Registration Open 8:00AM - 8:00PM (Curio Foyer)
8:00 AM-8:30 AM

New to BANFF Tour
Cascade
10:30 AM-11:30 AM

Informal tours designed to help you make the most of BANFF. Our team members will guide you through the festival features that'll help you meet your business goals. Drop in only. No advance sign-up required

30 Minutes With... Patrick Connolly, AMC / SundanceTV Global
Ivor Petrak
12:30 PM-1:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Deliver the Optimal Pitch
Cascade
1:00 PM-2:00 PM

Join Kevin Wright for a customized version of his Optimal Pitch workshop, designed to help emerging and established producers alike nail their big pitch. Wright will outline his approach to pitching, including how to dazzle your audience in the first few seconds. A career broadcaster who has heard thousands of pitches, Wright’s insider tips will help you refine your pitch before you embark on your BANFF experience.  

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Netflix
Ivor Petrak
1:30 PM-2:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Rockies Nominee Meet-up
Ivor Petrak
2:30 PM-3:00 PM

Just ahead of the official Festival opening, meet fellow Rockie Award Nominees from the International Program Competition, including awards show host, Juno Rinaldi. Kick-off your BANFF40 experience gathered among some of the world's finest creators

Speaking

Festival Opening Remarks
Cascade
3:15 PM-3:45 PM

Join us for a lineup of special guests who will help us open the 40th anniversary of the Banff World Media Festival.

Speaking

The BANFF DEBATE: Media, Creativity and Technology: Thriving Ecosystem or Future Monoculture?
Cascade
3:45 PM-5:00 PM

The media world sits at an unprecedented precipice, where international and local players compete for the attention of the global populace. As this evolution continues, what are the implications for all players? What does this mean for creator opportunities and consumer choice? How will domestic culture mandates be affected? Are local-only business models viable in a globalized industry?

In opening the 40th anniversary of BANFF, we ask the big question: does the intersection of media, creativity and technology create unprecedented opportunity and ability to reach new audiences, or will the future hold  a TV monoculture in which only a few companies dominate the global market? 

Speaking

SUMMIT SERIES: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Quibi
Cascade
5:00 PM-6:00 PM

One of the entertainment industry’s most venerable executives, Jeffrey Katzenberg has been impressing and intriguing peers and competitors alike for over 40 years. His latest endeavour has all eyes on him once again, as he and his team launch Quibi, the first major entertainment platform purpose-built for high-quality mobile programming. Join BANFF in welcoming Katzenberg to the legendary Cascade Room main stage, where he will discuss the future of entertainment and how Quibi and its parent company, WndrCo, will help shape it. Along the way, he’ll share anecdotes from his stellar career, which has seen him at the helm of Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Studios and DreamWorks SKG and more.

Speaking

CBC/Radio-Canada Opening Reception
6:00 PM-8:00 PM

CBC/Radio-Canada welcomes you to their opening reception. Meet new business partners and reunite with old friends and contacts from around the world over hor d’oeuvres. Enjoy hand-selected wines and locally brewed beers at the annual Festival kick-off.

Registration Open 7:30AM - 6:00PM (Curio Foyer)
7:30 AM-8:00 AM

CBC/ Radio-Canada's Breakfast of Champions
8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Join us for breakfast with guest speaker Catherine Tait, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada - a true champion of Canadian culture.

Speaking

Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Castello
8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Back for 2019, 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 request one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on  BANFFXchange. Limited spaces may be available on-site. Check in at Castello up to 30 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin.

General sign-up opens on BANFFXchange Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes Friday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

SUMMIT SERIES: Paula Kerger, PBS
Cascade
9:00 AM-10:00 AM

Leading a public broadcaster is no easy feat. Juggling the dual mandates of public service and non-profit enterprise, a successful leader must have a unique toolbox of skills and strategic savvy. Clearly, as the longest-serving president and CEO of PBS in its history, Paula Kerger has all of this in spades. PBS is a behemoth public broadcaster, with nearly 350 member stations in the U.S. and an avid viewership that has propelled it to the #6 network in America under her tenure. As one of BANFF’s featured Summit Series speakers, Kerger brings her unparalleled experience to the historic Cascade Room main stage, sharing insights and anecdotes from her time at PBS and her vision for its place in the media landscape going forward.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Jeff Hersh, Crave
Ivor Petrak
9:00 AM-9:30 AM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Master Class: Burden of Truth
Cascade
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

While Burden of Truth’s gritty storylines and charismatic cast have attracted an avid fan-base and critical favor, its behind-the-scenes story is equally compelling. This series brings together a pan-Canadian production team that includes Entertainment One (eOne), ICF Films and Eagle Vision. And it has found equal traction on both sides of the border, with significantly different target audiences: CBC’s diverse national audience and CW’s younger, American skew.  

