Building on the success of last year’s inaugural honoree, South Korea, Spain becomes the second Country of Honour at BANFF, a program that celebrates the unique creative output and business leadership of a featured nation every year.

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce Spain as the official Country of Honour for the 2026 festival, recognizing the country’s growing global influence as a hub for premium content production, international co-production, and creative innovation. The 47th annual Banff World Media Festival will take place June 14–17, 2026, at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

As Country of Honour at BANFF 2026, Spain will be showcased throughout the festival with dedicated programming, high-profile networking opportunities, and curated events celebrating the country’s dynamic content ecosystem across scripted, unscripted, film, and digital-first content. A special recognition will also take place at the Festival’s Rockie Awards which will honour global content, outstanding talent and industry leaders on the evening of Tuesday June 16th.  A distinguished Spanish delegation of leading producers, creators, executives, and talent is expected to attend, fostering international collaboration and new global partnerships.

 Following a standout year marked by the global success of hits like Berlin, The Asunta Case, Valeria, Entre Tierras and Sueños de libertad as well as the recent La mesías, which was named Best Non-English Language Drama Series at BANFF’s Rockie Awards in 2024, Spain’s selection as this year’s Country of Honor highlights its status as one of the world’s most active and attractive production markets. It is supported by incredible locations, a strong creative community, robust public and private investment, competitive tax incentives, and a growing footprint in international co-productions with Europe, Latin America, North America, and beyond.

 “Spain’s rise has been one of the most consequential shifts in the global content landscape. From breakout franchises to award-winning prestige drama, Spanish producers are setting the pace for international co-production and premium storytelling,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, BANFF’s Executive Director. “As our 2026 Country of Honour, Spain brings both creative firepower and serious deal-making momentum, and we look forward to welcoming the delegation to Canada in June.”

“It is a true honour for Spain to be named Country of Honour at BANFF. This recognition highlights the strength and ambition of our audiovisual industry, and we look forward to deepening and expanding the collaboration between Spain and Canada in the years ahead,” said Luis Mayoral, Creative Industries Director at ICEX.

The upcoming edition of the BANFF World Media Festival, one of the most relevant global gatherings for TV and entertainment executives, offers an exceptional opportunity to highlight the strength and momentum of the Spanish audiovisual industry. Spain is experiencing a remarkable stage of growth in the creation, production, and international circulation of content, consolidating its position as one of the leading and most dynamic audiovisual ecosystems in Europe.

Spain currently ranks fourth in film and TV series production in Europe and leads the European Union in investment by streaming platforms in original European content. 

Spanish content on international platforms reached €1.292 billion in 2024 (Third Annual Report of the Audiovisual Sector in Spain 2025). 

Nine out of ten of the most-watched series in Europe are Spanish.

Spanish productions have increased their audience share in Europe to 9%, according to the European Commission’s European Media Industry Outlook report.

Spain being selected as Country of Honour at BANFF underscores not only the relevance of the Spanish audiovisual industry for global markets but also the significant collective effort underway to promote Spanish talent, creativity, and production capabilities worldwide. This recognition will further elevate the international profile of Audiovisual from Spain and, more importantly, expand business opportunities for Spanish companies seeking to grow their presence and strengthen partnerships for production and distribution in Canada and across North America.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, the Banff World Media Festival and Rockie Awards is a premier gatherings for the world’s most creative and influential media professionals, offering more than 1,200 networking sessions and 25,000+ meetings that connect creators, producers, studios, streamers, brands, and decision-makers from around the globe. BANFF 2026 will once again serve as a key destination for deal-making, thought leadership, and forward-looking conversations shaping the future of the industry.

La entrada Spain Named Country of Honour at the 2026 Banff World Media Festival se publicó primero en TTV News.

These leadership changes came shortly after Sean Cohan, president of Bell Media, was recently appointed chairman of the Banff Board of Directors.

Banff World Media Festival, the Banff World Media Festival in Canada, announced the appointment of new members and a new executive position to the Foundation’s board of directors.

Three distinguished industry leaders join the Banff Board: Prentiss Fraser, President of Television Distribution, Fifth Season; Andrew Peterson, Head of YouTube Canada; and Jane Rimer, Senior Vice President of Banijay Rights Canada.

