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Sunday, June 10
| 8:00 AM |
Registration (Curio Foyer 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM) (8:00am - 9:00am) |
| 10:00 AM |
BANFF Diversity of Voices Program (by invitation only) (10:00am - 12:00pm)Cascade This curated morning of content is designed to provide insight, information and inspiration to the Diversity of Voices participants. With presentations from some of Canadian TV’s brightest minds, the morning will walk delegates through building international partnerships and financing plans, the art of IP brand-building, and how one Canadian drama snowballed its way from APTN to trailblazing global sales, Netflix and appearances in New York Times’ “Watching” column. Join Solange Attwood, EVP Blue Ant International, Blue Ant Media; Mark Montefiore, President & Executive Producer, New Metric Media (Letterkenny, Bad Blood) and Ron Scott, showrunner, director and founder of Prairie Dog Film + Television (Blackstone) for a bespoke presentation designed to kickstart the Diversity of Voices BANFF experience. These closed-door sessions are only open to applicants who were chosen prior to the 2018 Banff World Media Festival Moderating:
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| 12:00 PM |
Break (12:00pm - 1:30pm)Ivor Petrak, Alberta, New Brunswick, Alhambra, Cascade, Castello, Screening Room, Van Horne Ballroom, Riverview Lounge |
| 1:30 PM |
Banff 101: How to Deliver the Optimal Pitch (1:30pm - 2:30pm)In Partnership With  Cascade Join Kevin Wright for a customized-for-Banff version of his Optimal Pitch workshop, designed to help emerging and established producers alike nail their big pitch. Wright will outline his “SMART” approach to pitching, including how to dazzle your audience in the first few seconds you have their attention. A career broadcaster who has heard hundreds of pitches, Wright’s inside tips will give you a leg up as you embark on your Banff experience. Featuring:
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| 2:30 PM |
New to Banff Tour (2:30pm - 3:30pm)Cascade Informal guided tours designed to help you make the most of BANFF. Our team members will be on hand to guide you through the festival features that'll help you meet your business goals. Drop in only. No advance sign-up required. |
| 3:30 PM |
KICKOFF SESSION: Int'l Media Leaders - View from the Top (3:30pm - 4:30pm)Cascade While competition in the media business has never been fiercer, for IP, talent, eyeballs and ad dollars, those same things are also cultivating new collaborations to tackle piracy, ballooning production budgets and complex monetization models. This session will see leaders of major companies break down the realities, complexities and strategies of today’s media business: what’s driving investment and greenlights, who’s going to buy who next and how it will affect the industry, what revenue strategies are working and which ones are going the way of the dinosaur, how to win audience share and which winds of change will buffet the industry next. Moderating:
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| 4:30 PM |
In Conversation with the Honourable Mélanie Joly (4:30pm - 5:30pm)In Partnership With  Cascade What has Creative Canada, the federal government’s first-ever strategy for growing the creative sector, done for the screen industries? And what is still to come? Join Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly for a discussion on the impact of Creative Canada investments to date and an announcement of new initiatives to come. Moderating:
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| 5:30 PM |
CBC Opening Reception (5:30pm - 7:30pm)In Partnership With  Alberta, New Brunswick CBC welcomes you to their opening reception! Meet new business partners and reunite with old friends and contacts from around the world over hors d'oeuvres. Enjoy hand-selected wines and locally brewed beers at the annual Festival kick-off. |
| 9:00 PM |
Sunday Late Night Party with Musical Acts Provided by Radio Starmaker Fund (Please Join Us at Wild Bills 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM) (9:00pm - 10:00pm)In Partnership With   |
Monday, June 11
| 7:00 AM |
Registration (Curio Foyer 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM) (7:00am - 8:00am) |
| 8:00 AM |
CBC’s Breakfast of Showrunner Champions (8:00am - 9:00am)In Partnership With Alberta, New Brunswick What is it that fuels a showrunner’s energy through multiple seasons of a hit comedy (besides coffee)? Join us over breakfast for a lively conversation with Ins Choi and Catherine Reitman, the creative minds behind Kim’s Convenience and Workin’ Moms, as they share their experiences and lessons learned while running the shows they built from scratch. Moderating:
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Ins ChoiCo-Creator, Writer & Executive Producer, Kim’s Convenience Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) 
Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required) (8:00am - 9:00am)Castello Back for 2018, Breakfast with a Decision Maker is an informal affair, and a chance for delegates to learn a little more about industry issues from senior executives. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity. *Advance sign-up is required. You may submit for one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on BANFFXchange. Featuring:
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| 9:00 AM |
Company of Distinction Keynote: Kevin MacLellan, Chairman, Global Distribution and International, NBCUniversal (9:00am - 10:00am)Cascade There are few people in the industry who know entertainment dealmaking like NBCUniversal Chairman of Global Distribution and International, Kevin MacLellan. Overseeing a robust remit that includes 36 offices with over 2,600 employees, a distribution portfolio of 120,000 TV episodes and 4,500 feature films, a production studio that creates over 1000 hours of premium TV content, a network of 10 channels that spans 35 countries and a global digital business that includes 20 direct to consumer services, MacLellan has a bird’s eye view of the trends shaping a global business. At BANFF this year, he sits down with Corus Entertainment EVP and COO, Barbara Williams, for a not-to-be-missed conversation on the future of global production and distribution. Moderating:
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| 10:00 AM |
Keynote Conversation: HBO Documentary Films' Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller (10:00am - 11:00am)In Partnership With  Cascade This year marks an evolution for HBO Documentary Films, with Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller jointly assuming leadership of the premium cable network's highly regarded documentary and family division. Building on a deep history with the broadcaster, Abraham and Heller between them have worked on hit HBO documentaries including Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds and The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Join Abraham and Heller at Banff for a conversation about their vision for HBO documentaries, the strategy behind the buzzed-about 2018 slate of films, which includes Jane Fonda in Five Acts, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland and I Am Evidence, and what they are looking for now. Moderating:
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Creating a Safe Space for Kids Online (10:00am - 11:00am)Alberta As digital media has become an increasing presence in children's lives, so too have grown concerns around how to keep them safe while engaging with it. This panel will examine questions including: what is the role of the companies who distribute or create content in ensuring safety for kids? What are some of the tools being used to work towards this goal? What are the various elements that comprise a safe digital experience? Why does privacy matter? Moderating:
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Partner Presentation: CMF Key Trends Report (10:00am - 10:30am)In Partnership With  New Brunswick Partner Presentation: CMF Key Trends Report Sandra Collins, Vice-President, Operations and CFO at the Canada Media Fund (CMF), will present the 2018 edition of the CMF’s trends report titled “Future Shock Is Now.” With the question “As content creators, producers, or broadcasters, how do we remain realistic, critical, vigilant, and confident that we will continue to have a viable role to play in the globalized content market?” as a starting point, the following trends shall be presented: finding a counterbalance to online giants, appropriating technology for creative purposes, audio’s revenge, and advertising’s about-face. Featuring:
Partner Presentation: Doing Business with China (10:00am - 11:00am)Ivor Petrak Alberta’s Minister of Culture & Tourism Ricardo Miranda and Alberta Media Production Industries Association invite you to an overview of the film and TV market in Guangdong Province, representing China’s largest box office with audiences of over 200 million. AMPIA will sign an MOU with delegates from the Guangdong Producers Association, and discuss potential co-productions between China and Canada. All are welcome! Moderating:
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Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required) (10:00am - 11:00am)Alhambra The Face-to-Face Meeting Program is a fantastic opportunity for content producers to gain access and meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, avail yourself of the opportunity to meet with people who can help take your idea to the next level and put your TV or digital content into development. Specifically designed to be 8-minute time slots, the program has enabled thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in transactions. In an ecosystem that thrives on connections, great content, and expertise, connect with people, ideas, and events that are of professional interest and maximize efficiencies! Featuring:
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| 10:30 AM |
Close up: Starz (10:30am - 11:00am)New Brunswick Join Starz COO Jeffrey Hirsch for a close-up look at the content and business strategy that drives the network behind Outlander, Power and the new and buzzed-about Vida.
