Speakers
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As Senior Vice President, Development and International, Oxygen Media, Cori Abraham is responsible for overseeing the development team. Based in Los Angeles, Abraham reports to Rod Aissa, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development, while also heading up International for Oxygen, reporting to Frances Berwick, President, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal Cable...show more
Speaking on: Crime Pays, And Everyone’s Buying; 30 Minutes with Cori Abraham, Oxygen Media
Nancy Abraham is Executive Vice President, Documentary Programming, for Home Box Office. She is responsible for the development and production of HBO Documentary Films which have garnered prestigious industry awards including Primetime Emmy® Awards, News and Documentary Emmy® Awards, George Foster Peabody Awards, Alfred I. DuPont Awards and Academy Awards®....show more
Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: HBO Documentary Films' Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Literary manager and producer, Jeff Aghassi began his career in the film and television industry as a location manager and scout.
Jeff later transitioned into agenting under the guidance of the highly regarded literary agent, Lynn Pleshette. While with her, he contributed to the sale of such notable works as Cold...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Kent Alterman is President of Comedy Central. He served a previous stint at the network as Head of East Coast Development from 1996-2000, during which he oversaw the development and production on such series as Strangers with Candy, Upright Citizens Brigade and TV Funhouse. He then moved into the feature...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with Kent Alterman, Comedy Central
The Boston-born, Calgary-bred Andras has a diverse list of television credits to her name. Currently, she is the Showrunner and Executive Producer of SYFY and SPACE’s hit series Wynonna Earp. Previously, she spent three seasons as the Showrunner and Executive Producer of Lost Girl, and recently worked as the Supervising Producer on Killjoys,...show more
Speaking on: Wynonna Earp: Behind the scenes with a modern cult classic (Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A)
The pioneer of the Israeli formats industry internationally, and the Founder and CEO of Armoza Formats, Avi Armoza is one of Israel's leading film and television producers.
Avi has been working in the television and film business for more than 25 years. He began his tenure at JCS in 1993 when...show more
Speaking on: KICKOFF SESSION: Int'l Media Leaders - View from the Top; Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Format Innovators: Building the Next Big Thing
Maria Armstrong is CEO and Executive Producer at Big Coat Media. Prior to Big Coat, Maria was Director of Original Productions for W Network Corus Entertainment, where she established a strong independent production department and was responsible for all original productions for the network. Maria has over 40 years of...show more
Speaking on: Format Innovators: Building the Next Big Thing
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with Michelle Daly & Helen Asimakis, CBC; Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Kerry Ball is a Literary Agent and Head of Development at Meridian Artists. Kerry joined the Meridian team in 2010 as an Associate where she worked closely with the Agents and roster to facilitate employment opportunities and project sales in both Canada and the USA. She transitioned to the role...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required)
Jon Bardin serves as Vice President, Documentaries and Specials for Discovery Channel and Science Channel. Recent projects include the Emmy® winning Sonic Sea, Emmy®-nominated Racing Extinction, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman, First in Human, and Killing The Colorado.
Prior to joining Discovery Channel, Bardin co-founded The Public Good Projects, a non-profit production company that...show more
Speaking on: The Pull of Premium Non-Fiction; Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Philip Barnsdall-Thompson
SVP Acquisitions, UK, Europe & North America - FACTUAL ONLY
Flame Distribution
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required)
Emily Baustien serves as Development Specialist for Discovery Channel. In her role, she works with producers to develop and produce primetime series. Discovery closed out 2017 as cable’s #1 network among M25-54 (excl. sports) for the 3rd straight year and owned more top 10 unscripted cable series than any other...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Chris Bell is VP, Scripted Development,Television at Entertainment One. Based in Toronto, Chris oversees eOne’s active development slate out of Canada, with a focus on partnering with top writing talent on the development of original series concepts as well as targeting high value IP. Under his leadership, the team is...show more
Speaking on: Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Mark Bishop, Co-CEO and Partner at marblemedia is an accomplished entrepreneur, brand-builder and
trusted media industry advocate, who alongside co-founder Matt Hornburg, has grown marblemedia into
one of Canada’s leading independent production, distribution and digital media companies.
Recognized as an industry leader for breaking new ground in mobile and interactive entertainment,...show more
Speaking on: Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Pivoting your Kids-Biz Business Model
Shirley Bowers is VP Sales and Acquisitions North America for Red Arrow Studios International.
Based in Red Arrow’s New York office, Shirley is responsible for leading Red Arrow’s sales activities in the US and Canada. She also works across North American acquisitions, alongside Red Arrow’s Scripted and Non-Scripted acquisitions teams.
Previously to...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Deirdre Brennan is the General Manager for Universal Kids, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s network for kids 2-12. With a fresh mix of animated content, unscripted entertainment, and proven international hits, Universal Kids represents the world of NBCUniversal family brands.