In addition, Patrick Vien, Managing Director, International Group at A+E Networks, has been appointed vice-chairman of the Board, succeeding Brenda Gilbert, producer and co-founder of Bron Media, who will remain as a board member.

Banff also recognized and thanked the outstanding contributions of two outgoing board members, Sally Catto, General Manager of Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC, and Colin Bohm, Chief Executive Officer of Toon Boom Animation Inc.

These leadership changes come on the heels of Sean Cohan, president of Bell Media, recently named Chairman of the Banff Board of Directors.

“This is a pivotal time for Banff as we continue to expand our impact and service to the global media industry,” commented Cohan. “With the addition of such outstanding leaders to our Board, we are well-positioned to advance the Festival’s mission of facilitating great business partnerships and fostering creative collaboration on new film, television, and digital media projects. There will be more news as we get closer to the 2025 Festival. Stay tuned.”

Located in Banff, Alberta, Canada, Banff is a premier marketplace and conference, an intimate space where unparalleled access, creative inspiration, and expert knowledge combine to launch fresh content and innovative business strategies.

With over 45 years of history, the festival has become a must-attend annual event where media moguls, producers, creatives, and key industry players, along with broadcasters and digital media companies, address issues and trends, forge relationships, and foster partnerships in one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes.

La entrada The Banff World Media Festival Adds Banijay, Fifth Season and YouTube Executives as Board Members se publicó primero en TTV News.

Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment, has also been confirmed as a keynote speaker for the Summit Series. The Festival will include keynotes on the most innovative projects in the global industry.

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) announced that Channing Dungey, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, is joining as a keynote speaker for the BANFF Summit Series. The 45th edition of the Festival will take place June 9-12, 2024, at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

The BANFF Summit Series is a series of keynotes featuring global players shaping the media industry’s future.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Channing Dungey as a keynote speaker,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of BANFF. “Channing’s unparalleled experience and expertise is a key driver in shaping the future of the entertainment industry. She is a visionary whose impact transcends screens.”

As previously announced, Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment, has also been confirmed as a Summit Series keynote speaker. Previous Summit Series speakers include Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Bela Bajaria, Ted Sarandos, and Maverick Carter.

The Festival will again include master classes that delve behind the scenes into some of the most innovative projects in the global industry, more than 1,200 networking opportunities, and more than 25,000 meetings that will connect the global media industry to drive new projects and support business growth.

This year, international financing and co-production will feature prominently with the launch of the “Better Together” content stream. BANFF will also debut “Soundtrack,” a new conference stream focused on music on screen. Technology, artificial intelligence, and entertainment content on social media and online platforms will also be key topics.

Also returning to the BANFF stage in June is the Rockie Awards International Program Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious film industry competitions, with more than 45 countries participating annually and an international jury of 150 industry professionals. Winners in each category, including the Grand Jury Prize, the Rogers Canadian Content Award, the Emerging Talent Award, the Francophone Award, and other special awards, will be announced during the Festival on June 11.

In addition, on the evening of June 10, the Rockies Gala, an industry favorite, will once again recognize the best content and the most influential executives, talents, and creators in the entertainment industry worldwide.

La entrada Warner Bros. CEO Channing Dungey to Speak at BANFF Summit Series se publicó primero en TTV News.

The event presented awards in 28 categories spanning Documentary & Factual, Arts & Entertainment, Children & Youth, Scripted, and Podcast.

The Banff World Media Festival is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 Rockie Awards International Program Competition.

One of the most important awards programs of its kind and juried by an esteemed panel of 150 international industry professionals, the Rockie Awards International Program Competition presented awards in 28 categories spanning Documentary & Factual, Arts & Entertainment, Children & Youth, Scripted, and Podcast.

In addition, the US$25,000 Rogers Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content was awarded to the top Canadian production, The Francophone Prize for the top French language production and The Emerging Talent Prize (sponsored by William F. White Int’l) awarded to jury’s highest-scoring short fiction or short non-fiction video submission that was not funded by a streamer or network.

The competition featured 148 nominations from 45 countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, China, Germany, Italy and Norway.

