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Awards, Featured

Banff World Media Festival sets 2026 Rockie Honourees

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From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) today announced its highly anticipated Showrunner Super Panel, alongside its 2026 Rockie Awards Gala Honourees, recognizing outstanding talents whose work has made a significant impact on the global entertainment industry. The prestigious Rockie Awards, including the Program Competition awards, will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor, director, writer, and executive producer Allana Harkin (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) on Tuesday, June 16 at 6:00 PM MT (5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET).

As part of its 2026 programming lineup, BANFF will present its Showrunner Super Panel, bringing together an extraordinary lineup of award-winning and in-demand creators behind some of today’s most talked-about series and films. Representing a true who’s who of contemporary television writing and production, this rare gathering offers an unfiltered look at the creative forces shaping the industry today and where it’s heading next.

The panel will feature:

  • Nick Antosca, award-winning writer, creator, and showrunner whose work spans critically acclaimed series including Channel Zero (SYFY), the Emmy®-winning limited series The Act (Hulu), Brand New Cherry Flavor (Netflix), and A Friend of the Family (Peacock). He also executive produced Chucky, Candy, and Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and is currently showrunner and executive producer of Cape Fear for Apple TV+.
  • R. Scott Gemmill, Emmy®, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Humanitas Award-winning television writer, producer, and showrunner with decades of experience shaping some of television’s most successful dramas including JAG, ER, and NCIS: Los Angeles. He is the creator and showrunner of the Emmy Award-winning hit series The Pitt.
  • Amy B. Harris, an acclaimed writer, producer, and showrunner known for her work on Sex and the City, The Comeback and The Wilds and as the creator of The Carrie Diaries, whose upcoming series Every Year After premieres June 10 on Prime Video.
  • Lee Sung Jin, Golden Globe Award and three-time Emmy® Award winning creator, executive producer, writer and director of the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning Netflix series BEEF. Lee made his directorial debut with Season One’s finale, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in Emmy-winning performances. For Season Two, Lee returned to write every episode and direct half the critically praised new season, starring Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac, three-time Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan, Golden Globe nominee Cailee Spaeny, Golden Globe nominee Charles Melton, Academy Award winner Youn Yun Jung, and Actor Award winner Song Kang Ho. He also served as Executive Producer on Alex Russell’s award-winning film LURKER, which premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance and Berlin International Film Festivals. Next, Lee is writing X-MEN for Marvel, which reunites him with director Jake Schreier. 
  • Glenn Kessler, Emmy®-winning writer, producer, and showrunner who co-created Damages and executive produced Bloodline, currently co-showrunning the Fox series Memory of a Killer alongside Aaron Zelman.
  • Oren Uziel is a renowned writer, director, and producer currently serving as co-showrunner and executive producer of Spider-Noir starring Nicolas Cage. The highly anticipated new series, produced by Sony Pictures Television exclusively for MGM+ and Prime Video, will premiere on May 25 on MGM+’s linear channel and globally May 27 on Prime Video. Oren’s credits also include The Lost City, 22 Jump Street, and The Cloverfield Paradox.
  • Aaron Zelman, Emmy®-nominated writer, producer, and showrunner known for Law & Order, Damages, and Bloodline, currently co-showrunning the Fox series Memory of a Killer alongside Glenn Kessler.

“The Showrunner Super Panel brings together some of the most compelling creative minds working in television today,” said Pam Silverstein, Head of Programming, BANFF. “These are the storytellers behind the shows audiences are watching and talking about around the world. This session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from them, how they create, lead, and continue to push the boundaries of storytelling in a rapidly evolving industry.”

BANFF is also proud to unveil its 2026 Rockie Awards Gala Honourees:

CANADIAN AWARD OF DISTINCTION: Jason Priestley (Private Eyes West Coast, Wild Cards, 90210)

Presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF/FMC) and MadeNous, the award is given to a Canadian whose body of work exemplifies outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry. Past honourees include:  Stephan James, Simu Liu, Eric McCormack, Kim Cattrall, Sheila Hockin and Jean-Marc Vallée.

