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Industry News

CRTC Chairperson and CEO Vicky Eatrides to give keynote at BANFF 2023

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce CRTC Chairperson and CEO Vicky Eatrides will speak on Monday, June 12, with a keynote session. The 44th edition of the Festival will take place in-person June 11 – 14 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

With delegates from more than 45 countries, BANFF attracts the world’s top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. As previously announced, George Cheeks, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS and Chief Content Officer, News and Sports for Paramount+, is also confirmed as a Summit Series speaker, a curated, future-focused lineup of keynote sessions that was launched in 2019 in honour of the festival’s four-decade legacy.

“Chairperson Eatrides’ BANFF debut comes at a pivotal time of critical examination and foundational change for the Canadian and international media industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival. “We are honoured to host the new head of the CRTC at this year’s festival, to participate in what is sure to be an illuminating and greatly anticipated keynote.”

Eatrides began her career practising regulatory law at a national law firm in 2000. She joined the federal public service in 2005 and held a number of senior executive positions at the Competition Bureau, Natural Resources Canada, and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Eatrides has experience across a variety of areas, including law enforcement, strategic policy, economic analysis, legislative affairs, and international relations.

Eatrides held several leadership roles at the Competition Bureau over a twelve-year period, including Senior Deputy Commissioner in charge of enforcing criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act. During her time at the arm’s-length organization, she developed expertise in telecommunications, broadcasting, and new technologies by leading merger reviews, civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory interventions.

Eatrides taught Competition Law courses at Queen’s University and has spoken at numerous domestic and international conferences and events. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

In addition to Summit Series keynotes, BANFF will return with an array of provocative panel discussions including the recently announced Universal Studio Group Spotlight session featuring Erin Underhill, President of Universal Television, Beatrice Springborn, President of Universal International Studios & UCP and Toby Gorman, President of Universal Television Alternative Studio.

The Festival will again include celebrity master classes and networking opportunities to connect the global media industry to ignite new projects and support business development. Also returning: the prestigious Rockies Gala honouring the most inspiring executives and talent in the industry; and the Rockie Awards International Program Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious screen industry competitions, with participation from more than 45+ countries annually including an international jury of 150 industry professionals. Category winners, including the Grand Jury Prize, the Rogers Prize for Canadian Content, the Francophone Prize, and other special prizes, will be announced during the Festival on June 12th.

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Industry News

The Jim Henson Company & marblemedia to develop new original live-action comedy series, Felix

From a media release:

Award-winning global production company, marblemedia, and The Jim Henson Company, an established leader in innovative and iconic entertainment, are partnering once again, this time on the original scripted comedy series, Felix (10×30), which will break new ground by debunking the stereotypes and stigmatization around neurodiversity and mental health challenges among children.

Created by Miklos Perlus, and inspired by his neurodivergent son, Felix is a live action comedy about a boy, his family, and his “feels” – five original characters to be created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™ that manifest his larger-than-life emotions. They live in his house; they follow him to school; they eat all the good snacks; they’re like the worst pets ever. And now that Felix attends a school for neurodivergent kids like him, he’s finally learning how to live with his very real emotions.

“We could think of no better partner on this project than The Jim Henson Company to join us in creating a transformative family television series”, explains A.J. Trauth, VP Kids at marblemedia. “We share a desire to bring the much-needed conversation around children’s mental health directly to audiences across North America, and the world. Miklos has expertly crafted an authentic, optimistic, and hilarious story about this very important topic.”

“For generations, the art of puppetry has helped us process our thoughts and feelings. By authentically depicting the nuanced and complex ways that neurodivergent children experience the world, Felix will use comedy and a cast of original hilarious characters to introduce audiences to new ways of thinking, reducing the stigma around mental health and inspiring families to improve their own communication,” said Halle Stanford, President of Television for The Jim Henson Company.

marblemedia and The Jim Henson Company have partnered previously on live-action preschool series Hi Opie!, in 2014 and its spin-off Opie’s Home in 2016.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Production has begun on Treaty Road for APTN

From a media release:

Saxon de Cocq, Hannah Hermanson and Ell McEachern of 3 Story Pictures, Doug Cuthand of Blue Hill Productions, and Candy Renae Fox are pleased to announce that principal photography has commenced on Season 1 of Treaty Road, the ground-breaking, long overdue 6-part docuseries (one hour each) that follows Dakota/Anishinaabekwe educator and researcher, Erin Goodpipe (RezX, The Other Side, Bathsheba: Search for Evil) and Métis writer, director and producer Saxon de Cocq (The Other Side, The Invincible Sergeant Bill (CBC) and Land Acknowledgement (CIFF)) on their personal and communal journey as they travel the old roads to uncover the truth about the signing of the Numbered Treaties, signed between 1871 and 1921, and ultimately themselves.

Treaty Road will be broadcast on APTN and produced with financial support from Canada Media Fund and Creative Saskatchewan.

Filming takes place across Treaty 1 through 6 territories in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Production commenced in October 2022 and will complete in March 2023. The series will go to air later this year.