This year’s winners:

Best Comedy & Variety Program
Friends: The Reunion
HBO Max, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, Warner Horizon, Fulwell 73 Productions, Bright, Kauffman, Crane Productions (USA)

Best in Competition Series & Game Shows
RuPaul’s Drag Race
World of Wonder, VH1 (USA)

Best Docuseries
The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet
Studio Silverback, BBC, Discovery Channel (USA, UK)

Best Lifestyle Program
Employable Me
Thomas Howe Associations (CANADA)

Best Reality Series
Running Wild with Bear Grylls
Electus LLC, National Geographic (USA)

Best in Animation: Children
Karma’s World
Netflix, 9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films, Karma’s World Entertainment (USA, CANADA, IRELAND)

Best in Animation: Preschool
ODO
Sixteen South, Letko (UK, POLAND)

Best in Animation: Youth
The Case (La custodia)
Graphilm Entertainment, Rai Ragazzi (ITALY)

Best in Interactive Content: Children
CBC Kids Tokyo 2020 Olympic Website
CBC Kids, Hypersurge (CANADA)

Best in Live Action: Children
Jamie Johnson
Short Form, BBC (UK)

Best in Live Action: Youth
Six Degrees (Six Degrés)
Encore Télévision (CANADA)

Best Arts & Culture Program
Introducing, Selma Blair
Discovery+, LD Entertainment, Liddell Entertainment (USA)

Best Crime & Investigative Program
Miracle Fishing: Kidnapped Abroad
Three-three-four, XTR, Kilometric Productions, Discovery+ (USA)

Best Environmental & Wildlife Program
Tiny World
Plimsoll Productions (UK)

Best History & Biography
Surviving 9/11
Top Hat, BBC, Keshet (UK)

Best Non-Fiction Podcast
Have You Heard George’s Podcast?
BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live, George the Poet (UK)

Best Science & Technology Program
Own The Room
National Geographic Documentary Film, Saville Productions (USA)

Best Short Non-Fiction Program
A Nation and Her Mother
Animiki See Digital Production Inc, Media RendezVous, Wookey Films Inc, APTN (CANADA)

Best Social Issues & Current Affairs Program
Dying to Divorce
Dying to Divorce Ltd, Aldeles, Tigerlily Productions, Freak Productions (UK, NORWAY)

Best Sports Documentary
Torn
National Geographic Documentary Films, Lightbox, Wilderpeople Productions (USA)

Best Comedy Series: English Language
We Are Lady Parts
Working Title Television, Universal International Studios, Universal Studio Group (UK)

Best Comedy Series: Non-English Language
Countrymen (Jordbrukerne)
Rubicon TV AS (NORWAY, FRANCE)

Best Drama Series: English Language
Vigil
World Productions (UK)

Best Drama Series: Non-English Language
Kamikaze
Profile Pictures, HBO Max (DENMARK, CANARY ISLANDS, SOUTH KOREA, UK)

Best Feature Length Film
Help
The Forge, Channel 4, All3Media International (UK)

Best Limited Series
Landscapers
HBO, SISTER, South of the River Pictures, Sky Studios (USA, UK)

Best Fiction Podcast
The Orchard
Princess Pictures, Audible (AUSTRALIA)

Best Short Fiction Program
@IAmSophieScholl (@IchbinSophieScholl)
Sommerhaus Serien GmbH, VICE Media GmbH, Unframed Productions GmbH, SWR, BR (GERMANY)

Rogers Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content
Captive
Antica Productions (CANADA)

Prix Francophone (Francophone Prize)
Audrey est revenue (Audrey’s Back)
Pixcom, Quebecor Content (CANADA)

Emerging Talent Prize
Rebekah Miskin (Night Owl)

The winners of the Grand Jury Prize and the 2022 Program of the Year will be announced at the Rockie Awards Gala tomorrow, June 14.

La entrada BANFF Announces 2022 Rockie Awards Winners se publicó primero en TTV News.

The 43rd edition of the Festival will take place in-person June 12-15, 2022 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada, featuring keynote speakers, topical panel discussions and celebrity master classes.

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is thrilled to announce plans for this year’s event to safely return in-person with an exciting lineup of Summit Series keynote speakers, topical panel discussions and celebrity master classes as well as networking opportunities to connect the global media industry to ignite new projects and support business development.