Speaking

Navigating the Content Business: Future Forecast
Alberta
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Mega-mergers, new platforms with infinite spending power and an increasingly fragmented viewing environment. The future landscape is coming more clearly into focus. Is scale the only way to thrive in the new ecosystem? Or can regional and independent models still be sustainable? Join our panel of media leaders as they dive into the big topics that will shape the business for the years to come.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Athena Georgaklis, Nelvana
Ivor Petrak
10:00 AM-10:30 AM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Face-to-Face Meetings #1 (sign up required)
Alhambra
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Face-to-Face Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content producers to meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, this is your opportunity to connect 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, this program has facilitated thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in new content.

Speaking

Networking Break
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming.

30 Minutes With... Ben Noot, National Geographic
Ivor Petrak
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

SUMMIT SERIES: Sarah Barnett, AMC Entertainment Networks
Cascade
11:30 AM-12:30 PM

One of America’s leading television executives, Sarah Barnett oversees AMC, BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV and AMC Premiere as President of AMC’s Entertainment Networks. Previously, she  was president and GM of BBC AMERICA and under her watch, the brand rose to prominence as a programming powerhouse, with award-winning and critically-acclaimed hits like Orphan Black, Planet Earth and Killing Eve. A specialist in entertainment marketing and branding, Barnett also led a rebirth of SundanceTV starting in 2009, when she launched the network’s scripted strategy with critical hits like Top of the Lake, Rectify and The Honorable Woman. Join us to get the scoop on Barnett’s bold vision for the portfolio of networks that is home to some of TV’s biggest shows. 

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Timothy Kuryak, UPtv
Ivor Petrak
12:00 PM-12:30 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Networking Break
12:30 PM-1:30 PM

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming.

Lunch and Learn: Hidden revenue sources through music
Alberta
12:30 PM-1:30 PM

Come join this lunch and learn hosted by the Canadian Music Publishers Association. Featuring a case study of the massively successful Paw Patrol, demonstrating how, when correctly managed, music rights can add ancillary, ongoing revenue streams. It all begins with planning for the long term play. Guest speakers include Jodie Ferneyhough, CCS Rights Management, Composers Brian Pickett and Graeme Cornies from Voodoo Highway Music and Post, moderated by Deb Day, Innovate By Day with a special performance by artist Reeny Smith.

Space is limited; open to all delegates.

Speaking

Marketers Lunch and Learn (sign up required) in Norquay
Alhambra
12:30 PM-1:30 PM

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 at each table. Limited spaces may be available on-site. Check in at Norquay up to 30 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin.

General sign-up opens on BANFFXchange Tuesday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m. ET and closes Friday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Castello
12:30 PM-1:30 PM

Back for 2019, 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 request one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on  BANFFXchange. Limited spaces may be available on-site. Check in at Castello up to 30 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin.

General sign-up opens on BANFFXchange Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes Friday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

In Conversation With: Jed Mercurio (Bodyguard, Line of Duty)
Cascade
1:30 PM-2:30 PM

Join us for an exclusive conversation with BAFTA nominee Jed Mercurio, creator and showrunner of recent blockbuster dramas Bodyguard and Line of Duty. The prolific showrunner’s programming has been breaking records across the UK. The finale for BBC One’s Bodyguard became the UK’s most-watched episode of any drama series across all channels since current records began in 2002 last fall, and the season five premiere of Line of Duty was the most-watched program of 2019 across all channels when it bowed in March. Hear Mercurio discuss his work, his view on the industry and his future plans.

