Banff unveils four-month event program & ‘Snowpiercer’ panel

The Banff World Media Festival has unveiled a four month-long series of online content starting in May, following the cancellation of the 2020 version of the annual event.

The Banff Virtual Edition program will start 26 May at 13.00EDT with a Master Class featuring a sneak peek of Netflix and TNT’s post-apocalyptic drama Snowpiercer, produced by Tomorrow Studios.

The session will also feature an in-depth conversation with Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) and other actors from the show, along with showrunner and executive producer Graeme Manson, Tomorrow’s CEO Marty Adelstein (Hanna) and Netflix VP of content Larry Tanz.

Further industry panels and interactive video sessions will be announced in the coming weeks, joining other events including The Rockie Awards on 15 June and BANFF Day on 16 June, which will tentpole the season of programming and offer an array of showrunner and senior exec sessions.

“We are pleased to provide an opportunity for the industry in Canada and around the world to join together for this Virtual Edition of Banff,” said Randy Lennox, president of Bell Media and chair of the Banff World Media Festival board.

“While we’ll miss the mountains, this is a unique opportunity to connect, inspire, and support one another from a distance. Congratulations to the Banff crew for their commitment to delivering an engaging festival full of must-see programming and discussion,” Lennox added.

Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director of the Banff World Media Festival, said: “The Canadian and global entertainment industries have been hard-hit by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, and with the strong support of our Grand Patrons and partners, we are offering the majority of the festival’s programming including panel sessions, master classes and other content free of charge to the industry.”

Companies signed up to participate include A+E Networks, Amazon, AMC Networks, BBC America, Bell Media, Blue Ant Media, CAA, CBBC, CBC, CBS All-Access, CNN, Corus Entertainment, Disney, Endemol Shine, eOne, Hulu, ITV Studios, Keshet, Netflix, Lionsgate, OUTtv, PBS, Rogers Media, Starz, Tomorrow Studios, Groupe Media TFO, UKTV, Vice Canada, Warner Bros., WarnerMedia, YLE and ZDF.