Brennan oversees all aspects of Universal Kids’ programming, marketing, business...show more
Speaking on: What’s Hot in Global Kids Content
Alison Brower is the Deputy Editorial Director for The Hollywood Reporter, where she supervise features and film and TV awards content, along with culture, art, philanthropy and more, for the weekly print magazine and THR.com. Before joining THR, she launched and served as editor-in-chief at Dr. Oz The Good Life;...show more
Speaking on: Company of Distinction Keynote: Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment
As the leader of the program strategy team for Investigation Discovery (ID), Sara Burns is responsible for optimizing the networks’ program schedules while collaborating across multiple departments – working especially closely with the digital and development teams – to maximize content, guide current and long-range programming needs, and support strategic...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with Sara Burns, Investigation Discovery; Crime Pays, And Everyone’s Buying
Tassie Cameron is a Gemini and Canadian Screen Award-winning screenwriter who has written for television series, MOWs, mini-series, and feature films. Tassie is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of ABC’s fall 2017 series Ten Days in the Valley (starring Kyra Sedgwick, with Skydance Media.) Tassie is also an executive...show more
Speaking on: Winning in the War for Creative Talent
Experienced in production, marketing, and PR, Melissa started into the representation business at Plum Productions, helping to pioneer their branded and short-form entertainment division. She made the move to agency life in 2005, joining the Gersh Agency, and quickly gravitated to “Reality” television. She brought her varied client list to...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Sally Catto is the General Manager, Programming for CBC English Television. She oversees the strategic direction and programming of original and acquired scripted, digital original and unscripted programming for the network such as Schitt’s Creek, Workin’ Moms, Kim’s Convenience, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Anne, Alias Grace and The Great Canadian Baking Show.
In...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Anne
Neil Chakravarti is President & COO at WOW Unlimited Media. He was part of the founding team that steered a merger between Rainmaker and Frederator to form WOW. Neil has spent over two decades across roles in media, technology, investment banking and management consulting. Immediately prior to joining Wow Unlimited,...show more
Speaking on: So You Want to Build A Global Media Business
Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. In 2015, Chenoweth received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Pushing...show more
Speaking on: Rockie Awards Gala Ceremony (all delegates welcome)
Ins Choi
Co-Creator, Writer & Executive Producer, Kim’s Convenience
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
Ins Choi is an actor and a writer who was born in South Korea, grew up in Scarborough and now
lives in Toronto with his wife and two children. He has performed with many theatre companies
including the Stratford Festival, fu-GEN and Soulpepper Theatre Company. His inaugural, award-
winning play...show more
Speaking on: CBC’s Breakfast of Showrunner Champions
Sean Cohan is President, International and Digital Media, A+E Networks. Cohan oversees a global portfolio comprised of A+E Networks’ rapid growth and transformation units and is a member of the A+E executive and senior leadership team.
Cohan has been named a Digital All Star by Broadcast & Cable, ranked in the...show more
Speaking on: KICKOFF SESSION: Int'l Media Leaders - View from the Top
Sandra Collins has over twenty years of experience in the film and television industry. Since joining the organization in 2007, she is responsible for finance, legal, human resources, information technology, risk management, research and data, and acts as the Corporate Secretary.
Previously, Sandra held various senior positions at Alliance Atlantis Communications,...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: CMF Key Trends Report
Vince Commisso is President & CEO of 9 Story Media Group, one of the industry’s leading creators, producers and distributors of top quality content for young audiences around the world. With facilities in Toronto, New York, Dublin and Manchester, the 9 Story family of companies has produced over 2,800 episodes of best-in-class...show more
Speaking on: Working Together To Stand Apart: The New Realities Of Multi-partner Projects
Mr. Coscas comes from a background of writing and producing film and television content with a primary focus on producing. Coscas is an Executive Producer on the recently set up shows I Know Who You Are (1 Hour Spanish Format) at CBS Tv and Paramount Network with David Semel directing. ...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Valerie Creighton is an industry leader in arts, culture and media, recognized for reenergizing some of the country’s most important organizations in the sector over the last thirty five-years.
An expert in organizational change, Valerie has been recognized as a visionary in promoting Canada’s cultural wealth. Currently serving as President and...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with the Honourable Mélanie Joly
As Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs, Tecca Crosby oversees the scripted development strategy for Entertainment One Television in Canada. She presides over a development slate that includes numerous half-hour comedies, one-hour dramas, and mini-series in development with Canadian broadcasters. She manages relationships with a variety of Canadian and international...show more
Speaking on: Partner presentation: Why Quebec Drama is the New Nordic Noir; Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
As Senior Director of Comedy, CBC Scripted Content, Michelle Daly leads the team responsible for managing the creative development and production of CBC’s slate of comedic programming. Michelle joined the CBC as Executive in Charge of Production in 2011, and has contributed to the success of hit CBC shows Kim's...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); 30 Minutes with Michelle Daly & Helen Asimakis, CBC
Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for television news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks – writers, producers, directors and executive producers – on hundreds of television series...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with Netflix
Jon Davids is an award winning entrepreneur and expert in managing fast-paced, high-growth companies. As the Founder & CEO of Influicity, Jon is the visionary behind one of the world's fastest growing influencer media companies, empowering brands like L’Oreal, Bank of America, and General Motors to showcase their products through...show more
Speaking on: Integrating Brands into the Content Ecosystem
Colin Davis is the Senior Director of Original Programming for TBS. He creatively manages six
primetime original series, a late night comedy block, multiple pitch to screen scripted development
projects, and an adult prime animation pipeline.
