Ava Knight

Director, Acquisitions
Fifth Season

Ava Knight is Director of Acquisitions at global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON. She is focused on seeking out and securing best-in-category unscripted and scripted content for FIFTH SEASON’s global TV Distribution slate and financing projects at all stages of production. Ava is focused on identifying breakthrough content and forging value-creating...more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Saleena Lockett

Producer

Saleena Lockett is a creative leader in the industry who is passionate about nurturing new talent, building bridges and bringing stories to life. Saleena has over 20 years of diverse experience as a DGA Training Program Alum, Producer, Network Executive and is an active member of the Directors Guild Association....more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Leena Minifie

CEO & Owner
Stories First Productions

Leena Minifie (Tsimshian/British) is a film, television producer and associate producer in Vancouver, BC. Notable projects include the feature film and drama series Bones of Crows for CBC and APTN; a four-part series and interactive digital timeline British Columbia - An Untold History; the short film Lily Gladstone: Far Out There;...more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Carolyn Newman

Executive Vice President, Global Scripted
Blink49 Studios

Carolyn Newman is the Executive Vice President of Global Scripted for Blink49 Studios.

Previously, she served as Head of Scripted Television and Production at Will Packer Media where she sold more than five shows into development to both streamers and broadcasters in just under a year. Prior to that, Newman...more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Yi Qiao

Director Drama
ZDF Studios GmbH

Yi Qiao is the Director for Drama at ZDF Studios, the commercial arm of German public broadcaster ZDF. She is responsible for acquisitions and sales operations across North America, UK, Australia / New Zealand and Scandinavia. Her remit covers identifying and developing scripted projects at an early stage for co-production...more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Jessica Schmiedchen

Director of Development, Unscripted Content
CBC

Jessica oversees development of original content and formats in the genres of factual, entertainment and documentary series for CBC and CBC Gem. She is responsible for sourcing the best new formats from around the world, and working with the independent production community in Canada to bring their ideas to life....more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Grace Tran

Director of Global Series
NBCUniversal International Studios

Grace Tran is a Director of Global Series at Universal International Studios, one of the scripted studios within Universal Studio Group at NBC Universal. She works in both scripted Development and Current across US, UK, Australia, and Canadian series. She works with production companies across the globe such as Heyday...more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival

Cori Wellins

Senior Partner
WME

Cori Wellins is a Senior Partner in WME’s Scripted Television Department. She represents a broad array of producers, writers, directors, and talent. Wellins’ clients include Erin Foster, Liz Meriwether, Alan Yang, Lee Eisenberg, Dan Povenmire, David Heyman, Chinaka Hodge, and Eric Ledgin to name a few.

An advocate for young women,...more

Speaking at: Banff World Media Festival