Networking & Facilitated Meetings

BANFF 2024 offers over 1,200 curated 1:1 and small group meeting opportunities to make new connections and move your projects and career forward.

Key sign-up dates:

May 13 - May 16: Speed Meetings & Production Partners (lottery selection)
May 21 - June 7: Small group meetings (first come, first served)
May 22 - June 7: Speed Meetings & Production Partners (first come, first served)

Click the meeting type below to learn more.

1:1 Meetings:

*advance sign-up required

Small Group Meetings:

*advance sign-up required

Drop-in Group Networking:

Pitch Doctors - Virtual

Pitch Doctor sessions are now closed. Stay tuned for session dates and details for 2025!

Speed Meetings

BANFF’s Speed Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content creators and producers to meet 1:1 with leading development executives, distributors, programmers and funders in eight-minute meetings. Connect with partners who can help take your screen-based project to the next stage – this program has facilitated thousands of partnerships and has led to millions of dollars in new content.

Session dates at BANFF: Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11

Key dates:
Lottery selection opens: May 13
Lottery selection closes: May 16
First come, first served sign ups: May 22 - June 7: Speed Meetings & Production Partners

Check out who you can book a meeting with!

First come, first served sign-up starts after the lottery runs, based on availability.

*New for 2024, a stand by spot for each table host will be available during first come, first served sign-up (after the lottery runs). Each delegate will have the opportunity to sign-up for a maximum of ONE stand by spot based on availability.

**If you don’t secure your meeting(s) through the lottery or first come, first served sign-up, or a stand by spot through first come, first served sign-up, there will be wait lines on site at BANFF. The wait line will operate on a first come, first served basis, and there will be no wait list.

How to sign up: Sign-up for all Speed Meetings and Production Partners is required in advance. Meetings are assigned by lottery. Which hosts you are set up with is determined by the genres you select via BANFFXchange. Stay tuned for the agenda for a list of Speed Meeting hosts for these sessions.

Delegates may make up to 10 Speed Meeting host selections but will be assigned a maximum of 1 confirmed meeting through the lottery. Delegates also have the opportunity to book one additional meeting spot and one stand by spot through first come, first served sign-ups (which takes place after the lottery if spaces remain).

If you did not receive a confirmed meeting spot through the lottery, you may sign up for a maximum of two confirmed meeting spots through first come, first served sign-ups and one stand by spot (based on availability).

Delegates may join the wait line in person at BANFF for last-minute openings.

Prepare for your Speed Meetings by reviewing the Buyer Profiles on BANFFXchange. This is an invaluable resource about what buyers are looking for at BANFF 2024 and what a pitch for them should always include.

Check the 30 Minutes With and Spotlight schedules to see if the company you are meeting with will be hosting a buyer briefing to talk about their current and future programming needs.

Production Partners

Production company development execs will be taking 1:1, eight-minute pitches. Similar in format to our Speed Meeting sessions, this is your chance to pitch to production companies and studios who are looking for great ideas and partnerships.

Session date at BANFF: Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Key dates:
Lottery selection opens: May 13
Lottery selection closes: May 16
First come, first served sign ups: May 22 - June 7: Speed Meetings & Production Partners

Check out who you can book a meeting with!

First come, first served sign-up starts after the lottery runs, based on availability.

*New for 2024, a stand by spot for each table host will be available during first come first served sign-up (after the lottery runs). Each delegate will have the opportunity to sign-up for a maximum of ONE stand by spot based on availability.

**If you don’t secure your meeting(s) or a stand by spot through the lottery, first come, first served sign-up may be available after the lottery - based on availability. There will be a wait line at BANFF on June 11. The wait line will operate on a first come, first served basis, and there will be no wait list.

How to sign up: Slots for Production Partners are assigned by lottery with available meeting hosts via BANFFXchange. Stay tuned for the agenda for a list of Production Partners for this session.

Delegates may make up to 10 Production Partner host selections but will be assigned a maximum of 1 confirmed meeting through the lottery. Delegates also have the opportunity to book one additional meeting spot and one stand by spot through first come, first served sign-ups (which takes place after the lottery if spaces remain). Delegates may join the wait line in person at BANFF for last-minute openings.

If you did not receive a confirmed meeting spot through the lottery, you may sign up for a maximum of two confirmed meeting spots through first come, first served sign-ups and one stand by spot (based on availability).

Delegates may join the wait line in person at BANFF for last-minute openings.

These 30-minute informal networking sessions are designed to connect delegates with top agents, directors, showrunners, distributors, decision makers and even members of our Board of Directors and Content Advisory Board in a small group setting. These sessions are an opportunity to connect and network with industry executives and creatives and other festival attendees. Up to six delegates can sign up in advance to meet with each table host.
*There is a wait line on site if any openings become available. Check out who you can meet with!

Session dates at BANFF: Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11

How to sign up: Sign-up for all hosted small group meetings is first come, first served online via BANFFXchange and delegates will be able to book 1 spot in each session type. Sign-up dates are listed below. There will be session wait lines on site at BANFF.

Meet an Agent

First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7

Meet a Decision Maker

First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7

Meet a Board Member

First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7

Meet a Distributor

First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7

Meet a Showrunner or Director

First come, first served sign-up opens: May 21
First come, first served sign-up closes: June 7

Check out who you can meet with!

Drop-in networking is managed on a first come first served basis (no advance sign up). Space is filled and managed on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit capacity.

Topic Tables

Introduced at BANFF 2023, these popular 45-minute informal sessions are a great way to add to your network by connecting with the right people. Hosted by industry experts, join these guided conversations to gain insight into topics including International Treaty Co-productions, Sustainable Solutions for Greener Productions, Financing Canadian for Canada and the International Market, Assessing Music Needs for your Projects and more! Up to 6 delegates can join a topic table at one time and are invited to move from one table to another as space allows. Space is filled and managed on a first come, first served basis until we hit capacity.

Session dates at BANFF: Monday June 10 and Tuesday June 11

Collaboration Station

**New to BANFF** This lively table hopping event is the festival’s best opportunity to collaborate with creative minds! Drop by Collaboration Station to find your creative matches! Chat with key industry creatives and execs from leading channels/platforms and production and media companies. When the session starts, delegates come in, grab a drink and start circulating from table to table to have a chat with the table hosts.

Leave the money talk at the door, this event is about having creative discussions and building relationships (it’s time to nerd out about the art of tv-making!) And we strongly encourage you to work your way around the room rather than staying at one table. Space is filled and managed on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit capacity.

Session date at BANFF: Tuesday June 11