Davis began his career at Fox Broadcasting Company in their inaugural Opportunity Fox program as...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Dustin Davis just expanded his duties to become Head of Comedy Development and Current Programming for the platform. He joined YouTube Red as Head of Current Series a year ago from ABC Network where he oversaw shows such as Black-ish, Happy Endings and Last Man Standing. As YouTube broadens its content offerings,...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Cobra Kai; 30 Minutes with Dustin Davis, YouTube Originals
Award-winning producer and director Miranda de Pencier is the founder of Northwood Entertainment, an independent film and television production company formed with a mission to create a thriving home for filmmakers with singular voices to reach broad audiences. Her credits include: Anne (with an E) currently streaming in 190 countries...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Anne
Atar Dekel is Head of Global Original Drama at Keshet International (KI), overseeing a slate of more than 20 cross-border projects with partners in all corners of the world, from Brazil, Germany, Italy, France, Canada, Belgium and Argentina.
In 2015, Atar seconded to LA in order to help...show more
Speaking on: Building a Global Hit; Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
As Executive Vice President of Spin Master Entertainment, Jennifer Dodge leads the company’s thriving Entertainment group in developing evergreen global entertainment properties and overseeing the current production slate, including the global preschool hit, PAW Patrol, while focusing on creative strategies that position Spin Master for additional growth and success within...show more
Speaking on: What’s Hot in Global Kids Content
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Integrating Brands into the Content Ecosystem; Marketers Lunch and Learn
Lisa Fahrenholt was named Vice President, International Development, Scripted, Endemol Shine North America, in March 2018. Fahrenholt, who had served as Director, North American Acquisitions for Endemol Shine International since March 2015, continues to also oversee finished program acquisitions and co-financing opportunities for the company’s international sales division. In her...show more
Speaking on: Winning in the War for Creative Talent; Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Frank Falcone has been bringing film and television projects to life as an animator, director and executive producer for over 20 years. Under his creative vision, Guru Studio has become a leader in character-driven storytelling and high-quality animated entertainment for kids and families around the world. Guru’s roster of hit...show more
Speaking on: Pivoting your Kids-Biz Business Model; Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
After years as the head of Universal Music Publishing Group and peermusic Canada, Jodie founded CCS Rights Management; a company built on the philosophy of hard work, dedication and an artist-first attitude. His roster currently includes, Terra Lightfoot, Sean McCann of Great Big Sea, Colin James, Glenn Gould and...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Gustavo Gontijo has been with Globo Studios (Brazil´s biggest) since 2000 when he was hired as a writer in a long-term contract for many of the company´s shows and series. In 2014, with the creation of Drama Weekly division, dedicated only to drama and comedy series, he was named Head...show more
Speaking on: Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required)
With more two decades of experience as a journalist, David Gray has covered stories around the world, focusing on Europe and North America. Seven of those years were spent as a travelling correspondent for CBC-TV's top-rated business documentary program,Venture.
Gray is a former president of the Alberta Press Gallery and for...show more
Speaking on: CBC’s Breakfast of Showrunner Champions
Melissa Grego was named CEO of Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS) in
October 2017. Her appointment marks the first time a female executive is leading the
non-profit organization, TV and media’s longstanding premier networking, education
and career development association.
Prior to that, she parlayed her network and knowledge as a...show more
Speaking on: Close up: Starz
Larry Grimaldi is Vice President of Development & Production at MarVista Entertainment, where he
helps create, develop and produce entertainment programming in the television movie, scripted and
unscripted series and digital spaces. Before joining MVE, Larry spent considerable time as an
independent producer. His career includes work for CBS, Disney,...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Jocelyn Hamilton leads all Canadian operations for Entertainment One Television which includes the strategic planning and day-to-day management of eOne’s television development and production activities in Canada. In her role, she focuses on building and broadening strong relationships with creative talent and Canadian broadcasters.
Jocelyn has over 25 years of creative...show more
Speaking on: Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Working Together To Stand Apart: The New Realities Of Multi-partner Projects
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Chris Harris is an Emmy®-winning media professional and content leader with more than 15 years experience as a digital production executive, business leader, media strategist, interactive producer and journalist.
