2021 Agenda

Please note all times are in Eastern Time (ET)

More content to be announced!

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Chatrooms

Tuesday, June 15

1:00pm

Chatroom: Matchmaker - Writers and Directors seeking Producers (1:00pm - 2:00pm)

*Marketplace Pass exclusive 

Join our hosts for small group conversations about important topics facing today’s industry and make meaningful industry connections.

Invited guests will be hosting tables to kick off conversations, but all BANFF Marketplace Passholders are welcome to attend.

No sign-up is required for these small group meetings, which are hosted in AirMeet.

To enter the Chatroom, follow these simple steps:

  1. Be on a LAPTOP or a DESKTOP COMPUTER (the lounge platform does not offer all interactive features on a mobile device) 

  2. Use GOOGLE CHROME Browser 

  3. High Speed Internet connection offers the best experience

  4. Click on the Enter button below (this button appears on this page during the posted Chatroom session times)

  5. Allow camera and microphone access on your computer  

  6. Provide your credentials/register with the Airmeet lounge platform.
    Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the Banff World Media Festival event, so that the system recognizes you as an approved Marketplace passholder. 

Enter “the venue” (and follow prompts from there)

Featuring:

Rebecca Gibson

Partner

Eagle Vision

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Becca Kinskey

Vice President, Long Form Programming

Funny Or Die

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Carrie Mudd

President

Peacock Alley Entertainment

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Dave Padbury

Development Executive

Guru Studio

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Marly Reed

Vice President, Development

NESHAMA Entertainment

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Joy Rosen

CEO & Co-Founder

Portfolio Entertainment Inc.

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Chris Wagner

CEO, Founder, Executive Producer

White Label Productions

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Wednesday, June 16

1:00pm

Chatroom: Producer Life (1:00pm - 2:00pm)

*Marketplace Pass exclusive 

Join our hosts for small group conversations about important topics facing today’s industry and make meaningful industry connections.

Invited guests will be hosting tables to kick off conversations, but all BANFF Marketplace Passholders are welcome to attend.

No sign-up is required for these small group meetings, which are hosted in AirMeet. 

Strategize your pitch: Ready to put your pitch together? Arm yourself with tips and tricks to maximize its impact.

Host: Melissa Williamson

Broadcast partners: Get the inside scoop on what to expect from working with a broadcast partner.

Host: Susan Alexander

From pitch to production: Explore the ins and outs of taking your project from the pitching stage through to the first day on set.

Host: Matt Faulknor 

Sustainable production: Practical solutions to make your set more environmentally responsible.

Host: Jennifer Sandoval

International publicity: Reaching global audiences can seem daunting at first. Here’s how you can use publicity to make your mark internationally.

Host: Judy Lung

Getting to greenlight: What does it take to get the commission? Let’s break it down. 

Host: David Beckett Padbury

Finding co-pro partners: Explore the world of co-production partnerships and how to make the best match for you and your project. 

Host: Rose Hughes

Banking Relationships: Strategies for building a banking relationship to suit your business banking and production financing needs. 

Host: Edgar Groom & Michael Steinberg

To enter the Chatroom, follow these simple steps:

  1. Be on a LAPTOP or a DESKTOP COMPUTER (the lounge platform does not offer all interactive features on a mobile device) 

  2. Use GOOGLE CHROME Browser 

  3. High Speed Internet connection offers the best experience

  4. Click on the Enter button below (this button appears on this page during the posted Chatroom session times)

  5. Allow camera and microphone access on your computer  

  6. Provide your credentials/register with the Airmeet lounge platform.
    Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the Banff World Media Festival event, so that the system recognizes you as an approved Marketplace passholder.

  7. Enter “the venue” (and follow prompts from there)

Featuring:

Susan Alexander

Production Executive, Original Content, Scripted

Corus Entertainment Inc

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Matt Faulknor

Senior Development Producer

Saloon Media

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Edgar Groom

Senior Account Manager

National Bank of Canada

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Rose Hughes

Vice President, Sales, UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

Keshet International

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Judy Lung

Vice President, Communications & Marketing

Touchwood PR

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Dave Padbury

Development Executive

Guru Studio

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Jennifer Sandoval

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainable Film Productions

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Michael Steinberg

Senior Account Manager

National Bank of Canada

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Melissa Williamson

SVP, Scripted Content

Saloon Media

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Thursday, June 17

11:00am

Chatroom: Matchmaker - Producers seeking Distributors (11:00am - 12:00pm)

*Marketplace Pass exclusive 

Join our hosts for small group conversations about important topics facing today’s industry and make meaningful industry connections.

