BANFF lines up Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos for 2021 keynote

Ted Sarandos

Netflix’s co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos has been lined up as a virtual keynote as part of The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF)’s Summit Series line-up.

The session will take place on the festival’s opening day Monday, 14 June. Sarandos had been due to speak at BANFF in 2020, prior to the event being forced online as the pandemic spread.

“Over the last 10-plus years we have been thrilled to share great stories with Canadians, and work with some of the best creators from across the country,” said Sarandos.

“As we expand our local presence further, collaborating with partners like the BANFF World Media Festival helps us deepen these relationships and bring more Canadian entertainment to our members around the world. Even though we won’t be able to gather in person this time, I look forward to the unique dialogue BANFF offers.”

Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director at Banff World Media Festival, added: “The impact that Ted Sarandos and Netflix have had on the entertainment business and on the lives of people around the globe is impossible to quantify and has become much more evident over the past year.

“Ted continues to support new voices and champion groundbreaking work, raising the bar for creative excellence. The festival is thrilled to welcome him as Netflix Canada celebrates its 10th anniversary, for what is sure to be an inspiring keynote conversation, outlining his global vision and tackling some of the big questions in the industry and where it’s headed amid continuing seismic change.”

In January, BANFF unveiled a new online platform for its upcoming event, which is designed to allow users to attend meetings, watch sessions and view content virtually.