Before returning to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2015, Chris was Vice President, Strategy & Business Development at the Emmy® Award-winning interactive...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
With a penchant for bringing strong, often international teams together, Kate is involved in all aspects of development and production at Cream. As President, she brings with her an extensive background in dramatic production, having produced/managed over 30 feature films and MOWs, as well as a handful of television series...show more
Speaking on: Crime Pays, And Everyone’s Buying
As the Director of Drama in Bell Media’s Original Programming Unit, Tom Hastings supervises the development and production of original Canadian dramatic series across Bell Media’s family of channels including CTV, Space, Bravo, TMN, HBO Canada, and Crave TV.
Hastings has extensive relationships with Canada’s independent production community, and is especially...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required); 30 Minutes with Tom Hastings, Bell Media; Wynonna Earp: Behind the scenes with a modern cult classic (Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A)
Sean Hayes returned to his iconic role as Jack McFarland on NBC’s Will & Grace, which was revived on the network in 2017, returning to critical and commercial success.
Hayes was raised in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, Ill. A talented musician, he supported himself as a classical pianist and...show more
Speaking on: Company of Distinction Session: In Conversation with Sean Hayes
Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg have been close friends since they were teenagers and are more than thrilled about their very first collaboration together: Cobra Kai, YouTube Red’s upcoming Karate Kid spinoff series that picks up decades after the original film ends.
Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg are the creators...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Cobra Kai
Representing clients in the media, digital and entertainment industries, Angelika Heim has practised exclusively in entertainment law for over 10 years.
She works closely with clients in the creative sphere, advising on transactional matters, business strategies and disputes that relate to film, television, branded content, talent agreements, book publishing, music recording...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You
Lisa Heller is executive vice president, Documentary and Family Programming, for Home Box Office. She is responsible for development, production and acquisition of documentary and family programming for the HBO service. Heller has served as an executive on programs that have garnered every major festival and award recognition including numerous...show more
Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: HBO Documentary Films' Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller
Holly Hines is the SVP of Content for Dynamic Television, where she oversees developing and selling new scripted series and mini-series to commissioning networks in the U.S., UK, Canada and Australia. In addition, Hines oversees Dynamic’s produced television series. Hines has committed to building strong relationships with buyers and content...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Jeffrey A. Hirsch is Chief Operating Officer for Starz.
Hirsch is responsible for overseeing Affiliate Sales, Marketing, Programming Operations and Research, Content Acquisition, Starz Distribution, and Technology and Product Development. Hirsch has played a key leadership role at Starz since joining in July 2015 as President of Global Marketing and Product...show more
Speaking on: Close up: Starz; KICKOFF SESSION: Int'l Media Leaders - View from the Top
Co-Executive Producer on The Handmaid’s Tale, winner of the 2017 Emmy, Golden Globe and Producers’ Guild Awards for Best Series, Hockin is also an Executive Producer on Vikings for MGM and History (6th season in production), and Producer on Into the Badlands for AMC.
Previously Hockin served as Co-Executive Producer on...show more
Speaking on: Decoding the DNA of Hit TV
Jimmy has worked in international distribution for over 12 years, with experience in acquisitions & sales across a range of companies from FremantleMedia, Banijay International & Passion Distribution.
In his current role, Jimmy manages the overall acquisition process for TCB Media Rights, identifying, sourcing and evaluating factual programming...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required); Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Andrea Hunt is Vice President- General Manager, Biscuits North America, Weston Foods. Andrea joined Weston late 2015 as its Chief Marketing Officer to help reinvigorate the business and lead an ambitious transformation to shift the organization from supply-driven to consumer-led. Thanks to the tremendous contributions of an incredible team, these...show more
Speaking on: Marketers Lunch and Learn
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Integrating Brands into the Content Ecosystem
Susan Irving is an industry leader with a passion for brands and a reputation for delivering business results through strategic integrated marketing campaigns. Now, as Senior Director of Marketing, PepsiCo Global Snacks Group, Susan is responsible for developing and driving a cohesive, fully integrated global marketing agenda for Doritos, Cheetos...show more
Speaking on: Marketers Lunch and Learn
The Honourable Mélanie Joly
(Ahuntsic—Cartierville)
Minister of Canadian Heritage
A lawyer by training, Mélanie Joly is passionate about her city of Montréal and the power of positive politics.
Mélanie worked at two major law firms in Montréal before making the leap into communications, as a managing partner of the Montréal...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with the Honourable Mélanie Joly
In 2009 David Jowsey formed a new production company with acclaimed director Ivan Sen. BUNYA Productions is a boutique digital feature film production house based out of Sydney.
BUNYA first produced the Ivan Sen's experimental digital Sci Fi feature Dreamland. The latest feature by Ivan Sen is Toomelah selected in Un Certain...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Mystery Road
Rob Kenneally is an agent in the Television Scripted department at Creative Artists Agency, a talent and literary agency based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to representing clients in all areas of television, he is instrumental in helping clients, broadcasters, cable networks, and marketers explore new business models. His...show more
Speaking on: Winning in the War for Creative Talent; Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Anthony has worked in international sales, acquisitions and distribution for over 12 years – With experience garnered from the distribution, production and broadcast sectors.