The 43rd edition of the Festival will take place in-person June 12-15, 2022 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Chairman of Universal Studio Group (USG), Pearlena Igbokwe, is confirmed to participate in a Summit Series keynote conversation at the Festival on Tuesday, June 14. Igbokwe leads four powerhouse studios: Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studios and Universal International Studios that produce over 3,000 hours of programming currently airing or streaming around the globe.

An exclusive “In Conversation With” session is confirmed with leading global health and pandemic expert Dr. Ashish K. Jha and renowned philanthropist and entrepreneur Frank Giustra to discuss the impact of mis/disinformation on public awareness and the responsibility of the media and entertainment industry to combat it.

“BANFF is back, bigger and better than ever,” said BANFF Board Chair and Lionsgate Television Group Chair Kevin Beggs. “We couldn’t think of more fitting speakers to kick off the festivities than the head of Brown University’s School of Public Health, Dr. Ashish Jha, a visionary leader who has given useful and politics-free advice to millions during the pandemic; Frank Giustra, founder of Lionsgate which has grown from a start-up in 1999 to a leading content, distribution, and platform studio today, and who was recently named Co-Chair of the Crisis Group; and Pearlena Igbokwe, Chair of Universal Television Group, one of the most prolific television studios operating in Hollywood today.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the industry back in the Canadian Rockies this June,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival. “The BANFF Board of Directors, Content Advisory Board and our team are working to bring you the best edition of BANFF yet, and we’re thrilled to be launching this year’s content slate with the announcement of keynote conversations featuring global leaders Pearlena Igbokwe, Dr. Ashish Jha and Frank Giustra.”

Igbokwe and her team support a slate of ambitious storytellers, including Jordan Peele, Sam Esmail, Nahnatchka Khan, Tina Fey, Seth MacFarlane, Julie Plec, Amy Poehler, Tanya Saracho, Michael Schur, Alan Yang, David Heyman, Selwyn Hinds, Tarell McCraney, Lorne Michaels, Gareth Neame, Debra Martin Chase, Nick Antosca and Dick Wolf, among numerous others. She currently oversees 129 projects across 29 platforms worldwide, including the major broadcast networks, streamers and numerous cable outlets. Notable USG projects under her purview include Hacks, Never Have I Ever, Girls5eva, Young Rock, The Umbrella Academy, Dr. Death, Gaslit, Joe vs Carole, Made in Chelsea, Clickbait, We Are Lady Parts, Making It and longtime NBC favorite “Hollywood Game Night.”

The timely conversation between Dr. Ashish Jha and Frank Giustra will discuss the impact of mis/disinformation on public awareness and the responsibility of media and entertainment platforms to combat it.

The renowned Rockie Awards International Program Competition is one of the world’s largest program competitions of its kind, with participation from more than 55 countries annually including an international jury of 150 industry professionals. Category winners, including the Grand Jury Prize, the Francophone Prize and other special prizes, will be announced during the Festival on June 13th.

Now in its 43rd year, BANFF is the international conference and marketplace where new business partnerships are forged and new TV, film and digital media projects are ignited. With delegates from 50+ countries, the Festival attracts the world’s top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. In addition, BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives including The BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, supported by the Government of Canada which empowers and trains Canadian women entrepreneurs to launch and grow their own sustainable businesses within the screen-based industries as well as the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, a program that jumpstarts and accelerates the careers of up to 100 Black, Indigenous and People of Colour producers and creators.

La entrada BANFF Announces Keynotes, Agenda for In-Person Event se publicó primero en TTV News.

Streamed online during the Banff World Media Festival, the prestigious awards featured 142 nominations from 37 countries. The UK leads the list of winners with 11 awards, followed by the US with 10, Canada with 5, and Australia and France with 4 awards each.

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF), which is taking place online this year from June 14 – July 16, 2021, announced the winners of the 2021 Rockie Awards International Program Competition.

Hosted by one of Canada’s most popular comedic talents and YouTube personality Jasmeet Raina, the virtual edition of the Rockie Awards was streamed live celebrating excellence in television and digital media content from around the world.

The Rockie Awards International Program Competition is one of the largest awards programs of its kind, juried by an esteemed panel of 150 international industry professionals and covering all major genres. The Rockie Awards Grand Jury chooses the coveted Grand Jury Prize, selected from the top-scoring programs across the entire field of nominees.