While exploring his Métis ancestry, writer/director Saxon de Cocq discovered that his great grandfather (x4) was the Honorable James McKay, a prominent Métis from the Red River area. McKay was involved in many of the Numbered Treaty negotiations, eventually becoming a Treaty Commissioner. With mixed feelings, Saxon is driven to learn more… what was McKay’s involvement, his motivations for playing a pivotal role in this part of history? Saxon enlists the help of his friend Erin Goodpipe, a community educator and researcher with knowledge in treaty rights.

Treaty Road is directed by Candy Fox (The Other Side, Big Brother Canada, Zarqa), and hosted by Saxon de Cocq and Erin Goodpipe and produced by Saxon de Cocq, Candy Fox, Ell McEachern (Staying Wild, The Other Side, and the upcoming ZARQA S2) and Hannah Hermanson (Staying Wild, The Other Side, Dirt Farmers and the upcoming ZARQA S2). The series is written by Saxon de Cocq and story edited by Berkley Brady (Dark Nature, The Secret History of: The Wild West) with Doug Cuthand (Guardians: Evolution, Miywayawin, Big Bear) serving as executive producer.

Cinematography by Jeremy Ratzlaff (By Faith, Denis, Never Seen Again) and editing by Jen Prokop (Staying Wild, The Other Side).

Producer/Director Candy Fox says, “Indigenous nations have held up their end of the Treaty relationship. My hope is that this exploration is a tool for understanding and maybe even growth for those who are unaware of what the Treaty relationship was actually meant to be.”

Host Erin Goodpipe adds, “I didn’t have the privilege to avoid the impacts of treaty. And what I mean by that is that the broken promises of the treaty have impacted my family and so many Indigenous families, in such a way that you can’t ignore those impacts. So, it’s a privilege for those who benefit from treaty and yet, don’t have to learn about what the treaties are”.

ABOUT SAXON DE COCQ
Saxon de Cocq is a Métis writer, director and creative producer from Southern Alberta, Region 3 and is a citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta. After 15 years of refining his storytelling craft, he’s perfectly at home in both the documentary and scripted worlds. He has been the creative force behind documentary series like APTN’s nationally broadcast The Other Side (writing and directing 18 episodes and creative producing the series) as well as writing, directing and producing 8 short films that were screened and broadcast across the country, including CBC. Saxon has a preternatural gift for bringing stories to life in a relatable way and is currently in development on his second documentary series, of his creation, with APTN. Saxon is also excited to be in development on three different scripted television series.

ABOUT ERIN GOODPIPE
Erin is a dakȟóta wíŋyaŋ/ anishinaabekwe from tatanka najin oyate (Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation) and is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and researcher. She is currently in the Master of Indigenous Education program and has taught at First Nations University of Canada. Alongside her education, she is involved in a number of media projects, notably as a television host on RezX , APTN’s The Other Side and is involved in Indigenous health and wellness research projects. Erin is passionate about wholistic artistic experiences and continues to work on community embedded theatre projects in a variety of ways. This can be seen in her involvement with the Globe Theatre in Regina, SK, on a number of projects including: Making Treaty 4, In Care, Where the Blood Mixes and Women of the Fur Trade. Erin has worked in various realms of community (from Indigenous youth to deputy ministers) using the arts to explore and transform personal and political narratives using story gathering and sharing practices through an Indigenous lens. Her professional work is rooted in her personal circles, where kinship, ceremony, land/sky/water based practices lead her learning and living.

ABOUT CANDY RENAE FOX
Candy Renae Fox is a two-spirited, Plains Cree woman from the Piapot First Nation. Candy has been able to nurture her growth as a film director with over 20 years of involvement in the industry. Whether through her beginnings as an actor and eventual progression to directing, Candy is passionate about storytelling. Candy holds a BFA in film production. Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival named her short film Backroads as one of Canada’s Top Ten Student Shorts. She is an alumnus of the National Screen Institute’s IndigiDocs program where her film ahkâmêyimo nitânis / Keep Going, My Daughter premiered at Hot Docs. She was awarded Best Short and Audience Choice by the Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards for Keep Going. More recently, she has directed for broadcast television with Amplify (APTN), The Other Side (APTN), Big Brother Canada (Global), and ZARQA (CBC Gem). Candy is excited to be co-producing and directing the ground-breaking, six part docu-series Treaty Road which will air on APTN in fall 2023.

ABOUT DOUG CUTHAND
Doug Cuthand is an independent producer, writer, and journalist with over 30 years experience, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Little Pine First Nation, a Plains Cree community in Saskatchewan. Doug is the author of two books dealing with First Nations history and treaty issues – ASKIWINA: A Cree World and Tapwe: Selected Columns of Doug Cuthand and has written a weekly column for Post Media for 30 years. He was the Chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Board of Directors, precursor of the First Nations University of Canada. Blue Hill Productions is owned by Doug Cuthand and produces documentaries, docudramas, and dramas for all markets.

