for news to engage them. At the same time, fake news is on the rise, leading to profound confusion. Many people feel ignored or misunderstood by mainstream media organizations. Others dismiss every outlet as a partisan voice. The truth itself has come under siege. How can modern newsrooms respond in the current climate when the spotlight has never been so intense? ABC News, known for its distinctive, fair and fearless reporting, boasts some of the best journalists in the business. BANFF is proud to announce a Keynote Address from James Goldston, the President of ABC News, where he will take on these topics and help make sense of a rapidly changing business. This will undoubtedly be one of the most timely and fascinating conversations of the Festival. Featuring:
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| 4:00 PM |
Brands Creating Content (4:00pm - 5:00pm)NEW BRUNSWICK ROOM Brands have been adapting to the creative world for some time now, especially with the influential inception of brand studios. Award-winning content has been produced from these internal studios, and brands are playing with many other avenues to create cutting-edge content as well. We will dive into the discussion over the chemistry of brand studios, and all of the successful alternative avenues that brands are taking to create influential, original content. Find out what brands are looking for from producers and how they have managed to create amazing, original, branded-partnership content. Join us as we discuss the science behind brands as creators through the expertise of our panelists.Brands have been adapting to the creative world for some time now, especially with the influential inception of brand studios. Award-winning content has been produced from these internal studios, but why aren’t more brands taking the plunge and following suit? Is there something wrong with brand intervention when it comes to creative content? We will dive into the discussion over the chemistry of brand studios, and all of the successful alternative avenues that brands are taking to create influential original content. Join us as we discuss the science behind brands as creators through the expertise of our panelists. Moderating:
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Wednesday, June 14
| 9:30 AM |
Company Of Distinction Keynote: Tom Ascheim, President, Freeform (9:30am - 10:30am)In Partnership With  CASCADE BALLROOM Freeform’s President, Tom Ascheim, will deliver a keynote presentation as part of the 2017 Company of Distinction program. Moderating:
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