Prior to Cineflix Rights, Anthony was Head Of Co-productions at UK terrestrial Five, VP of Sales, Acquisitions and Co-productions at National Geographic Television...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Angela Knight is the heart of the city's number one morning show, The Calgary Eyeopener, on CBC Radio One.
Knight has more than two decades of broadcasting experience. She has hosted a variety of radio shows in Dawson Creek B.C., North Battleford SK and in Calgary. She has interviewed some of...show more
Tania Koenig-Gauchier
Manager, Programming-Western Region
APTN Aboriginal People's Television Network
Bio Coming Soon...
Melanie Le Phan
Executive In Charge of Production, Digital Originals
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Mélanie Lê Phan has worked for CBC Television in both Scripted and Unscripted programming since 2013. She is currently an Executive in Charge of Production for Scripted Digital Originals, overseeing production and development of mid-length series for CBC's OTT player and of social video for the CBC Comedy feed. She...show more
Speaking on: The Mid and the Short of it
Liz Levenson is an international television executive who works with global networks, platforms, and producers to develop and distribute top-quality content around the world. With experience in creative development and global business, Liz works closely with content generators and expanding digital and linear platforms to create content and opportunities that...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Chris Linn is president, truTV. In his role, he is responsible for leading the strategic direction and core creative and business functions of the network, including the development and production of original programs and oversight of all marketing and digital initiatives as well as strategic planning for truTV. Linn is...show more
Speaking on: KICKOFF SESSION: Int'l Media Leaders - View from the Top
As Head of Original Content, Canadian Media for Blue Ant Media, Sam brings over 25 years of production expertise to the media company’s specialty television channels including Cottage Life, T+E, Makeful, Smithsonian Canada and BBC Earth Canada. In her role, Sam oversees commissioning and production of original series such as...show more
Speaking on: Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Krista Look is the Director of Original Women and Lifestyle Content for Corus Entertainment in Toronto. In this role, she is responsible for steering the original linear and digital content strategies and slates for networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, W Network and Slice.
A born leader with razor-sharp instincts...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); 30 Minutes with Lisa Godfrey & Krista Look, Corus Entertainment
With an extensive list of film credits, Ralph Macchio is best known for his celebrated performance as “Johnny” in Frances Ford Coppola’s, The Outsiders; the hit film My Cousin Vinny, costarring along with Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei; and most notably for the title role in the popular classic, The...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Cobra Kai
Shelley MacDougall
Manager of Programming - Central Region
APTN Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Michael MacMillan is co-founder and CEO of Blue Ant Media. MacMillan co-founded the company in 2011 with a vision to create and distribute content that connects audiences all over the world to their passions in life.
MacMillan co-founded Atlantis Films Limited in 1978. In its early years, Atlantis was primarily a...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with Michael MacMillan, Blue Ant Media; So You Want to Build A Global Media Business
Dan March is the founder and Managing Partner of Dynamic Television, a television co-production and distribution company focused on fostering transparent and integrated partnerships between creators, producers, and broadcasters to deliver premium drama series and prime time programming worldwide. In 2018 Dynamic will deliver more than 250 hours of new...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Eric McCormack is an award-winning actor, director, and producer, known for his role as Will Truman in the American sitcom Will & Grace and as Grant MacLaren in the hit Netflix series Travelers. Born in Toronto, McCormack began his acting career performing in high school plays. He left Ryerson University...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with Netflix
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Managing the Financial Risks of Cross Border Productions
Caitlin is Head of Acquisitions at Little Dot Studios and runs the acquisitions strategy and sources third party content for their YouTube, Facebook, OTT and SVOD channels. Over 16 channels, Caitlin acquires thousands of titles across all genres and all formats. Caitlin joined Little Dot from Beyond Distribution as where...show more
Speaking on: The Mid and the Short of it
A two-time Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominated actress Chrissy Metz stars on the critically acclaimed hit NBC series This Is Us, which has been renewed for two additional seasons. Chrissy plays Kate, a woman struggling with her weight, eating habits, and body image. ET named her as one of...show more
As Vice President of Content for Bristow Global Media Inc. (BGM), Marlo Miazga is responsible for overseeing and delivering all unscripted, factual and kids programming. Prior to joining the company in 2016, Marlo served as the co-executive producer for BGM on the CBC docudrama series, Canada: The Story of Us and before that, was co-president of...show more
Speaking on: Pivoting your Kids-Biz Business Model
Most recently as Co-President, Film, Television and Digital at Entertainment One, John jointly led the independent studio’s film, television and digital unit worldwide. With a focus on television, John oversaw the development, production, licensing, financing and worldwide distribution of live action drama and comedy series, reality and documentary series, television...show more
Speaking on: So You Want to Build A Global Media Business
Andrew Morris is a development and production executive with AMI-tv, a national English language television station that entertains, informs and empowers people of all abilities with a variety of original and acquired content, broadcast in an accessible format. With an eye for storytelling and a collaborative spirit, he oversees all...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Your Content Isn't Free - Fixing the Value Gap
16 years in the Inflight Entertainment (IFE) Industry. Programmed, acquired and negotiated content on behalf of large Global carriers. Client roster has included American, Qantas and United. Currently overseeing Programming, Strategy and Acquisitions for Air Canada.