Speaking

Public Broadcasting: The Promise, The Peril
New Brunswick
1:30 PM-2:30 PM

Public broadcasters occupy a unique place in the media universe: protected on one level by public mandate but vulnerable on the other to capitalistic forces and government whims. So what are the key strategies public broadcasters are using to not only survive in today’s ultra-competitive media marketplace, but thrive both creatively and commercially? Join the leaders of international public broadcasters at BANFF to find out how the role of the modern public broadcaster is being reshaped in the midst of industry upheaval.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Brenda Bisner, Kidoodle.tv
Ivor Petrak
1:30 PM-2:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Face-to-Face Meetings #2 (sign up required)
Alhambra
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Face-to-Face Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content producers to meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, this is your opportunity to connect 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, this program has facilitated thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in new content.

Speaking

In Conversation With: Fenton Bailey (Co-Founder, World of Wonder – Executive Producer, RuPaul’s Drag Race)
Cascade
2:30 PM-3:00 PM

Sashay over to Cascade for an exclusive conversation with Fenton Bailey, Co-Founder of World of Wonder, the Emmy award-winning production company behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, the Million Dollar Listing franchise, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, and over 20 years of ground-breaking content. Trailblazers in Hollywood, Bailey and World of Wonder has long given a voice to outsiders and marginalized communities. Their revolutionary TV series, RuPaul’s Drag Race, received 12 Emmy Award nominations and six wins in 2018. In its 11th season, it continues to break ratings records and dominate the pop culture landscape. World of Wonder has produced projects in the last year for ABC, VH1, Fox, Netflix, Bravo, AMC Networks and more, as well as produced new original series for their owned-and-operated SVOD, WOW Presents Plus, available in every territory worldwide. Film festival veterans, World of Wonder’s Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts will premiere at Tribeca this month. In addition to their vast library of television and film projects currently airing and in development, World of Wonder’s robust direct-to-consumer offerings include the world’s largest bi-coastal drag convention RuPaul’s DragCon, a flagship storefront on Hollywood Blvd, and a subscription box.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Christine Maestracci, Quebecor
Ivor Petrak
2:30 PM-3:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Networking Break
3:00 PM-3:15 PM

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming.

BANFF / Bell Fund Western Provinces Roundtable *Invite only* (Norquay Room)
Norquay
3:00 PM-4:30 PM

BANFF is proud to partner with Bell Fund, AMPIA, SMPIA and On Screen Manitoba on a private roundtable opportunity, which will offer select producers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba the opportunity to meet and engage with key players operating in the short-form digital space. This session is invite-only.

Distributors and Commissioning: The New Greenlight
Alberta
3:15 PM-4:15 PM

When it comes to putting shows together, where is the money coming from? In today’s complex and fractured media landscape, distributors continue to play an increasingly important role, in some cases funding entire productions. Join us for an executive conversation about financing, the development process, the shifting rights game, speed to market and other distribution trends shaping the business.  

Speaking

Partner Presentation: Doing Business With Canada: Co-Pro 101
New Brunswick
3:15 PM-4:15 PM

Canada is one of the leading coproduction partners in the world and is well known for its Co-Production expertise.   This session co-hosted by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund is for delegates interested in coproduction who want to know how to get started.  It will provide an overview of some of the tools, programs and resources available in Canada.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Anna Gecan, Audible
Ivor Petrak
3:30 PM-4:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Rockie Awards International Program Competition Ceremony (Van Horne Ballroom)
4:30 PM-5:45 PM

Announcing the winners! In this first of two Rockie Award shows, BANFF’s flagship International Program Competition celebrates excellence in television and digital content from around the world. Welcoming participants from more than 45 countries annually and juried by an esteemed panel of 150 international industry professionals, the Rockie Awards is one of the world’s largest program competitions of its kind. Congratulate the nominees and winners with a celebratory cocktail immediately following the show!

All BANFF delegates are invited to the 2019 Rockie Awards. Seating is first-come, first-served. Attire: Business casual.

*The 2019 Rockie Awards International Program Competition takes place in the Van Horne Ballroom, located on the conference side of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel*

Speaking

Rockie Awards International Program Competition—Cocktail Celebration (Van Horne Foyer)
5:45 PM-6:45 PM

Sing the praises of all the International Program Competition’s nominees and winners at the Canadian Music Publishers Association celebration cocktail. Enjoy complimentary libations, mix and mingle, honouring this year’s great achievements in television and digital content.

All BANFF delegates welcome. Attire: Business casual.