The competition featured 142 nominations from 37 countries including the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and The Netherlands. The UK leads the list of winners with 11 awards, followed by the US with 10, Canada with 5, and Australia and France with 4 awards each.

The list of winners

Drama Series: English Language
Killing Eve
Sid Gentle Films Limited, BBC America (UK)

Comedy Series: English Language
The Flight Attendant
Berlanti Productions, Yes, Norman Productions, Warner Bros. Television (USA)

Limited Series
I May Destroy You
Various Artists Ltd, FALKNA Ltd, HBO (UK)

Drama Series: Non-English Language
Caliphate (Kalifat)
Filmlance International AB, SVT, Film Capital Stockholm (SWEDEN)

Comedy Series: Non-English Language
El Presidente
Gaumont, Amazon Studios (ARGENTINA, CHILE, USA)

Live Action: Children
First Day
Epic Films, ABC Australia (AUSTRALIA)

Live Action: Youth
War Stories (Oorlog-Stories)
EO Broadcasting, Stepping Stones Productions (THE NETHERLANDS)

Competition Series & Game Shows
Alone
Leftfield Pictures for History (USA)

Docuseries
Filthy Rich & Homeless
Blackfella Films, SBS (AUSTRALIA)

Lifestyle
Love on the Spectrum
Northern Pictures, Netflix (AUSTRALIA)

Podcast: Fiction
Hindsight
Kelly&Kelly, Al Jazeera Podcasts, Audible (CANADA, QATAR, UK)

Podcast: Non-Fiction
Where Is George Gibney?
Second Captains for BBC Sounds (IRELAND, UK, USA)

History & Biography
Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Associated Producers Ltd., Cornelia Street Productions, UppiTV, Anonymous Content, EPIX (CANADA, UK)

Science & Technology
Cosmos: Possible Worlds
Possible Worlds, LLC in association with Fox for National Geographic (USA)

Sports Documentary
The Last Dance
Mandalay Sports Media Production, NBAEntertainment, ESPN Films, Netflix (USA)

TV Movie
Roald & Beatrix, the Tail of the Curious Mouse
Hartswood Films, Sky Studios (UK)

Program of the Year
Winner: It’s a Sin, Red Production Company For Channel 4 and HBO Max in association with All3Media International (UK)

Rogers Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content
Winner: Happily Married (C’est comme ça que je t’aime), Cineflix Media, Casablanca Productions, Ici Tou.tv (CANADA)

The $25,000 Rogers Prize is awarded to the highest-scoring Canadian program or property in the Rockies International Program Competition across two rounds of independent jury review.

Francophone Prize
Winner: Brazen (Culottées), Silex Films, France Télévisions (FRANCE)

The Francophone Prize is awarded to the jury’s highest-scoring French-language video submission.

Grand Jury Prize
Winner: I May Destroy You, Various Artists Ltd, FALKNA Ltd, HBO (UK)

The Grand Jury Prize recognizes the “best in show” from all Rockies International Program Competition winning entries.

The full list of Rockie Awards International Program Competition Winners is available here.

La entrada BANFF Announces 2021 Rockie Awards Winners se publicó primero en TTV News.

The festival focused on content development and co-production began this Monday with standout conferences from top industry executives from companies like Netflix, A+E Networks, Endeavor Content, NBCUniversal, Banijay Rights, Lionsgate and more, and will run through Wednesday, June 16, offering networking and screenings in a digital format.

This Monday, June 14, marked the start of a new edition of the Banff World Media Festival, an event that will take place until Wednesday 16 in digital format for the second consecutive year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is the second festival that’s running on a wholly virtual platform. Last year with the onset of the pandemic we had to cancel the festival just a few weeks before and we did a pivot like everybody else in the world to make sure we could continue what we do and we did and it was very successful. We had attendees from over 52 countries taking part on the virtual program last year,” Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Canada-based festival, said to ttvnews.

“Since then, we’ve been working on building an all new virtual conference platform. It’s actually really exciting. We’ve put a ton of works into it and we really do think it is the best virtual platform for doing business online. We focused it very much on connecting people, on getting them together so for the festival this year we have over 5000 individual opportunities fo preset meetings and interaction.”