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required)
Jeff Norton is an author, writer-producer, and founder of Awesome, a global creative content company.
Awesome is presently developing IP projects in partnership with Keshet International, OmniFilm, Cloth Cat Animation, and Warner Bros.
As a writer, Jeff’s super-natural thriller ‘Woodland,’ is in co-development with Fiction Factory Films (makers of ‘Hinterland’ for...show more
Speaking on: Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Pivoting your Kids-Biz Business Model
Lisa Opie is the Director of Factual for BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial TV production arm that creates many of the UK's most successful shows, including Planet Earth II, Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who and Top Gear.
Lisa leads BBC Studios' factual teams, working with the creative leads, production management and...show more
Speaking on: Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required); The Pull of Premium Non-Fiction
Leveraging the tremendous experience garnered through various executive positions he has held with traditional television companies like Sony Pictures Television, DIC Entertainment, Starz and RHI Entertainment over the past 30 years, it’s David Ozer’s passion for the creative process and commitment to collaboration with the authors, writers, directors, artists, actors,...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Andrew Phung is an actor, improviser, and emcee hailing from Calgary, Alberta. Andrew is currently a Senior Ensemble Improviser and Instructor at the Loose Moose Theatre Company where he's been performing since he was 16. He is an alumnus of Avenue Magazines Top 40 under 40 list and is the...show more
Speaking on: Rockie Awards Program Competition Ceremony (all delegates welcome)
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Jeremy Podeswa is an award-winning feature film and television director who has been nominated three times for the Emmy Award----for HBO’s Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and The Pacific (for which he was also nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award). He has directed for many innovative cable television...show more
Speaking on: Decoding the DNA of Hit TV
As Executive Producer International Television Series, Moritz Polter is responsible for the company’s international co-production slate. Recently named among Variety’s Top 10 Global Creatives to Watch, Moritz leads the creation, development and funding for series such as Das Boot (Sky/Sonar Entertainment), Germanized (Deutsche Telekom/Amazon Prime Video France) and Arctic Circle (Elisa Viihde/YLE).
Previously Moritz...show more
Speaking on: Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Building a Global Hit
Catherine Reitman is an actress, comedian, producer, writer and director best known for her
roles in ABC’s hit show Blackish, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and as the creator and star of
CBC’s Workin’ Moms. She was a member of the Sunday Company at the influential Groundlings
improv theatre and school in Los Angeles,...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with Kent Alterman, Comedy Central; CBC’s Breakfast of Showrunner Champions
Bio Coming Soon...
Speaking on: In Conversation with Elizabeth Vargas, A+E; Company of Distinction Session: NBCUniversal Studios Panel; Decoding the DNA of Hit TV
Sally is the Head of Scripted (Drama, Comedy and Indigenous) where she oversees the commissioning of distinctive Australian content that resonates globally. She has played an integral role in re-shaping the slate by commissioning titles that not only resonate in Australia but also attract international co-productions, such as Mystery Road...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Mystery Road; Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
As Creative Director at Red Brick Songs, Chris focuses the majority of his time on finding sync opportunities in TV, films, ads, games and elsewhere for the dynamic song catalogue represented by this ever growing indie music publishing company. Red Brick Songs-Casablanca Media represents worldwide the song catalogues of artists...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You
Created in 1982, Daro Film Distribution has grown to become one of Europe’s leading independent television distribution companies. Daro celebrated its 35th anniversary in February 2017 – quite a landmark in the television business!
Founded by Pierre-André and Monique Rochat in 1982, Daro Film Distribution now represents more than 100 production...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Moyra is an award-winning producer, entrepreneur, and media industry innovator. She
is the founder and CEO of Magnify Digital, a strategy agency specializing in products
and services that enable creators to build large and engaged audiences around their
TV, film and web content. Moyra and the Magnify team work with...show more
Speaking on: Creating a Safe Space for Kids Online
Alyse Rosenberg is an award-winning writer, producer and director. She is currently Vice-President of Development, Film and Television for Story Hawk Pictures as well as a Development Consultant for Serendipity Point Films. Prior to holding these positions Alyse was Vice-President of Television Development for Serendipity Point Films where she oversaw...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Jon Rutherford
President, Global Rights, Franchise & Content Strategy, Boat Rocker Studios
Boat Rocker Media
Following Temple Street’s 2015 expansion under the re-branded name of Boat Rocker Media,
Jon Rutherford joined the organization to build the distribution division globally across all
platforms and genres. A veteran in the media industry, Jon oversees the recently formed global
sales and acquisitions operation, Boat Rocker Rights, in addition...show more
Speaking on: Pivoting your Kids-Biz Business Model
Michael Schneider is the Executive Editor of IndieWire, Editor-at-Large of Variety, and a contributor to Los Angeles public radio station KCRW, where he hosts Screengrab, a weekly segment about the TV industry, and contributes to The Business. At IndieWire, he manages the site's growing TV coverage and also hosts Turn It...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Cobra Kai; Company of Distinction Session: NBCUniversal Networks Panel
Joseph Schneier is Discovery Channel’s Vice President of Development and Production, heading the West Coast Development team, based at the Discovery Channel offices in Los Angeles.