BANFF 40th Anniversary BBQ Party (8:30 pm to 1:30 am)
8:30 PM-9:00 PM

Break out your blue jeans, plaid shirt, cowboy boots and hat to join all registered BANFF delegates for a late-night bash at the amazing Mount View ranch, overlooking the majestic Rockies. Entertainment includes a live band and a DJ, western themed food and refreshments set in unique roundhouses (aka donuts) built around a massive bonfire.

Buses will depart for Mount View BBQ starting at 8:30 pm from the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. There will be a second pick up location downtown at the commercial parking lot behind the Mount Royal Hotel (the Corner of Beaver Street and Caribou Street). Buses will run continuously on a loop every 10 minutes from 8:30 pm until 1:30 am.

Registration Open 7:30AM-6:00PM (Curio Foyer)
7:30 AM-8:00 AM

Breakfast with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Castello
8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Back for 2019, 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 request one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on  BANFFXchange. Limited spaces may be available on-site. Check in at Castello up to 30 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin.

General sign-up opens on BANFFXchange Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes Friday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

Master Class: Dear White People
Cascade
9:30 AM-10:30 AM

Dear White People’s provocative title has graced many Twitter feeds, a feature film, a scripted series that is going into its third season on Netflix, and now, the historic Cascade main stage at the Banff World Media Festival. This is a series with something to say and creative talent that transcends the screen, transforming the show into a brand. Panelists dig deep on what makes Lionsgate’s Dear White People work with Netflix’s global audience and how it stays atop the ever-evolving cultural conversation in America.

Speaking

La place du contenu francophone dans le marché mondial numérique
Alberta
9:30 AM-10:30 AM

Le français est la 5e langue la plus parlée au monde, avec plus de 300 millions de locuteurs et constitue la 4e langue de l’internet, derrière l’anglais, le chinois et l’espagnol. Les SVOD (principalement américains) accaparent une part grandissante des auditoires francophones et les diffuseurs francophones doivent s’adapter à l’environnement numérique actuel. Comment les diffuseurs francophones comptent-ils se positionner en réponse à ces services Comment ce phénomène influencera-t-il le mandat des chaînes francophones. Quel impact a-t-il déjà sur leur ligne éditoriale et les contenus recherchés pour attirer les auditoires francophones?

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Jonathan Sinclair, OWN
Ivor Petrak
9:30 AM-10:00 AM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Face-to-Face Meetings #3 (sign up required)
Alhambra
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Face-to-Face Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content producers to meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, this is your opportunity to connect 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, this program has facilitated thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in new content.

Lottery selection opened on BANFFXchange on Friday May 3rd at 12:00 p.m. ET, and the Lottery results were run on Friday, May 10th.

General sign-up opened on BANFFXchange on Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes on Friday, June 7th at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

Networking Break
10:30 AM-11:00 AM

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming.

Partner Presentation: CMF Key Trends Report
New Brunswick
10:30 AM-11:00 AM

Catherine Mathys, Director of Industry and Market Trends at the Canada Media Fund (CMF), will present the 2019 edition of the CMF’s trends report titled “Hold My Hand.” The year 2018 was marked by the evolution of how we relate to technology through a diverse range of events, leading to experimentation and new ways of creating and distributing content. . This presentation will emphasize the development of the Canadian industry and a trend analysis divided into four chapters: Technology and innovation, Media consumption, Evolving business models, and Markets and competition.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Alia J. Daniels, Revry
Ivor Petrak
10:30 AM-11:00 AM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

SUMMIT SERIES: Paul Feig, director, producer, screenwriter and activist
Cascade
11:00 AM-12:00 PM

“I’m never looking for strong female characters, because I don’t like that term,” Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids”, “Ghostbusters: ATC”, The Office) told the U.K.’s Independent in 2018. “It feels two-dimensional. I like women who are strong and weak and funny and vulnerable and scared.” Feig was speaking to his most recent feature, “A Simple Favor,” but his views on the subject are ones that have shaped an entire career, from his cult hit Freaks and Geeks to his most recent indie venture, Powderkeg, which aims to amplify the careers of creatives from underrepresented backgrounds in entertainment. Feig is a singular personality in the entertainment business: a wildly successful producer-director beloved by cult fandoms and mainstream audiences alike, a powerful activist for diverse voices and a sartorial icon. Join Feig on BANFF’s historic main stage for an unforgettable conversation on a career that continues to awe and inspire.