CREATIVE VOICE AWARD: Mae Martin (Wayward)

The creative voice award is bestowed on an executive or creative talent that has created outstanding work that breaks through, inspiring and connecting global audiences. Past honourees include Renée Elise Goldsberry, Rose Matafeo and Jennifer Podemski.

SIR PETER USTINOV COMEDY AWARD: Ken Jeong (Community)

The award recognizes a creative talent who has made an outstanding comedic contribution to the media industry. Past honourees include: Tom Green, Kenan Thompson, Sean Hayes, John Cleese, Tracey Ullman, Bob Newhart, Tantoo Cardinal, John Candy, Bill Hader, Ana Gasteyer and Craig T. Robinson.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Dances with Wolves)

The Career Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose extraordinary work has made a significant impact on the screen-based industries. Past honourees include: Alanis Obomsawin, Dan Rather, Christine Baranski, Larry King, Ed Asner, William Shatner, James Burrows and David Attenborough.

COUNTRY OF HONOUR: Spain

This distinguished recognition highlights Spain’s global influence on the entertainment industry and its trailblazing producers, media companies, and content creators.

“The Rockie Awards Honourees represent the very best of creative excellence and global impact in our industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, BANFF. “From iconic performances to bold, original storytelling, Tantoo, Jason, Mae, and Ken have each shaped the cultural conversation in meaningful ways.”

The Banff World Media Festival and Rockie Awards remain a premier gathering for the global media industry, offering more than 1,200 networking sessions and over 25,000 meetings connecting creators, producers, studios, streamers, brands, and decision-makers. BANFF 2026 will once again serve as a key destination for deal-making, thought leadership, and forward-looking conversations shaping the future of the industry.

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Featured

Jesse Armstrong to keynote Banff World Media Festival 2026 

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From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) today announced additional programming for its 2026 edition, featuring a keynote from Emmy Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated writer, director and producer Jesse Armstrong (writer, director, and executive producer, Mountainhead; creator, showrunner, and executive producer, Succession), moderated by CBC Q’s Tom Power. The festival continues to expand its lineup of global leaders and industry voices across scripted, unscripted, brand storytelling, and emerging formats. The 47th annual Banff World Media Festival will take place June 14–17, 2026, at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Armstrong is a British author, screenwriter, and producer. He is a co-creator of the Channel 4 comedy series Peep Show and Fresh Meat, a writer on The Thick of It and Four Lions, and the creator of the HBO series Succession. His work has earned numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for In the Loop, and four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Succession.  Jesse’s directorial debut feature Mountainhead is nominated in the Feature Length Film category at this year’s Rockie Awards.

BANFF will also present an In Conversation With Georgie Holt, CEO of FlightStory, the exponentially growing media company behind Steven Bartlett’s hit Diary of a CEO podcast.  Holt will discuss the evolution of creator-led studios and the future of audience-first IP.

The festival will also host a special In Conversation with Henry Winkler, tied to his work with A+E Factual Studios and his popular series Hazardous History on HISTORY in the U.S., offering an inside look at his enduring career and latest creative work. A+E’s Sharon Scott will introduce this session.

A featured opening-day session will be led by Adam Cunningham, CEO Allied Global Marketing, offering an unfiltered, forward-looking conversation designed to challenge what we think we know about the future of media, entertainment, marketing, AI, and the broader cultural landscape. Cunningham is an industry expert who will open with three urgent questions that will examine how brands and content companies can adapt to rapidly shifting consumer expectations and what it will take to earn and sustain attention in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

Further highlighting BANFF’s commitment to cultural conversation and audience engagement, the festival will introduce Fandom Wednesday, a dedicated track of programming on Wednesday, June 17th, exploring fan-driven ecosystems, community-building, and the growing influence of audiences in shaping content success. Speakers include David Madden, President at Webtoon Productions, Wattpad; Melissa Ahlstrand, Marketing Director of Americas, Hayu; Justin Stockman, VP, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media; Dawn Yang, Global Head of Entertainment Partnerships, TikTok, and more to come.

Expanding its focus on the intersection of entertainment, marketing, and cultural impact, BANFF will feature a brand storytelling panel featuring Adam Puchalsky, President of Brand Studio at Blink49 Studios, Brendan Gaul, Global Chief Entertainment Officer of McCANN, Oliver Gray, Vice President of Network Sports and Client Partnerships, The E.W. Scripps Company and Daniel Mekinda, Executive Vice President, WPP Media Canada.