Schneier first joined Discovery in 2012. He has Executive Produced multiple hours for Shark Week and oversaw the hit series Alaskan ...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Ron E. Scott is an award-winning Showrunner and Director with over twenty years of industry experience. After graduating from Vancouver Film School in 1993, he founded Prairie Dog Film + Television and has since become a prominent figure in the world of independent television production. He has been involved in...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Diversity of Voices Program (by invitation only)
Rebecca Segal is the Los Angeles, California based executive for Sky Entertainment and Networks, a role she has served in for over 13 years. Rebecca works with the acquisition teams and the channel heads in the UK, Germany and Italy identifying series and other programming – at all stages -...show more
Speaking on: Building a Global Hit; Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Jennnifer Sherwood serves as FremantleMedia North America’s (FMNA) Senior Vice-President of Scripted Development. In this role, she is responsible for sourcing, developing and pitching original scripted television programming. In addition, she also identifies international programming to be successfully acquired and translated into the North American marketplace.
Sherwood is an esteemed industry...show more
Speaking on: Winning in the War for Creative Talent
Originally from Canada, and a former lawyer, David Shore has been writing and producing television for more than 20 years. He currently serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner on the hit ABC drama The Good Doctor. Prior to that, he created the groundbreaking medical drama, House, which ran on Fox...show more
Speaking on: Decoding the DNA of Hit TV
Luis Silberwasser is President of Telemundo Network. He has overall responsibility for the Telemundo broadcast network and the cable channel Universo.
Over the course of his career, Silberwasser has acquired a deep understanding of the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets, while building global brands and developing and producing extremely successful...show more
Speaking on: Company of Distinction Session: NBCUniversal Networks Panel
Dave Silverstein serves as General Manager and SVP, SMOSH where he leads strategic planning, business operations, and programming strategy for the global comedy brand.
Dave oversees the brand’s multi-faceted enterprise, which counts a 40MM+ cross-platform audience. The SMOSH brand extends across multiple record-setting owned and operated digital channels, and a highly...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Greer Simpkin joined Bunya Productions as Producer and Head of Television in March 2015 after many years working in editorial and production roles in broadcasting - ABC (Australia) and Channel 4 (UK). Since joining Bunya, Greer has produced the television drama seriesMystery Road, the award winning feature filmsSweet Country(directed by...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Mystery Road
In February, 2017, Soumya Sriraman was appointed North America President, BritBox, a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of BBC, and ITV, the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster.
Sriraman is responsible for the overall strategy and operation of BritBox, with a focus on bringing the best British content to the...show more
Speaking on: Working Together To Stand Apart: The New Realities Of Multi-partner Projects
Carlyn Staudt is EVP, Love Nature programming and development at Blue Ant Media. She is responsible for leading the global programming strategy of Love Nature’s linear and streaming video platforms internationally, with the exception of North America. Her role also includes commissioning original content to grow the brand’s extensive library...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required); Building a Global Hit
Adam Steinman served as Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales from October 2010 until October 2016 and in November 2016 was promoted to Vice President, Creative, Format, Development & Sales at Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP), where scripted formats have been added to his remit.
In this position, Steinman...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Format Innovators: Building the Next Big Thing
Richard is responsible for the global content offering at Wavemaker, bringing together over 750
experts from around the world to offer bespoke content solutions for clients. He has a diverse
background across media and advertising, having worked in both full service and media owner
roles in the UK, setting up digital and content...show more
Speaking on: Integrating Brands into the Content Ecosystem; Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Igal Svet is Senior Director, Development for the National Geographic Channel. Based in New York, Svet is responsible for ideation and development of original premium content for the global channel.
