Banff unveils new online platform as event goes virtual again

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) has unveiled a new bespoke online platform for its event, which this year will again take place online.

BANFF, which was forced to adapt last year as the pandemic hit, will take place between 14 June to 16 July and offer what organisers describe as a “virtual industry and event hub”. The new platform, which will be unveiled in April, will allow users to attend meetings and view content in myriad ways.

From 14-18 June, the online platform will host a new initiative called Marketplace Week, where participants can virtually meet, screen, pitch, enlighten and socialise in real time.

Jenn Kuzmyk

The week will also be home to the Rockie Awards International Program Competition, which will take place on 15 June, as well as the festival’s Summit Series keynotes, industry panels and an array of networking, parties and curated events.

A variety of online delegate lounge environments will also be available, featuring exhibitors as well as a communal space where individuals can connect for scheduled meetings, curated events and serendipitous networking.

Companies and delegations will be able to gather in virtual Pavilions featuring multiple meeting spaces, with each delegate having their own customised private video conferencing room.

BANFF 2021 will then continue from 21 June to 16 July, premiering a series of live and interactive panel discussions, celebrity masterclasses and other events with execs. BANFF Marketplace holders will also have access to exclusive meeting opportunities.

“Great content and successful business ventures are fueled by meaningful personal connections. BANFF has always been about bringing people together, and this year’s festival will do that on a grand virtual scale,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director of Banff World Media Festival.

“We believe our industry must recognise and act on its role in the movements for social, political, and environmental progress. This year’s festival content will continue to drive conversation and action, highlighting the power that the entertainment industry has to change minds, change policy, and create opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented.”