“Jesse Armstrong doesn’t just capture the cultural conversation, he drives it. Having him join us at BANFF alongside an incredible lineup of creators, executives, and industry disruptors says everything about where the global media business is right now: bold, unpredictable, and evolving fast. BANFF 2026 is bringing together the people shaping what’s next, and the conversations this year are going to be unforgettable,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, BANFF.

As previously announced, Jinny Howe, Netflix’s Head of U.S. and Canada Scripted Series, will serve as a keynote speaker at the festival. The program will also feature an In Conversation with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister, as well as a keynote conversation with Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and CEO of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Spain has been named the Country of Honour for 2026 and will be spotlighted throughout the festival with dedicated programming, networking opportunities, and curated events highlighting its dynamic content ecosystem across scripted, unscripted, film, and digital-first storytelling.

Further reinforcing BANFF’s role as a global hub for co-production and international collaboration, the festival will also welcome a strong European cohort, including commissioners from The Walt Disney Company Spain, Germany’s ZDF Studios, France Télévisions, Spain’s RTVE, TG4 in Ireland, as well as Channel 5 and BBC in the UK, creating expanded opportunities for cross-border partnerships and deal-making.

The prestigious Rockie Awards will once again celebrate the industry’s most influential talent and business leaders via special Gala Honours to be announced,  alongside awards for outstanding content, selected by an international jury from entries hailing from more than 45 countries around the world

The Banff World Media Festival and Rockie Awards remain a premier gathering for the global media industry, offering more than 1,200 networking sessions and over 25,000 meetings connecting creators, producers, studios, streamers, brands, and decision-makers. BANFF 2026 will once again serve as a key destination for deal-making, thought leadership, and forward-looking conversations shaping the future of the industry.

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Banff World Media Festival and Netflix announce 2026 Diversity of Voices: Elevate participants

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From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF), in partnership with Netflix, is pleased to announce the 10 selected participants for the 2026 Diversity of Voices: Elevate, who will be attending the 47th edition of the Festival on June 14-17, 2026, at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Originally launched in 2018, Diversity of Voices has helped to take down barriers at scale, providing 800 opportunities to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Canadian producers and creatives.  The program has played a vital role in supporting mainly emerging and early-career Canadian writers, directors and producers from racialized communities, helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable industry. As the program and its alumni have matured, BANFF and DOV partners identified a critical next gap: ensuring diverse producers and creators at established levels have the promotion, marketing and strategic access opportunities to advance their companies and projects on a national and global scale.

For 2026, the program has now been reimagined as Diversity of Voices: Elevate, designed to deepen career momentum, prestige and industry visibility for participants. This next evolution focuses on amplifying recognition at a pivotal stage in the participants’ professional trajectory, when meaningful global exposure, access to high-level decision-makers, and strategic industry connectivity can have the greatest impact. As one of the world’s leading media marketplaces, BANFF provides a unique platform for the industry to connect directly with domestic and international buyers, partners, and financiers, making it an ideal environment to scale careers and secure financing and partnerships for new projects. Following consultation with stakeholders, partners, and past DOV Initiative alumni, this year’s cohort will serve 10 mid-career and established industry participants, providing a tailored experience that will promote and shine a global light on some of Canada’s most exciting producers, directors and writers. Supporting partners of the program include: Reelworld, the Black Screen Office (BSO), the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), and the Disability Screen Office (DSO).

The 2026 Diversity of Voices: Elevate participants are (listed alphabetically):

Brishkay Ahmed, Digital Warriors Productions Inc.

Jamie Bourque-Blyan, Infinity Studio 8

Karen Chapman, Smallaxx Motion Pictures

Sean Devlin, Beb Bingo Entertainment

Damon D’Oliveira, Conquering Lion Pictures

JP Larocque, JP Larocque Productions

Jessica Tatum Meya, Gut Punch Productions

Kaveh Mohebbi, d’scribe Pictures

Arnold Pinnock

Ann Shin, Fathom Films

A key new component of the 2026 program is the launch of the DOV: Elevate Podcast, spotlighting the participants and their current projects while exploring the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s screen industry.