Svet is the main point of contact with the production community in New York and has been at the forefront of...show more
Speaking on: The Pull of Premium Non-Fiction; 30 Minutes with Igal Svet, National Geographic
Larry Tanz is Vice President, Global Television at Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service. Tanz is responsible for acquiring content from independent studios and producers, globally. Recent highlights of his team’s work include shows like El Chapo, Fauda, and Castlevania. Tanz previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Michael...show more
Speaking on: In Conversation with Netflix
Shelly Tatro is Senior Vice President of Development & Programming for A&E Network, a role she assumed in 2014. Tatro is responsible for the development and production of A&E’s nonfiction, alternative and reality series. Her current programs include the mega-hit Live PD, Cultureshock, Undercover High, 60 Days In, Nightwatch, Grace...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required); Crime Pays, And Everyone’s Buying
Karen Tsang is Executive in Charge of Production, Comedy for CBC Scripted Content, overseeing the creative development and production of original half-hour television series, such as Baroness Von Sketch Show, Mr. D, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, as well as digital series, including My 90-Year-Old Roommate and How To Buy...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Josh Van Houdt is the VP, Original Co-Productions for SYFY channel in the US, where he works on both original series and movies for the channel. His current slate includes Wynonna Earp and Z Nation on the series side, and on the movie side, his focus is reboots of classic...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required); Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required); Wynonna Earp: Behind the scenes with a modern cult classic (Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A)
Alyson is the VP of Brand Partnerships at Bell Media focusing on delivering custom creative
content solutions across many of Canada’s leading media properties and platforms. Alyson has
extensive experience in sales and marketing, sponsorship, content strategy, broadcast and digital
media and production.
In her previous role, Alyson led the network...show more
Speaking on: Integrating Brands into the Content Ecosystem
Moira Walley-Beckett is a multiple award winning screenwriter. She is currently
the Series Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer of the CBC/Netflix drama
Anne (with an E), which recently won Best Drama Series at 2018 Canadian
Screen Awards, leading the ceremony with thirteen nominations.
Moira also created Flesh and Bone, a critically...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Anne
Jesse Wente
Outgoing Co-Executive Director Indigenous Screen Office
Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office
Jesse Wente is an Ojibwe writer, broadcaster, producer and speaker. Born and raised in Toronto, his family hails from Chicago and the Serpent River First Nation. Jesse is best known for his 22 years as a columnist for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning, Jesse spent 11 years with the Toronto International...show more
Speaking on: BANFF Master Class Series: Mystery Road
Barbara Williams is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Corus Entertainment Inc., where she oversees all strategic and operational aspects of Corus’ content across conventional and specialty television, Nelvana, digital, and radio properties.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Williams served as Shaw Media’s President, overseeing...show more
Speaking on: Company of Distinction Keynote: Kevin MacLellan, Chairman, Global Distribution and International, NBCUniversal; KICKOFF SESSION: Int'l Media Leaders - View from the Top
Justina Hemperek is Head of Acquisitions at Beyond Distribution and leads the company’s acquisition and pre-sales activity. She has extensive experience in factual programming and was previously Director of Acquisitions - UK, Europe and Australia, International Distribution at entertainment One (eOne). Prior to eOne, Hemperek held a similar role at ITV Studios Global...show more
Speaking on: Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required); Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Steve oversees all programming for OTT video products and related platforms. This includes more than 1,500 hours of exclusive digital originals and over 25,000 hours of live and linear television content from over 100 partners, such as WBDN, NBA, NFL, Viacom, AwesomenessTV, Complex, and many others. We recently won the...show more
Speaking on: Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required); The Mid and the Short of it
Two-time JUNO Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Hawksley Workman is a staple of the Canadian music and arts scene. He boasts a catalogue of 16 solo releases, and a touring career that has seen him play over a thousand shows, headlining prestigious venues like Massey Hall in Toronto and The Olympia in...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You
Kevin Wright is a dynamic speaker with thirty years’ experience in screen-based media. He has commissioned over sixty television series and heard hundreds of pitches. His workshop helps people convey their ideas in a concise and persuasive manner by providing tips and secrets from the Decision Maker’s Perspective.
Whether it’s a...show more
Speaking on: Banff 101: How to Deliver the Optimal Pitch
John Young was born and raised in Loch Lomond, Scotland and graduated with honours from the Law School at the University of Dundee. He also received a Diploma in Legal Practice from Glasgow University.
Mr. Young is the Chief Executive Officer of Boat Rocker Media, a global entertainment...show more
Speaking on: So You Want to Build A Global Media Business
James Younger is Executive Vice President of Factual Productions at Revelations Entertainment, Morgan
Freeman and Lori McCreary's production company. James is a documentary director, showrunner and
executive producer with four Emmy nominations, specializing in turning factual themes into
entertaining, compelling, and thought-provoking stories.
Together at Revelations, Morgan, Lori and James...show more
Speaking on: The Pull of Premium Non-Fiction
Extraordinary talent can sometimes lead to an extraordinary life. Camille Poliquin was discovered on the Quebec music scene when she sang backing vocals on David Giguère and Jason Bajada’s albums. In 2012, she proved she had much more to offer than a pretty voice when she wrote her first songs...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You
Zanski is the all-encompassing alias of the Toronto vocalist and producer, Tom Probizanski. An artist who quickly made waves upon entering the music scene in early 2017 with the release of his Collapse EP, Zanski weaves electronically laced R&B with the infectious sounds of guitar and striking falsettos. Zanski released...show more
Speaking on: Partner Presentation: Inside The Song - Making Music Work For You