Invited guests will be hosting tables to kick off conversations, but all BANFF Marketplace Passholders are welcome to attend.

No sign-up is required for these small group meetings, which are hosted in AirMeet.

 

To enter the Chatroom, follow these simple steps:

  1. Be on a LAPTOP or a DESKTOP COMPUTER (the lounge platform does not offer all interactive features on a mobile device) 

  2. Use GOOGLE CHROME Browser 

  3. High Speed Internet connection offers the best experience

  4. Click on the Enter button below (this button appears on this page during the posted Chatroom session times)

  5. Allow camera and microphone access on your computer  

  6. Provide your credentials/register with the Airmeet lounge platform.
    Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the Banff World Media Festival event, so that the system recognizes you as an approved Marketplace passholder. 

  7. Enter “the venue” (and follow prompts from there)

Featuring:

Harriet Allen

Commercial Executive, Non-Scripted

All3Media International

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Rebecca Barnett

Commercial Manager–Unscripted

BBC Studios

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Felicia Litovitz

VP, Acquisitions, North America

Cineflix Productions Inc.

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Will Stapley

Head of Acquisitions

TVF International

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Liz Tang

Executive Director, Acquisitions

Endeavor Content

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Mary-Anne Taylor

Head of Content Distribution, Canada

Roku Inc.

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Wednesday, June 23

12:00pm

Chatroom: Creating a healthier and more inclusive industry (12:00pm - 1:00pm)

*Marketplace Pass exclusive 

Join our hosts for small group conversations about important topics facing today’s industry and make meaningful industry connections.

Invited guests will be hosting tables to kick off conversations, but all BANFF Marketplace Passholders are welcome to attend.

No sign-up is required for these small group meetings, which are hosted in AirMeet.

Diversify our workforce: Explore what you need to put into practice to ensure you are helping to create a more inclusive workforce.

Host: Kadon Douglas

Authentic representation: Representation matters. Here’s what you need to know to get it right from script to screen.

Host: Melanie Hadley

Accessible Content: Explore how to earn podcasting revenue by making your TV shows accessible. 

Host: Andrew Morris

Mental health: Learn how you can better support the mental health and well-being of your staff and yourself, both on and off set.

Host: Naomi Harvey

Meaningful mentorship: How to find that racially diverse talent and commit to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive industry.

Host: Tonya Williams

Inclusive storytelling: Equity and inclusion start from leadership. Here's how to ensure inclusive storytelling at every level.

Host: Alia J Daniels

Finding funding: Explore how diverse creators find the funding to get their projects made.

Host: Maria Kennedy

To enter the Chatroom, follow these simple steps:

  1. Be on a LAPTOP or a DESKTOP COMPUTER (the lounge platform does not offer all interactive features on a mobile device) 

  2. Use GOOGLE CHROME Browser 

  3. High Speed Internet connection offers the best experience

  4. Click on the Enter button below (this button appears on this page during the posted Chatroom session times)

  5. Allow camera and microphone access on your computer  

  6. Provide your credentials/register with the Airmeet lounge platform.
    Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the Banff World Media Festival event, so that the system recognizes you as an approved Marketplace passholder. 

  7. Enter “the venue” (and follow prompts from there)

Featuring:

Alia J Daniels

Co-Founder and COO

Revry, Inc.

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Kadon Douglas

Executive Director

BIPOC TV & Film

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Melanie Hadley

Executive Director, Equity and Inclusion-Canada

WarnerMedia

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Naomi Harvey

Freelance Producer/Psychotherapist

Golden Possum Productions/Team Human

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Maria Kennedy

Owner, Executive Producer

Little Engine Moving Pictures

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Andrew Morris

President & Executive Producer

Accessible Media Inc.

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Tonya Williams

Founder & Executive Director

Access Reelworld

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Friday, June 25

12:00pm

Chatroom: Creative Conversations (12:00pm - 1:00pm)

*Marketplace Pass exclusive 

Join our hosts for small group conversations about important topics facing today’s industry and make meaningful industry connections.

Invited guests will be hosting tables to kick off conversations, but all BANFF Marketplace Passholders are welcome to attend.

No sign-up is required for these small group meetings, which are hosted in AirMeet.

Directing for TV: There’s no one path to take, but there are some tips and tricks that can help you better understand how to break into directing for television.

Host: Molly McGlynn

TV writers’ rooms: Get the inside scoop on the anatomy of a TV writers’ room - how it operates and potential pathways to break into one. 

Host: Vera Santamaria

Exec producing: Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to make the leap from writing or directing to executive producing. 

Host: Sheri Elwood

Crafting characters: Great characters are the key to unlocking a great story. Learn tips and tricks for creating characters that keep audiences tuning in. 