“Over the past eight years, Diversity of Voices has helped cultivate an extraordinary pipeline of talent, and I know firsthand the difference that nuanced and tangible support makes,” said Vanessa Mitchell (featured image above), Producer, Fellowship Programs at the Banff World Media Festival. “With Elevate, we’ve poured that insight into a new direction, ensuring producers and creatives of colour don’t just enter the industry, but have sustainable careers within it. We are building in togetherness and ensuring there are always seats ready at the highest levels. This format allows us to champion our participants via a concerted marketing campaign, strategic visibility, and celebrating the recognition they’ve earned, helping them reach the next defining milestone in their careers.”

Diversity of Voices supports established Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour professionals who are Canadian residents and working on Canadian film and TV projects with third-party development funding already attached. In response to direct feedback from past participants and industry stakeholders, the 2026 program significantly increases financial support, including an enhanced travel stipend designed to help remove economic barriers and ensure participants can fully access the opportunities the Festival provides. The program also provides participants with a robust marketing and promotional campaign, complimentary full-access Festival pass as well as advance access to BANFF’s networking programs enabling meaningful engagement with Canadian and global buyers, partners and decision-makers.

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Awards, Featured

Banff World Media Festival unveils esteemed grand jury for 2026 Rockie Awards

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) today announced the distinguished Grand Jury for the 2026 Rockie Awards International Program Competition. Comprised of senior executives representing some of the world’s most influential media companies, the Rockies Grand Jury will select the highly anticipated award from among the top-scoring programs across competition categories.

The Rockie Awards will take place on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2026 during BANFF, celebrating outstanding television and content from around the globe. The Festival will also present its prestigious Gala Awards, honoring visionary leaders, celebrated talent and industry changemakers.

The 2026 Rockie Awards Grand Jury includes:

Flory Bramnick, Executive Vice President, Distribution and Networks, North America, Sony Pictures Television

Sally Catto, General Manager of Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC (above)

Lori Conkling, Head of TV and Film Licensing, Netflix

Lisa Holme, Head of Content, Roku Media

Yongsun Soh, Managing Director, A+E Global Media Korea

“The Rockie Awards Grand Jury represents an extraordinary depth of experience and creative leadership across platforms, genres, and territories,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director. “Their collective insight ensures that the Grand Jury Prize continues to recognize excellence that resonates globally.”

Together, the Grand Jury brings a global perspective spanning content commissioning, distribution, streaming, and international markets reflecting the Rockie Awards’ reputation as one of the most prestigious and respected content competitions in the global media landscape.

Past recipients of the Rockie Awards Grand Jury Prize include Hell Jumper (2025), The Last of Us (2024), Eternal Spring (2023), Help (2022), I May Destroy You (2021), Fleabag (2020), Sharp Objects (2019), Big Little Lies (2018), among others. 

Submissions for the 2026 Rockie Awards International Program Competition are open through January 23, 2026, with nominees to be announced in March.

About the Rockie Awards
The Banff World Media Festival’s prestigious  The Rockie Awards recognize the best content and most influential entertainment industry executives, talent and creators in the world across television, film, podcasts, music on screen and creator content. Timed during a key awards FYC window and nomination voting, the Rockies include entries from up to 50 countries each year, and winners are selected by an international industry jury of 150+ influential senior entertainment and media professionals. The Rockies truly represent the best content in the world.

About the Banff World Media Festival
Now in its 47th year, the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is one of the most important global conferences and content development marketplaces – gathering top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. BANFF’s intimate, retreat-style event serves as a leading destination for development, co-production and co-venture partners and offers an unparalleled opportunity for international decision-makers to connect, map the future of the industry, and execute new business deals.  Summit Series keynotes, and renowned panels  feature the industry’s most inspiring creative and business leaders and give global profile to the most talked-about shows. BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives including: the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media: Producers Edition, the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, and the Indigenous Screen Summit and Pitch Forum. Together these programs have provided more than 1,000 opportunities for under-represented professionals in the Canadian media industry.

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Featured, Industry News

Legendary creator Chuck Lorre to deliver keynote at 2025 Banff World Media Festival

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.

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