Speaking

Master Class: BBC's Seven Worlds, One Planet
Alberta
11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Produced by BBC Studios world-renowned Natural History Unit, Seven Worlds, One Planet is a brand new, ambitious landmark series for BBC One, presented by Sir David Attenborough. Each one-hour episode will transport viewers to a single continent and tell the story of its spectacular wildlife and iconic landscapes. BANFF is proud to present a North American first-look of Seven Worlds, One Planet. Join BBC Studios, BBC America and BANFF for a Master Class in bringing this epic series to life, in which we’ll get an in-depth look at how the BBC and its partners transport viewers around the world in seven spectacular episodes.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Sam Linton, Blue Ant Media
Ivor Petrak
11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Major Drama: TV in the Cultural Conversation
Alberta
12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Sometimes it’s easy to wonder: where does TV drama end and real life begin? Headlines bleed onto screen and scripts seem to infiltrate real life. Somewhere in the middle is a vibrant cultural conversation about the role of scripted entertainment in society today. Can or does drama shape the cultural conversation, or merely reflect it? How do creators view their responsibility in wielding the influence of mass media? Does drama adeptly speak to wide audiences or does it reflect a “coastal” view of America/the West? Our crack panel of creators, execs and media experts explores what TV means in the big picture of it all.

Speaking

The New Must-Have TV: Kids Live Action
New Brunswick
12:00 PM-1:00 PM

As the number of globally available streamers grows, so too has awareness that a robust kids and family offering is a must-have to compete for household subscription dollars. What are the hot trends capturing the attention of commissioners and what is old news? What are the need-to-knows about working in the genre? What’s it like working with teen and tween talent?!? And most critically: what makes a kids live-action show the stuff Emmy voters and M&L lawyers drool over versus one that’s just good?

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Trish Williams, CBC
Ivor Petrak
12:30 PM-1:00 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Lunch with a Decision Maker (sign up required)
Castello
12:30 PM-1:30 PM

Back for 2019, 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 request one (1) Breakfast/Lunch with a Decision Maker, which will be available through our general sign-up on  BANFFXchange. Limited spaces may be available on-site. Check in at Castello up to 30 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin

General sign-up opens on BANFFXchange Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes Friday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

Networking Break
1:00 PM-2:00 PM

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming.

Showrunner Super Panel
Alberta
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Creators and showrunners in smaller markets around the world are all facing the same issue. Can you afford to work in your home market and contribute to its vibrancy when so much of the work and opportunity lie elsewhere? What lessons have high-profile expats learned? Where does our panel see the opportunities of the future as the content market continues to globalize? This discussion will feature some of the industry’s top talents, from shows including Community, Orange is the New Black, The Killing, Private Eyes, Whiskey Cavalier and Anne with an E, examining topics of creativity, geography and market.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Amy Emmerich, Refinery29
Ivor Petrak
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Face-to-Face Meetings #4 (sign up required)
Alhambra
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Face-to-Face Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content producers to meet one-on-one with leading decision makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, this is your opportunity to connect 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, this program has facilitated thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in new content.

Lottery selection opened on BANFFXchange on Friday May 3rd at 12:00 p.m. ET, and the Lottery results were run on Friday, May 10th.

General sign-up opened on BANFFXchange on Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes on Friday, June 7th at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Speaking

Networking Break
3:00 PM-3:30 PM

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow delegates and refocus for another great slate of BANFF programming.

30 Minutes With... Rachel Nelson, Corus Entertainment
Ivor Petrak
3:00 PM-3:30 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Master Class: The Explosive Impact of Surviving R. Kelly
Cascade
3:30 PM-4:30 PM

Lifetime’s 2019 docuseries Surviving R. Kelly has gone beyond the realm of high-impact television and become a catalyst for societal change and justice. The Banff World Media Festival is honoured to host the team that brought the painful story into the light. Join survivor and author Kitti Jones, EP and Lifetime SVP Brie Miranda Bryant and EPs dream hampton and Tamra Simmons for a deep and insightful conversation about the development and production of the six-part series and its explosive after-effects.