Host: Anthony Farrell

Sustainable creativity: How can we make creative execution and sustainable production more compatible? Let's break it down.

Host: David Hardy

Telling real-life stories: Explore the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when telling stories sourced from real-life.

Host: Allison Berkley & Joseph Freed

Writing for animation: Regardless of format, writing is writing...right? Here's what you should know about the art of writing for animation and how it differs from writing live-action content. 

Host: Holly Huckins 


To enter the Chatroom, follow these simple steps:

  1. Be on a LAPTOP or a DESKTOP COMPUTER (the lounge platform does not offer all interactive features on a mobile device) 

  2. Use GOOGLE CHROME Browser 

  3. High Speed Internet connection offers the best experience

  4. Click on the Enter button below (this button appears on this page during the posted Chatroom session times)

  5. Allow camera and microphone access on your computer  

  6. Provide your credentials/register with the Airmeet lounge platform.
    Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the Banff World Media Festival event, so that the system recognizes you as an approved Marketplace passholder. 

  7. Enter “the venue” (and follow prompts from there)

Featuring:

Allison Berkley

Executive Producer/President

Marwar Junction Productions

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Sheri Elwood

Executive Producer/Writer/Director

ELWOODISMS

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Anthony Farrell

Creator

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Joseph Freed

Executive Producer/President

Marwar Junction Productions

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David Hardy

VP, Sustainability & Stakeholder Affairs

William F. White International Inc.

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Holly Huckins

Executive Producer & Content Creator

Think Bubble

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Molly McGlynn

Owner

Hail Mary Films

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Vera Santamaria

Screenwriter and Executive Producer

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Wednesday, July 7

1:00pm

Chatroom: Commissioning FAQ (1:00pm - 2:00pm)

*Marketplace Pass exclusive 

Join our hosts for small group conversations about important topics facing today’s industry and make meaningful industry connections.

Invited guests will be hosting tables to kick off conversations, but all BANFF Marketplace Passholders are welcome to attend.

No sign-up is required for these small group meetings, which are hosted in AirMeet.

Commissioning post-COVID: How will commissioning strategies change, post-pandemic? Explore what’s next on the slate after a year of industry disruption and change.

Host: Emily O. Smith

Buyer relationships: A strong network of buyer contacts is key for any producer. Here’s how you can build better buyer relationships.

Host: Rob Swartz 

Development deep-dive: You've entered development with a broadcast partner...now what? Explore what you should know when guiding your project through the development process.

Host: Nataline Rodrigues

Positioning your pitch: You've got a great project and you're ready to get it out there. Here's what a commissioner needs to see in your pitch to maximize its potential for greenlight.

Host: Zach Feldberg

On the drama horizon: With the advent of binge-worthy TV, there’s never been a more exciting time to be making scripted drama content. Now where do we go from here?

Host: Kathleen Meek

The future of factual: From celebrity-driven reality shows to globally formatted competition series, the scope and impact of factual entertainment is rapidly expanding. Explore where this genre will go next to inform and entertain audiences.

Host: Katie Isaacson

Natural history trends: The popularity of natural history content is at an all-time high. Dive into the trends and opportunities emerging in this space. 

Host: Bill Gardner

Up next for kids TV: Explore the content that's capturing kids' attention now. How are these trends driving current and future commissioning strategies? 

Host: Chris Rose

To enter the Chatroom, follow these simple steps:

  1. Be on a LAPTOP or a DESKTOP COMPUTER (the lounge platform does not offer all interactive features on a mobile device) 

  2. Use GOOGLE CHROME Browser 

  3. High Speed Internet connection offers the best experience

  4. Click on the Enter button below (this button appears on this page during the posted Chatroom session times)

  5. Allow camera and microphone access on your computer  

  6. Provide your credentials/register with the Airmeet lounge platform.
    Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the Banff World Media Festival event, so that the system recognizes you as an approved Marketplace passholder. 

  7. Enter “the venue” (and follow prompts from there)

Featuring:

Zach Feldberg

Director of Current Production Comedy & Head of Scripted Gem Originals

CBC

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Bill Gardner

VP, Programming & Development

PBS

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Katie Isaacson

Director of Development, CNN

CNN

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Kathleen Meek

Manager, Original Content, Scripted & Factual

Corus Entertainment Inc

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Nataline Rodrigues

SVP of Development

Rogers Sports & Media

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Chris Rose

VP, Production & Development,
Kids & Family

Nickelodeon International

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Emily Smith

VP, International Original Programming

WarnerMedia

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Rob Swartz

SVP, Development & Production

REELZ Channel

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