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| 11:00 AM |
Networking Break (11:00am - 11:30am)Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates over refreshments and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming. *The Rundle Lounge food menu will be available in the Bell Lounge throughout the Festival* 30 Minutes with Sara Burns, Investigation Discovery (11:00am - 11:30am)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 11:30 AM |
So You Want to Build A Global Media Business (11:30am - 12:30pm)In Partnership With Cascade The entertainment business has shifted to a global model and these visionary Canadian business leaders have been busy building models for their companies that can thrive within it. Hear about the origins of their strategy, how it was executed, how they balance a domestic versus international agenda, and where they see the industry moving next. Moderating:
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BANFF Master Class Series: Mystery Road (11:30am - 12:30pm)Alberta Join Director Rachel Perkins, producer Greer Simpkin and ABC TV’s Head of Drama, Comedy and Indigenous, Sally Riley, as they discuss the TV adaptation of Mystery Road – inspired by Ivan Sen’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning feature films Mystery Road and Goldstone. Set against a stunning Australian backdrop, the series stars Aaron Pedersen (Goldstone, Mystery Road) and the critically-acclaimed and multi-award winning actor Judy Davis (The Dressmaker, Feud) in a politically charged missing-persons drama. Moderating:
Jesse WenteOutgoing Co-Executive Director Indigenous Screen Office Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office Featuring:
The Mid and the Short of it (11:30am - 12:30pm)In Partnership With  New Brunswick Short-form content, once second-fiddle to its longer-form sibling, has gone premium and now underscores business strategies for both emerging and established companies. This panel will explore opportunities in the space, for both platforms and producers, and tackle topics including where the biggest opportunities are right now, how (and which) companies have found success/ scale in the space, monetization models and creative challenges and opportunities specific to the format. Moderating:
Featuring:
Melanie Le PhanExecutive In Charge of Production, Digital Originals Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 
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| 12:00 PM |
30 Minutes with Tom Hastings, Bell Media (12:00pm - 12:30pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 12:30 PM |
Break (12:30pm - 1:15pm)30 Minutes with Nataline Rodrigues, Rogers Media (12:30pm - 1:00pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required) (12:30pm - 1:30pm)Castello Back for 2018, Lunch with a Decision Maker is an informal affair, and a chance for delegates to learn a little more about industry issues from senior executives. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity. *Advance sign-up is required. You may submit for one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on BANFFXchange. Featuring:
Festival Screening: Mystery Road (12:30pm - 1:30pm)In Partnership With  Screening Room Join all3media international for an exclusive look at the first episode of the TV adaptation of Mystery Road, which was inspired by the internationally acclaimed and award-winning feature films Mystery Road and Goldstone from Bunya Productions. Set against a stunning Australian backdrop, the series stars Aaron Pedersen (Goldstone, Mystery Road) and the critically-acclaimed and multi-award winning actor Judy Davis (The Dressmaker, Feud) in a politically charged missing-persons drama. |
| 1:15 PM |
Format Innovators: Building the Next Big Thing (1:15pm - 2:15pm)Cascade How are today’s content creators harnessing the potential of multiple platforms to create formats that not only achieve breakthrough audience engagement, but robust international sales as well? Hear from creators, producers and distributors of groundbreaking formats on how they settled on the “big idea,” what it took to bring it to life, sales strategies and trends. Moderating:
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Crime Pays, And Everyone’s Buying (1:15pm - 2:15pm)In Partnership With  Alberta True crime television has been with us for eons, but with an ever-increasing range of platforms hungry for buzzworthy content, crime is at the top of the list for many buyers. And that makes the hunt for original IP in the space, as well as unique ways to approach the genre, as difficult to unearth as clues in a cold case. In this session, you’ll hear from content creators and network executives who are staking out new approaches to true crime TV —from podcasts and serials to Live PD and real-time revelations. Moderating:
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Pivoting your Kids-Biz Business Model (1:15pm - 2:15pm)New Brunswick Kids content is a global business, but many domestic markets are under stress from changing business models and consumer viewing habits. With so much in flux, many producers and media companies are adapting established business models to find and focus on new markets, experiment with new genres or forms of content or break into new categories. Find out how our panelists have built new sandboxes for their companies to play in. Moderating:
Featuring:
Jon RutherfordPresident, Global Rights, Franchise & Content Strategy, Boat Rocker Studios Boat Rocker Media |
| 1:30 PM |
Partner Presentation: Your Content Isn't Free - Fixing the Value Gap (1:30pm - 2:00pm)In Partnership With  Ivor Petrak Content creators around the world are facing a new challenge: the "value gap." While the internet and digital media have made it easier for creators to reach and engage fans, those same forces have restricted creators' ability to generate revenue by enabling content to be given away for free. Join Miranda Mulholland, an award-winning artist and independent label owner, as she discusses why the value gap exists, why we need to change it and how it can be fixed. Featuring:
Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required) (1:30pm - 2:30pm)Alhambra The Face-to-Face Meeting Program is a fantastic opportunity for content producers to gain access and meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, avail yourself of the opportunity to meet with people who can help take your idea to the next level and put your TV or digital content into development. Specifically designed to be 8-minute time slots, the program has enabled thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in transactions. In an ecosystem that thrives on connections, great content, and expertise, connect with people, ideas, and events that are of professional interest and maximize efficiencies! Featuring:
Table host
Philip Barnsdall-ThompsonSVP Acquisitions, UK, Europe & North America - FACTUAL ONLY Flame Distribution 
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| 2:15 PM |
Working Together To Stand Apart: The New Realities Of Multi-partner Projects (2:15pm - 3:15pm)In Partnership With  Cascade International partnerships are the new rule of the day, as TV production budgets rise, talent shortages increase and everyone fights for audience share. But while partnerships offer many benefits, they also create complex business challenges for those involved, from rights and windows to marketing and premieres. Leaders from broadcasters and producers who export content globally discuss the pros, cons, opportunities and challenges of executing projects in a multi-partner, multi-platform and multi-rights world. Moderating:
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Building a Global Hit (2:15pm - 3:15pm)In Partnership With  Alberta Everyone wants to build a show that can sell and air globally. But what does that mean, exactly? And how do both broadcasters and producers with a successful global track record determine what series will work across borders? There's an art to developing originals that can work internationally, and this session will dive into the creative-focused strategies and considerations that shape successful global series, featuring leading executives from global-facing companies across different genres. Moderating:
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Integrating Brands into the Content Ecosystem (2:15pm - 3:15pm)In Partnership With  New Brunswick The challenges of big production budgets, shrinking ad dollars and consumer advertising-fatigue have brought brands, broadcasters and producers closer together than ever before. This session will examine bleeding-edge strategies for incorporating brands into the world of content, storytelling and entertainment and how the right partnerships on the right content can be a rising tide that lifts all boats. Moderating:
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| 3:00 PM |
30 Minutes with Michael MacMillan, Blue Ant Media (3:00pm - 3:30pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 3:15 PM |
BANFF Master Class Series: Cobra Kai (3:15pm - 4:15pm)In Partnership With  Cascade When YouTube Premium set out to break into the highly competitive scripted-series game, it didn’t mess around. It jumped into a bidding war to secure Cobra Kai, the “30 years later” story of Karate Kid characters Daniel and Johnny, played by Ralph Macchio and William Zabka. Join Macchio, as well as creators Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg and YouTube Originals’ head of comedy development, Dustin Davis, as they discuss reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, delicately handling a beloved 80s classic and why they think this 30-minute dramedy will put YouTube Premium’s name on the scripted-series map. Moderating:
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| 3:45 PM |
30 Minutes with Igal Svet, National Geographic (3:45pm - 4:15pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 4:30 PM |
Rockie Awards Program Competition Ceremony (all delegates welcome) (4:30pm - 5:45pm)Van Horne Ballroom Announcing the winners! In this first of two ROCKIE AWARDS shows, BANFF’s flagship Program Competition celebrates excellence in television and digital content from around the world. Hundreds compete for coveted ROCKIE AWARDS, with the winners unveiled at this ceremony each year. With participation from more than 45 countries annually and juried by an esteemed panel of over 115 international industry professionals, the Rockie Awards is one of the world’s largest program competitions of its kind. Congratulate the winners with a celebratory cocktail immediately following the show! All BANFF delegates are invited to the 2018 Rockie Awards Gala. Seating is first-come, first-served. Attire: Business casual. *The 2018 Rockie Awards Program Competition takes place in the Van Horne Ballroom, located on the conference side of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel* Featuring:
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| 5:45 PM |
Bell Fund Presents: Rockie Awards Program Competition Cocktail Reception (All Delegates Welcome) (5:45pm - 6:45pm)In Partnership With  Van Horne Ballroom Cheers! The Bell Fund celebrates 20 years supporting Canadian media content makers in creating for and connecting with audiences here and everywhere. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, hobnob with nominees, and celebrate the accomplishments of all the Rockies candidates. |
Tuesday, June 12
| 7:00 AM |
Registration (Curio Foyer 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM) (7:00am - 8:00am) |
| 8:00 AM |
Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required) (8:00am - 9:00am)Castello Back for 2018, Breakfast with a Decision Maker is an informal affair, and a chance for delegates to learn a little more about industry issues from senior executives. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity. *Advance sign-up is required. You may submit for one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on BANFFXchange. Featuring:
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| 9:00 AM |
Company of Distinction Keynote: Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment (9:00am - 10:00am)In Partnership With  Cascade Inside the mind of one of the most influential television executives of the decade: Robert Greenblatt became Chairman of NBCUniversal in 2011, and took NBC from last to first in the coveted 18-49 demo, where it has been for five consecutive seasons. This season, NBC added the title of “America’s most-watched network” to that, with a lineup that includes This is Us, Will & Grace, The Voice and America’s Got Talent. Greenblatt also oversees Universal Television studios, which produce over 40 scripted and alternative series for NBC, Fox and Hulu, among others. A Golden Globe and Tony-winning producer, Greenblatt also ran Showtime and was a top executive at Fox. This is a can’t-miss conversation on what it takes to run a leading television network and studio in 2018. Moderating:
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| 10:00 AM |
BANFF Master Class Series: Anne (10:00am - 11:00am)In Partnership With Cascade One of Canada’s most beloved and successful fictional characters, Anne Shirley returned to the “airwaves” in 2017 on CBC and Netflix to rave reviews and international attention, becoming a hit on CBC and the fourth-most binged show of 2017 on Netflix. Ahead of the season-two launch, join us for an insightful discussion with the powerful creative team behind the 2018 Canadian Screen Award-winning series ANNE, who shaped its realistic tone, rich characters and beautiful look: creator, executive producer and showrunner Moira Walley Beckett, executive director and president of Northwood Entertainment Miranda de Pencier and CBC’s general manager of programming, Sally Catto. Moderating:
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In Conversation with Elizabeth Vargas, A+E (10:00am - 11:00am)Alberta BANFF and A+E Networks are proud to present an in-depth conversation with one of America’s most respected broadcast journalists, Elizabeth Vargas. The longtime co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20 and recent author of a best-selling memoir, Vargas is now at the helm of a new investigative documentary series for A+Networks, called A&E Investigates and will also contribute to the new A&E Originals unit. An Emmy-winning reporter regarded for her hard-hitting interviews, long-form journalism and breaking news coverage, this will be a can’t-miss conversation at the Banff World Media Festival. Moderating:
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The Pull of Premium Non-Fiction (10:00am - 11:00am)In Partnership With New Brunswick With more deep-pocketed platforms fortifying their non-fiction content strategies, linear networks are taking bigger swings on tentpole, event programming. The battle for eyeballs is resulting in more premium, pricier content. But with viewership fragmenting, what are the metrics for measuring success for such content? And how is the pull of premium impacting schedules across the specialty network spectrum? In this session you’ll hear from the networks ramping up their premium non-fiction offerings, and the producers and dealmakers behind them. Moderating:
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30 Minutes with Lisa Godfrey & Krista Look, Corus Entertainment (10:00am - 10:30am)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required) (10:00am - 11:00am)Alhambra The Face-to-Face Meeting Program is a fantastic opportunity for content producers to gain access and meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, avail yourself of the opportunity to meet with people who can help take your idea to the next level and put your TV or digital content into development. Specifically designed to be 8-minute time slots, the program has enabled thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in transactions. In an ecosystem that thrives on connections, great content, and expertise, connect with people, ideas, and events that are of professional interest and maximize efficiencies! Featuring:
Canada, U.K., Australia Producers Roundtable (Invitation only) (10:00am - 11:30am)Sir Edward Beatty A special roundtable discussion between Canadian, U.K. and Australian producers, focusing on critical issues facing producers in all three territories. |
| 11:00 AM |
Networking Break (11:00am - 11:30am)30 Minutes with Cori Abraham, Oxygen Media (11:00am - 11:30am)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 11:30 AM |
Decoding the DNA of Hit TV (11:30am - 12:30pm)In Partnership With  Alberta This discussion will feature three of TV’s top minds discussing the elusive elements that help make a series culture-defining, game-changing and globe-shaking. Join three of Canada’s highest-profile behind-the-camera talents, Executive Producer Sheila Hockin (Vikings, The Handmaid’s Tale), Director Jeremy Podeswa (Here and Now, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire) and Writer and Showrunner David Shore (House, The Good Doctor), as they discuss the common elements of hit TV’s genome. Moderating:
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What’s Hot in Global Kids Content (11:30am - 12:30pm)New Brunswick Join internationally influential network executives to hear about what's trending in the kids-content business, including: where the business is headed, what is grabbing their attention and what kids-content producers need to know to succeed in today's complex market. Moderating:
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| 12:00 PM |
30 Minutes with Michelle Daly & Helen Asimakis, CBC (12:00pm - 12:30pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
Wynonna Earp: Behind the scenes with a modern cult classic (Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A) (12:00pm - 1:00pm)Screening Room Wynonna Earp has been a breakout hit on Space in Canada and Syfy in the U.S. Deftly combining cult, camp and sophisticated storytelling, Earp has earned a rabid international fan base and critical acclaim. Hear from panelists Emily Andras, Josh Van Houdt, Tom Hastings, and Jordy Randall on how they transformed a quirky comic tale into what Vanity Fair has called an “intensely watchable” series that defies and cleverly exploits genre clichés. Catch up or refresh with S1 and S2 clips, and get a sneak peek at the hotly anticipated third season. Moderating:
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| 12:30 PM |
Break (12:30pm - 1:30pm)Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required) (12:30pm - 1:30pm)Castello Back for 2018, Lunch with a Decision Maker is an informal affair, and a chance for delegates to learn a little more about industry issues from senior executives. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity. *Advance sign-up is required. You may submit for one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on BANFFXchange. Featuring:
Marketers Lunch and Learn (12:30pm - 1:30pm)Norquay An opportunity to allow delegates to meet with top marketers to discuss the current opportunities in the branded-content marketplace. This is an informal networking opportunity, taking place over a meal with a small number of delegates and a leading marketer. Registration is required. **The sign up for the Marketers Lunch and Learn session opens Monday, June 4 at 11:00 am EST** Featuring:
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| 1:30 PM |
Partner Presentation: Managing the Financial Risks of Cross Border Productions (1:30pm - 2:00pm)In Partnership With  Ivor Petrak Going cross border to produce your next show or film creates big opportunities, but with those opportunities come significant risk. The foreign currency element is one risk that producers need to be aware of given the heightened levels of volatility in markets these days. Any perceived currency advantage when a project is greenlit can quickly disappear by the time the cameras roll, putting the production in jeopardy. This session will help you understand the steps you need to take to effectively manage your FX risk to ensure your project comes in on budget. Featuring:
Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required) (1:30pm - 2:30pm)Alhambra The Face-to-Face Meeting Program is a fantastic opportunity for content producers to gain access and meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, avail yourself of the opportunity to meet with people who can help take your idea to the next level and put your TV or digital content into development. Specifically designed to be 8-minute time slots, the program has enabled thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in transactions. In an ecosystem that thrives on connections, great content, and expertise, connect with people, ideas, and events that are of professional interest and maximize efficiencies! Featuring:
Table host
Shelley MacDougallManager of Programming - Central Region APTN Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Table host
Jessica SchmiedchenDirector of Development, Unscripted Content Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Table host
Karen TsangSVP Creative Affairs/Executive Producer CBC Scripted Content, English Services
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| 2:00 PM |
In Conversation with Kent Alterman, Comedy Central (2:00pm - 3:00pm)Alberta Join the president of iconic comedy brand Comedy Central for a discussion on the state of TV comedy, how the network is standing out among the competition, recent ratings successes, its ongoing legacy of developing new talent and where Alterman thinks the business of being funny is headed next. Moderating:
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Partner presentation: Why Quebec Drama is the New Nordic Noir (2:00pm - 3:00pm)In Partnership With .png) New Brunswick With a number of adaptations in the works around the world, Quebec drama is making its mark on the international scene. Hear about some of the breakthrough shows, challenges faced by producers and key factors that lead to success in adapting television series for international markets. Moderating:
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30 Minutes with Dustin Davis, YouTube Originals (2:00pm - 2:30pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 3:00 PM |
Company of Distinction Session: NBCUniversal Networks Panel (3:00pm - 4:00pm)Cascade Join NBC Entertainment’s Paul Telegdy (President, Alternative and Reality Group), Lisa Katz & Tracey Pakosta (Co-Presidents, Scripted Programming), and Luis Silberwasser (President, Telemundo Networks) for an insightful and lively panel reflecting on the range of mega-hits across both NBC and Telemundo as well as discussing the competitive landscape and how they keep audiences enthralled. Breakthrough series under the stewardship of this talented group include The Voice, This is Us, The Good Place and El Señor de los Cielos – among many others. Moderating:
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Winning in the War for Creative Talent (3:00pm - 4:00pm)In Partnership With  New Brunswick While overall the explosion in global series orders has been a good thing for producers of content, one effect has been a tight market for top creative talent such as high-profile showrunners, writers, executive producers and directors. This session will examine how stakeholders are addressing the challenge: attracting talent and becoming a destination for it, retaining people between seasons/projects, developing/fostering it, how the tight market for talent is influencing decision-making and the new ways and places talent can be discovered. Moderating:
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30 Minutes with Robin Faerber, Disney Channel and Disney Junior (3:00pm - 3:30pm)Ivor Petrak A new addition to BANFF, 30 Minutes with…sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. Featuring:
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| 4:00 PM |
In Conversation with Netflix (4:00pm - 5:00pm)Cascade This featured conversation and case study with Netflix's VP of content acquisition, Larry Tanz, will illuminate how the Internet entertainment service works with Canadian creators to bring their stories to the world. The session will take a close look at Travelers, the Netflix original series made in Canada and streamed in 190 countries. Series showrunner Brad Wright and star Eric McCormack will join Larry in walking you from the original development process to the show’s global popularity on the streaming service today. Moderating:
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Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You (4:00pm - 5:00pm)In Partnership With  Alberta Music is a critical part of virtually every screen production, but did you know that it can support a production company’s bottom line too? Join the Canadian Music Publishers of Canada for a live case study, showcase and discussion about how correctly managed music rights can add ancillary, ongoing revenue streams for film, digital and television productions. Each case study discussion will profile a unique way screen producers, music publishers, composers and musicians can work together to maximize a project's revenue opportunities beyond platform or territory sales. Moderating:
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| 5:00 PM |
DHX Kids Cocktail (Please Join Us in the Upper Rundle) (5:00pm - 6:00pm)In Partnership With  The kids & animation market is booming with the advent of new platforms that entertain, educate, and inspire growing minds. This is your opportunity to join industry leaders to celebrate current successes and envision what the future has in store. Canadian Music Publishers Association Meet & Greet (Bell Lounge) (5:00pm - 6:00pm)In Partnership With Riverview Lounge |
| 6:00 PM |
Rockie Awards Pre-Gala Reception (all delegates welcome) (6:00pm - 7:00pm)In Partnership With  Van Horne Ballroom Red Carpet arrivals and Insta-ops! Enjoy this celebratory mix and mingler with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in anticipation of BANFF’s signature Rockie Awards Gala. All BANFF delegates are invited to the 2018 Rockie Awards Gala. Cocktail Attire. *The 2018 Rockie Awards Pre-Gala Reception will take place in the Van Horne Ballroom Foyer, located on the conference side of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel* |
| 7:00 PM |
Rockie Awards Gala Ceremony (all delegates welcome) (7:00pm - 8:30pm)Van Horne Ballroom Celebrate in style at BANFF’s signature Rockie Awards Gala in the luxurious Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Outstanding industry talent and executives are recognized in this hors-concours awards show. All BANFF delegates are invited to the 2018 Rockie Awards Gala. Seating is first-come, first-served. Cocktail Attire. *The 2018 Rockie Awards Gala will take place in the Van Horne Ballroom, located on the conference side of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel* Featuring:
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Wednesday, June 13
| 8:00 AM |
Registration (Curio Foyer 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM) (8:00am - 9:00am) |
| 9:00 AM |
Company of Distinction Session: NBCUniversal Studios Panel (9:00am - 10:00am)Cascade NBCUniversal’s hit-making creative forces Meredith Ahr (President, Universal TV Alternative), Jeff Wachtel (President, NBCUniversal International Studios) and Pearlena Igbokwe (President, Universal Television), will reflect on their most recent greenlight successes – including World of Dance, The Wall, The Sinner, Mr. Robot, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Master of None – and discuss how they are adjusting their development strategies to maximize the opportunities of evolving global business models. Moderating:
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| 10:00 AM |
Company of Distinction Session: In Conversation with Sean Hayes (10:00am - 11:00am)Cascade Join this year’s Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award winner, Sean Hayes, for candid talk about his career in TV, including his award-winning role as Jack McFarland on NBC’s Will & Grace. Hayes' long list of accomplishments includes an Emmy Award and six nominations, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, two TV Guide Awards and American Comedy Award and seven Golden Globe Nominations, Hayes has also appeared on Scrubs, 30 Rock, Martin & Lewis and Up All Night. Hayes has also appeared on Broadway and in 2003 started Hazy Mills Productions (Hot in Cleveland, Grimm) with his producing partner Todd Milliner. Moderating:
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