NETWORKING
BANFF 2024 offers over 1,200 curated 1:1 and small group meeting opportunities to make new connections and move your projects and career forward.
Key sign-up dates:
April 10 - April 18: Pitch Doctors 1:1 sessions (virtual; first come, first served)
May 13 - May 16: Speed Meetings & Production Partners (lottery selection)
May 21 - June 7: Small group meetings (first come, first served)
Click the meeting type below to learn more.
1:1 Meetings
*advance sign-up is required
Pitch Doctors - Virtual
1:1 Pitch Doctor meetings: Perfect your pitch! These 13-minute virtual consultation sessions before the festival are designed to help you get ready to pitch in Banff. Some of the industry’s most talented pitchers will take a look at your materials and give you advice on how to deliver them to maximize their impact.
Virtual session date + time: Thursday, April 25, 1pm - 2:30pm ET
Sign-up dates: April 10 - April 18: (sign up is first come, first served)
Pitch Doctors Virtual Panel: Perfecting your presentation - Get insight from industry executives who have heard countless pitches. Our experts share how best to prepare for your in-person pitch meetings at BANFF, and answer your burning questions LIVE! This virtual panel will be accessible to all registered delegates through BANFFXchange.
Session date + time: Friday, April 26, 1pm - 1:45pm ET
Speed Meetings
BANFF’s Speed Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content creators and producers to meet 1:1 with leading development executives, distributors, programmers and funders in eight-minute meetings. Connect with partners who can help take your screen-based project to the next stage – this program has facilitated thousands of partnerships and has led to millions of dollars in new content.
Session dates at BANFF: Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11
Key dates:
Lottery selection opens: May 13
Lottery selection closes: May 16
First come, first served sign-up starts after the lottery runs, based on availability.
*New for 2024, a stand by spot for each table host will be available during first come, first served sign-up (after the lottery runs). Each delegate will have the opportunity to sign-up for a maximum of ONE stand by spot based on availability.
**If you don’t secure your meeting(s) through the lottery or first come, first served sign-up, or a stand by spot through first come, first served sign-up, there will be wait lines on site at BANFF. The wait line will operate on a first come, first served basis, and there will be no wait list.
How to sign up: Sign-up for all Speed Meetings and Production Partners is required in advance. Meetings are assigned by lottery. Which hosts you are set up with is determined by the genres you select via BANFFXchange. Stay tuned for the agenda for a list of Speed Meeting hosts for these sessions.
Delegates may make up to 10 Speed Meeting host selections but will be assigned a maximum of 1 confirmed meeting through the lottery. Delegates also have the opportunity to book one additional meeting spot and one stand by spot through first come, first served sign-ups (which takes place after the lottery if spaces remain). Delegates may join the wait line in person at BANFF for last-minute openings.
Prepare for your Speed Meetings by reviewing the Buyer Profiles on BANFFXchange. This is an invaluable resource about what buyers are looking for at BANFF 2024 and what a pitch for them should always include.
Check the 30 Minutes With and Spotlight schedules to see if the company you are meeting with will be hosting a buyer briefing to talk about their current and future programming needs.
Production Partners
Production company development execs will be taking 1:1, eight-minute pitches. Similar in format to our Speed Meeting sessions, this is your chance to pitch to production companies and studios who are looking for great ideas and partnerships.
Session date at BANFF: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Key dates:
Lottery selection opens: May 13
Lottery selection closes: May 16
First come, first served sign-up starts after the lottery runs, based on availability.
*New for 2024, a stand by spot for each table host will be available during first come first served sign-up (after the lottery runs). Each delegate will have the opportunity to sign-up for a maximum of ONE stand by spot based on availability.
**If you don’t secure your meeting(s) or a stand by spot through the lottery, first come, first served sign-up may be available after the lottery - based on availability. There will be a wait line at BANFF on June 11. The wait line will operate on a first come, first served basis, and there will be no wait list.
How to sign up: Slots for Production Partners are assigned by lottery with available meeting hosts via BANFFXchange. Stay tuned for the agenda for a list of Production Partners for this session.
Delegates may make up to 10 Production Partner host selections but will be assigned a maximum of 1 confirmed meeting through the lottery. Delegates also have the opportunity to book one additional meeting spot and one stand by spot through first come, first served sign-ups (which takes place after the lottery if spaces remain). Delegates may join the wait line in person at BANFF for last-minute openings.
Small Group Meetings
*advance sign-up is required
These 30-minute informal networking sessions are designed to connect delegates with top agents, directors, showrunners, distributors, decision makers and even members of our Board of Directors and Content Advisory Board in a small group setting. These sessions are an opportunity to connect and network with industry executives and creatives and other festival attendees. Up to six delegates can sign up in advance to meet with each table host.
*There is a wait line on site if any openings become available.
Session dates at BANFF: Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11
How to sign up: Sign-up for all hosted small group meetings is first come, first served online via BANFFXchange and delegates will be able to book 1 spot in each session type. Sign-up dates are listed below. There will be session wait lines on site at BANFF.
Meet an Agent
First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7
Meet a Decision Maker
First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7
Meet a Board Member
First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7
Meet a Distributor
First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7
Meet a Showrunner or Director
First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7
Drop-in Group Networking
*advance sign-up is NOT required
Topic Tables
Introduced at BANFF 2023, these popular 45-minute informal sessions are a great way to add to your network by connecting with the right people. Hosted by industry experts, join these guided conversations to gain insight into topics including treaties and co-productions, financing, AI, sustainability and more! Up to 7 delegates can join a topic table at one time and are invited to move from one table to another as space allows. Space is filled and managed on a first come, first served basis until we hit capacity.
Session dates at BANFF: Monday June 10 and Tuesday June 11
Collaboration Station
**New to BANFF** Are you a producer seeking a writer or director? What about a music supervisor? Drop by Collaboration Station to find your creative matches! This lively table-hopping format lets you spend a little time socializing with key industry creatives and execs from leading channels/platforms and production and media companies. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting. And we strongly encourage you to work your way around the room rather than staying at one table. Space is filled and managed on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit capacity.
Session date at BANFF: Tuesday June 11
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