“We have special events, get together networking all video based for producers looking for distributors, showrunner and director of some of the biggest shows in the world who you can actually sign up to meet with in small groups. There will also be specific meet ups according to your interest to meet with other interest in the same things.”

Day one

The event is starting its first day with notable panels and keynotes, featuring top industry names such as Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix; Ian Scott, CEO of CRTC; and leading executives from A+E Networks, Endeavor Content, NBCUniversal, Banijay Rights, Lionsgate and more.

The day also offers intimate and interactive sessions titled “30 minutes with”, featuring some of the most in-demand buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, future plans and priorities in conversation with a leading industry producer, from companies like Blue Ant Media, CBC Comedy, WarnerMedia Kids & Family and COrus Entertainment.

All sessions will be available to watch until the close of the festival on July 16, and will be uploaded for catch-up viewing on BANFFXchange and BANFF on Demand in a few days.

To round out the first day, the festival offers several instances for interacting with other participants through its speed networking session and an opening party sponsored by CBC/Radio-Canada.

The agenda for the upcoming days

During the upcoming days, the event will offer highly anticipated Master Classes featuring talent and creatives from hit series It’s a Sin, David Makes Man, Transplant, Moominvalley and Sort Of as well as exclusive screenings for Family Law and Blindspotting.

“This year’s Master Classes and Screenings represent some of the world’s most original, impactful and exciting series,” said Kuzmyk. “It is a privilege to host such accomplished talent and executives as they take us through the business and creative story behind the making of each project.”

In addition to Sarandos, this year’s speakers also include The SpringHill Company’s CEO Maverick Carter, BBC Controler General Tim Davie, Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia star Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) as well as ‘In Conversation With’ sessions including 2021 Canadian Award of Distinction honouree Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience, Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), and a conversation between Seth Meyers (Late Night with Seth Meyers) and this year’s Sir Peter Ustinov Award honouree Kenan Thompson (SNL, Kenan), among others.

In addition, other highly anticipated shows that will be featured during the Festival as exclusive ‘In Conversation With’ sessions include the blockbuster comedic thriller The Flight Attendant with Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group Channing Dungey, Emmy Award-nominated producer Greg Berlanti and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Kaley Cuoco who will also discuss plans for their next collaboration — a limited series based on the life of Doris Day; as well as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier featuring award-winning director and CEO of Mad Rabbit Kari Skogland and Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios and Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer to discuss the making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series and thoughts on the future of storytelling.

This year’s Festival will boast an array of curated sessions including Director and Showrunner Superpanels featuring some of the most prolific creatives such as Andrew Cividino (Schitt’s Creek), Marta Kauffman (Friends, Grace & Frankie), Matt Shakman (WandaVision), Clement Virgo (The Wire, Greenleaf), Dawn Wilkinson (Locke & Key, How To Get Away With Murder), Nahnatchka Khan (Always Be My Maybe); as well as a new initiative exclusively available to Marketplace Pass holders called Showrunners Screen Time which is an intimate seven-person 45 minute session with top showrunners featuring Steve Blackman (Umbrella Academy), Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp), Vera Santamaria (PEN15), Frank Spotnitz (The Man in the High Castle), Loren Bouchard (Bob’s Burgers), Anna Winger (Unorthodox, Deutschland83/86/89), Alena Smith (Dickinson), Sheri Elwood (Feudal, Lucifer) and Anthony Farrell (Secret Life of Boys).

“Banff is a really great place to understand where the industry is and where it is going. We are going to have discussion about AVOD, coproduction, deals, content trends… It’s really a place to get a good feeling for everywhere the industry is going,” she concluded.

La entrada The Banff World Media Festival Begins with Notable Speakers se publicó primero en TTV News.

Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival, spoke to ttvnews about the event’s 2021 edition, which stands as the go-to market to meet with commissioners and decision-makers from the US and Canada.

On June 14 and for the following three days, a new edition of the Banff World Media Festival is taking place in a virtual format due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

To find out more about the event, its international reach and its virtual edition, ttvnews spoke to Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Canada-based festival focused on production and co-production.

How would you describe the Banff World Media Festival?

The Banff World Media Festival is exactly that. It is a global and international media festival that happens to be based in Canada. We have people coming to the festival from over 50 countries around the world and although its based in Canada I would say that there are three parts: the Canadian piece of the festival, the US piece to the festival (with a lot of Hollywood) and European and international participants at the festival.