ABOUT HANNAH HERMANSON
Hannah has over a decade of experience in the television and film industry. After earning her honors degree from Middlesex University in London, Hannah hit the ground running, making herself an indispensable part of any team she joined. From production manager to line producer, Hannah has taken on a wide range of roles and responsibilities, consistently executing projects with efficiency and grace. What sets Hannah apart is her unique combination of skills. She has a talent for bringing people together, encouraging collaboration and teamwork for the greater creative good. Her resourcefulness is unmatched, and she can turn even the most challenging of situations into a success. Her ability to lead with confidence and finesse has earned her a reputation as a problem-solver, and her contributions to the projects she works on have a lasting impact.

ABOUT ELL MCEACHERN
Ell has over twenty years’ experience in the Canadian Film and Television industry, and credits on 90+ hours of content. This journey has endowed her with a love of collaboration and the ability to foster it across diverse teams, helping projects coalesce from fragile dreams into powerful concepts. Ell’s first industry steps were taken on the accounting and finance side — and she keeps one foot firmly planted there as a CFA Charterholder. She maintains her membership in the DGC Accounting Caucus, as well as a noteworthy track record of project execution, delivery and successful audits. As a producer, Ell combines an exceptional eye for detail with big picture thinking. While she’s a gifted creative in her own right, her secret weapon is helping the team levitate over complex roadblocks to get the stories told.

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Industry News

George Cheeks to keynote the 2023 Banff World Media Festival

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS and Chief Content Officer, News and Sports for Paramount+ George Cheeks is confirmed to participate in the Festival’s Summit Series, a premium keynote speaker lineup featuring the boldest voices and the world’s most influential media leaders. Cheeks will speak on Monday, June 12th, in an exclusive fireside conversation. The 44th edition of the Festival will take place in-person June 11 – 14 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

“George Cheeks has been an innovative business and creative force in the television industry for over thirty years,” commented Kevin Beggs, Chair of the Board of Directors for BANFF and Chair & Chief Creative Officer of the Lionsgate Television Group. “We at the Banff World Media Festival are honored to have George give our keynote and share his views on the evolving industry.”

“In this liminal era of the entertainment industry, George Cheeks is paving an innovative path,” said BANFF Executive Director, Jenn Kuzmyk. “We’re honoured to welcome him to the festival and look forward to hearing his vision for the future of the business as well as insights on some of the industry’s big questions.”

The BANFF Summit Series is a curated, future-focused lineup of keynote sessions that was launched in 2019 in honour of the festival’s four-decade legacy. This powerful speaker roster features the global players who are shaping the future of the media industry. Past Summit Series speakers have included Bela Bajaria, Pearlena Igbokwe, Greg Berlanti, Ted Sarandos, Channing Dungey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Sarah Barnett, Paul Feig, Kenan Thompson, Maverick Carter, David Linde and Seth Meyers.

Cheeks oversees CBS-branded assets within Paramount Global, including the CBS Television Network, which encompasses CBS Entertainment, CBS News and CBS Sports, as well as CBS Studios, CBS Stations, CBS Media Ventures, its first-run syndication business, and CBS-branded digital assets. He is also the Chief Content Officer, News and Sports, for Paramount+, extending the world-class content from CBS News and CBS Sports to the streaming super service. In addition, his leadership portfolio across Paramount Global includes responsibility for BET, Paramount Television Studios and the company’s free-to-air networks in the United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina and Chile.

Prior to joining CBS, Cheeks served more than seven years at NBCUniversal in senior executive positions that spanned creative, business and operational roles. Most recently, he was Vice Chairman, NBCUniversal Content Studios and was also in charge of late night programming for NBC Entertainment. Previously, Cheeks was Co-Chairman of NBC Entertainment and was jointly responsible for overseeing primetime, late night and scripted daytime programming for the network, including business affairs, marketing, communications, scheduling, West Coast research and digital operations, as well as first-run syndication.

Prior to being named Co-Chairman, Cheeks served as Co-President, Universal Cable Productions and Wilshire Studios as well as President, Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment, where he oversaw the network’s lucrative and successful late night slate. Prior to that role, Cheeks was President of Business Operations and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment.

Cheeks joined NBC in 2012 after serving as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and General Counsel, Viacom Music and Entertainment Groups, Content Distribution and Marketing, as well as Head of Standards and Practices for Viacom Media Networks, in New York. In his first stint with Viacom starting in 1998, he began working as Senior Counsel for MTV Networks in the Business and Legal Affairs Department for the Nickelodeon Group. While there, he ascended to positions of increasing responsibility, and in 2005 he was elevated to Executive Vice President and General Counsel for MTV, MTV2, MTVu, MTV Films, VH1, CMT and LOGO.

In addition to Summit Series keynotes, BANFF will return with an array of provocative panel discussions, celebrity master classes and networking opportunities to connect the global media industry to ignite new projects and support business development. Also returning: the prestigious Rockies Gala honouring the most inspiring executives and talent in the industry; and the Rockie Awards International Program Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious screen industry competitions, with participation from more than 45+ countries annually including an international jury of 150 industry professionals. Category winners, including the Grand Jury Prize, the Rogers Prize for Canadian Content, the Francophone Prize, and other special prizes, will be announced during the Festival on June 12th.

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