BANFF World Media Festival announces first International Indigenous Screen Industry Summit

Press Release

Taking place on June 21stvia BANFF’s virtual conference platform

Toronto, Canada –May 25, 2021–The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce a new initiative, the International Indigenous Screen Industry Summit, aimed to facilitate conversation, highlight, and empower Indigenous media industry professionals from around the world. Taking place throughout the day on June 21stand hosted on the Festival’s virtual conference platform, the event is timed to Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of the FirstNations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

This day–long event includes panels, round table discussions, curated networking events and two sessions with ground–breaking Indigenous creators. The program was created with the guidance of a dedicated Advisory Board, including:

• Monika Ille, CEO, APTN
• Melanie Hadley, Program Director, WarnerMedia
• Kerry Swanson, Associate Director, Indigenous Screen Office
• Jesse Wente, Director, Indigenous Screen Office
• Jason Ryle, Producer, Curator, Project Manager, Consultant
• Naomi Johnson, Executive Director, imagineNATIVE
• Adriana Chartrand, Institute Manager, imagineNATIVE

The program will feature:

A cultural conversation: the future of Indigenous broadcasting and streaming

Indigenous content plays a growing role in the global media landscape, empowering and contributing to self–determination, narrative–sovereignty and the internationally recognized right of Indigenous peoples to establish their own media in their own languages. Join this gathering of international executives –many representing channels and platforms that serve audiences in Indigenous languages –for a broad conversation on resources, systemic obstacles, the power of co–production and how they hope to harness new technology and emerging technology to increase accessibility.

Participants:

• Lucy Tulugarjuk, Executive Director, Nunavut Independent Television Network / Managing Director, Uvagut TV
• Maraos, Chair, Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation
• Kim Larsen, Head of Television, KNR Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation
• Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Gaelic Services, BBC
• Alan Esslemont, Director General, TG4 and Chair, Celtic Media Festival
• Maramena Roderick, Director of Content, Māori TV
• Tanya Denning-Orman, Director of Indigenous Content, SBS

Moderated by Monika Ille, CEO, APTN

Nations to Nations: Canadian Indigenous stories on a global stageThis is an exciting time for Canadian Indigenous content. Join this gathering of creators for a conversation about how international and domestic marketsare responding to their latest work, across all platforms. Where do they see opportunities? What are the new pathways of collaboration? How are changes in the global media ecosystem opening up possibilities? And what can Canada do to become a leader in the development of Indigenous content?

Participants:

• Loretta Todd, Director, Monkey Beach
• Jeff Barnaby, Filmmaker/Director, Blood Quantum
• JJ Neepin, Director, Producer, Writer, Taken
• Shane Belcourt, Director, Producer, Amplify

Master class: Reservation Dogs

A conversation with the stars and creative team of FX’s Reservation Dogs, a new half-hour comedy that follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob and save in order to get to the exotic, faraway land of California. Created and executive produced by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the series boasts the first-ever all-Indigenous creative team, represented by every writer, director and series regular.

Participants:

• Sterlin Harjo, Co-Creator and Executive Producer
• Tazbah Chavez, Writer
• D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Talent (“Bear”)
• Devery Jacobs, Talent (“Elora Danan”)

Speed Networking

A special gathering place for the international Indigenous screen community to meet all BANFF delegates including producers, directors, writers, broadcasters, streamers and industry organizations. This session will allow for focused one-on-one 3-minute meetings to maximize networking opportunities. It will be hosted in a virtual lounge, which also features tables for continued conversation in small groups.

Private session – Stakeholders Roundtable

An invitation-only round-table forum for global leadership of various regions and stakeholders to come together for discussion, reflection, strategy and sharing of insights. Following a brief introduction, attendees will head to smaller breakout sessions to discuss targeted current issues including policy, protocols, quotas, streamers, broadcasting, technology, advocacy, funding, consultation, and co-production.

Private session – Meet the Commissioners

An opportunity for Canadian First Nations, Inuit and Métis producers to meet national and International broadcasters, streamers and strategic partners in a one-on-one speed-meeting format.

Now in its 42nd year, BANFF is one of the world’s most important international conferences and marketplaces – where new business partnerships are forged and new TV, film and digital media projects are ignited. Featuring a premium lineup of the boldest voices and the world’s most influential media leaders, this year’s speakers include Netflix’s co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos; the new Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group Channing Dungey; Emmy® Award-nominated producer Greg Berlanti; Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Kaley Cuoco; award-winning director and CEO of Mad Rabbit Kari Skogland; President, Marvel Studios and Chief Creative Officer, Marvel Kevin Feige; and The SpringHill Company’s CEO Maverick Carter, among others.

The full agenda for this special day and the 2021 Banff World Media Festival is available HERE.

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About the Banff World Media FestivalTaking place online from June 14 –July 16, the Banff World Media Festival attracts the world’s top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press, and media companies. The 2021 virtual edition of the Festival is poised to build on the success of last year’s virtual event, with an all–new purpose–built online platform that will facilitate thousands of real–time meetings, chat, personalized video suites, a project lounge, multiple events, keynotes, master classes and panels as well as a thriving online delegate lounge. It is the world’s most effective online market for development, co–productions, and business development, connecting the global media industry to ignite new projects and support new ventures.

In addition to its Festival programming and marketplace, BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives includingThe BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, supported by the Government of Canada which will empower up to 200 Canadian women entrepreneurs to launch and grow their own sustainable businesses within the screen–based industries as well as theNetflix–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 each year.

For more information on the Banff World Media Festival, click here.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Pam Wilson
Ink Media PR
Tel: +44 (0)7397 841841
Email: Pam@inkmediapr.co.uk

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