So it’s kind of becoming together of the industry side of making screen content. And I say that because it’s traditional television but also, increasingly, there’s a mix with feature film, podcasts… It is a media festival and it is global in its nature and scope.

Is it a production or distribution market?

Banff is very focused on the origin of content, so people who are pitching new shows or coming together to make co productions, where shows are financed with international distributors, where broadcasters and streamers come to fin new content to invest in… that’s the real focus of the festival.

There is finished program sales that take place at the festival but our real focus its on the creation of new content and partner meeting with writers, producers; directors meeting with executives in order to make new content. That’s the real focus, different to Mipcom or some other international markets that are quite heavily centered around distribution and selling content. Banff is absolutely the place where new content is born.

What type of executives usually attend the market?

People interested in attending Bannf are either people looking to commission new content: broadcasters seeking pre-sales, or to get in the projects early, broadcasters, streamers and distributors looking to pick up projects at an early stage for international distribution, but also producers, writers, directors who are pitching new content.

A really great thing about Banff is that there are a lot of US broadcasters and streamers, studios and commissioners at the festival. So really Banff is kind of an entry way or a portal for international producers to be reaching the Canadian, UK, and US broadcasters and streamers.

Are Hispanic executives usually in attendance?

We do have participation from Latin America, and Hispanic territories around the world, for sure. It’s absolutely a territory we would like to grow and some of the best and biggest hits of the world have come from there. Money Heist is one of the biggest shows around the world and hits like that have really put a spotlight on Spanish language content. For us, being an international media festival, it’s important to have representation across the world and to have Spanish content, Hispanic content… that’s definitely something we would like to do.

If for instance you’re a Mexican or Spanish producer, would this market be interesting for you?

If you are a Spanish production company I think it’s a great place to come and meet with Canadians for potential co-productions, it’s a great place to come to meet with Canadian broadcasters for potential financing but also US broadcasters and streamers and UK. So when you are looking to create content for a global scale, you want to go somewhere where you can find global partners and I think that’s what Banff is.

This is the second year the event is taking place virtually. What’s in store for this new edition?

This is the second festival that’s running on a wholly virtual platform. Last year with the onset of the pandemic we had to cancel the festival just a few weeks before and we did a pivot like everybody else in the world to make sure we could continue what we do and we did and it was very successful. We had attendees from over 52 countries taking part on the virtual program last year.

Since then, we’ve been working on building an all new virtual conference platform. It’s actually really exciting. We’ve put a ton of works into it and we really do think it is the best virtual platform for doing business online. We focused it very much on connecting people, on getting them together so for the festival this year we have over 5000 individual opportunities fo preset meetings and interaction. We have special events, get together networking all video based for producers looking for distributors, showrunner and director of some of the biggest shows in the world who you can actually sign up to meet with in small groups. There will also be specific meet ups according to your interest to meet with other interest in the same things.

We will have a virtual lounge, conferences, panels and keynotes. We will have Ted Sarandos from Netflix, Greg Berlanti, Kaley Cuoco, Kevin Feige from Marvel…

Banff is a really great place to understand where the industry is and where it is going. We are going to have discussion about AVOD, coproduction, deals, content trends… It’s really a place to get a good feeling for everywhere the industry is going.

What participation are you expecting?

It’s hard to say because people are still signing up, but we’ll have well over 1.000 already registered and we expect it to at least double.

And what percentage will be international attendees?

We usually have a good mix of international participants. Its hard to say in this virtual world but maybe at least 25-30% or even more. The remained its made of US and Canadian.

I think that for and international production company it’s a really great place to have a portal to that Us market in a way that maybe isn’t that possible in some of the bigger events.

One thing is important to know is that Banff it’s not a huge event. It is small by comparison to Natpe or Mipcom, Miptv because it is a gathering of people that are at the pinnacle of their career. Its not a lot of people but we like to say its the right people.

In the physical market at Banff usually around 1.500 people attend the festival and those people are at a level of the industry that are all decision makers so it’s a really great place to get access to others who can actually decide on things.

La entrada Banff World Media Festival: Where Ideas Are Born se publicó primero en TTV News.