Speaking

Why, eh? Clicking with YA audiences
Alberta
3:30 PM-4:30 PM

Today’s Young Adult fiction has evolved from its explosion into the spotlight over a decade ago, on screen, on the page and everywhere in between. This panel will explore the state of YA today and its robust ecosystem between books and screen with perspectives from publishers, agents, writers and producers. They will dissect the latest properties to cross mediums and reach mass audiences, how to spot IP with the potential to do so, the profile of YA audiences and the intersections that join them (i.e. between adults and late-teens), producing and writing content that can easily travel across mediums and borders, and how to find the right partners with expertise in the space.

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Molly Harrington, CNN
Ivor Petrak
4:00 PM-4:30 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Shaw Rocket Fund Kids Entertainment Cocktail
Upper Rundle
4:30 PM-5:30 PM

The kids and 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.

Master Class: Brick by Brick, How Scott Brothers Global was Built
Cascade
4:30 PM-5:30 PM

Jonathan and Drew Scott are two of Canada’s most famous entertainment exports, not only known around the world for their lifestyle series, but as celebrities in their own right. Meanwhile, not-so-quietly behind the scenes, a global empire has been taking shape. Scott Brothers Global is a lifestyle enterprise that encapsulates four separate lines of business spanning entertainment, retail, furniture and more, all built on the Scott Brothers brand. Join us to discover how a single unscripted series turned into a multi-million dollar business that maintains its Canadian roots in a globalized media business.     

Speaking

Making or Breaking the Modern Coproduction
Alberta
4:30 PM-5:30 PM

Co-production has become the rule, not the exception in creating high-end series. This panel will examine four perspectives on co-production, offering insights on key benefits, the victories and the challenges. What lessons have they learned along the way?

Speaking

30 Minutes With... Meghan Hooper, A+E Networks
Ivor Petrak
5:00 PM-5:30 PM

Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A and connect through meet-and-greets. No advance sign-up required.  Space will be filled on site, on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Speaking

Rockie Awards Gala - Cocktail Reception (Van Horne Foyer)
5:45 PM-6:45 PM

Red Carpet, cocktails and canapés!  Enjoy this celebratory mix-and-mingler in anticipation of BANFF’s signature Rockie Awards Gala.

All BANFF delegates are welcome. Attire: Cocktail.

Rockie Awards Gala Ceremony (Van Horne Ballroom)
7:00 PM-8:30 PM

Celebrate in style at BANFF’s signature Rockie Awards Gala. This 40-year legacy recognizes the achievements of outstanding talent and executives from around the world. Happy anniversary, BANFF!

All BANFF delegates are welcome to the 2019 Rockie Awards. Seating is first-come, first-served. Attire: Cocktail.

*The 2019 Rockie Awards Gala takes place in the Van Horne Ballroom, located on the conference side of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel*

Speaking

Registration Open 8:00 AM-1:00 PM (Curio Foyer)
8:00 AM-8:30 AM

Wake Up with The Wit
Cascade
9:30 AM-10:30 AM

Grab your morning coffee and join us for an exclusive tour of the latest insights and analysis on global programming. Virginia Mouseler, CEO of The Wit takes the BANFF stage bringing her trademark in depth look into worldwide audiences and content trends. From what's big in Japan, to sleeper hits in the UK, to the hottest shows in Europe and around the world, this session will leave you inspired and armed with an in-depth understanding of the current international market and the info you need to advance your content development strategy or grow your business' global footprint.

  

Speaking

In Conversation With: Bill Hader and HBO EVP of Programming, Amy Gravitt
Cascade
10:30 AM-11:30 AM

Join this year’s Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award honoree, Bill Hader and HBO's Amy Gravitt for a candid conversation on all things comedy. Master of impressions and iconic characters on Saturday Night Live, Hader is also a creator, director, writer, producer and star of HBO’s award-winning Barry. In 2016, Gravitt was named EVP of Programming at HBO, overseeing the development and production of original comedy series.  Along with current shows that include Barry, VEEP, Insecure and Silicon Valley, she oversees upcoming comedy series The Righteous Gemstones and Avenue 5.

Speaking

Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Program
Cascade
11:30 AM-1:00 PM

This curated panel is designed to provide insight, information and inspiration to the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative experience. With presentations from some of the television industry’s brightest minds, the program will take delegates through the nuts and bolts of building international partnerships, financing plans, and how to apply humanistic best practices to storytelling. Both emerging, and established, participants will walk away with useful tools to move their projects forward.

Speaking