From a media release:
The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is thrilled to announce that award-winning creator, executive producer, and writer Chuck Lorre will be a keynote speaker for its 2025 BANFF Summit Series. The 46th annual event will take place June 8–11, 2025, at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
The BANFF Summit Series, launched in 2019, has become the festival’s flagship program, spotlighting transformative thinkers and leaders shaping the future of media and entertainment.
“Chuck Lorre is a prolific creator who is behind some of the most memorable series and characters in modern history,” said Sean Cohan, Chair of the Board of Directors, BANFF, and President of Bell Media. “His groundbreaking work has shaped generations of storytelling, and we are excited for him to share his unique insights and experiences with the global media community at BANFF.”
Lorre is the creative force behind some of the most successful and beloved series in television history. Based at Warner Bros. Television for the last 25 years, the prolific Lorre’s series for the Studio include the long-running global blockbuster hit comedy The Big Bang Theory, its highly acclaimed spinoff Young Sheldon, and the third show in the Big Bang universe, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which is network TV’s #1 comedy of the 2024–25 season. His slate also features the highly anticipated upcoming comedy Leanne, starring Leanne Morgan, for Netflix. Additional Lorre series from WBTV include Bookie, Bob♥Abishola, The Kominsky Method, Mom, Mike & Molly, and Two and a Half Men, among others. Prior to his association with WBTV, Lorre created hits such as Cybill, Dharma & Greg, and Grace Under Fire, and he also served as co-executive producer on Roseanne. His contributions to television have earned him widespread recognition, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
As previously announced, this year’s Summit Series speakers include Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi and Keith Le Goy, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television. Previous Summit Series speakers have included industry luminaries such as Rob Wade, Channing Dungey, Bela Bajaria, George Cheeks, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter.
For the first time, the prestigious Banff Gala Awards and the Rockie Awards International Program Competition will unite in a single, must-attend event. This milestone celebration will honour both the entertainment industry’s most influential talent and business leaders, as well as the most exceptional content from around the world. Korea has been named the inaugural Country of Honour and will receive a special tribute at the Rockie Awards, further highlighting the nation’s growing global influence in entertainment. Additionally, multiple Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer will be presented with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Rockie Awards and will participate in an exclusive “In Conversation” panel session alongside notable composers from Bleeding Fingers Music, the multiple Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer collective he co-founded in 2013.
BANFF is renowned for its vibrant mix of thought leadership, networking, and deal-making opportunities that take attendees behind the scenes of the industry’s most talked-about appointments, projects, and pivots, as well as over 1,200 networking sessions and 25,000+ meetings, connecting global media professionals to foster partnerships and spark new collaborations.
