Festivals

BANFF festival launches Diversity of Voices Initiative
The program aims to provide mentorship and market-access opportunities for 100 Indigenous, Francophone and female industry professionals.

NBCU’s Robert Greenblatt, Kevin MacLellan to keynote BANFF
The 2018 Company of Distinction is also bringing eight of its most senior executives, including Jeff Wachtel and Deirdre Brennan, to the Alberta festival’s 39th edition.

Maya Gallus’ The Heat to open Hot Docs 2018
The NFB also has 21 projects participating in the festival, which this year sees 50% of its titles led by women filmmakers.

Agents of Influence among Hot Docs Forum picks
EyeSteelFilm’s copro with South Africa’s Fireworx Media and Chronicle Productions is one of 20 projects selected for the annual pitch event.

Hot Docs unveils more Special Presentations
Canada/U.S. feature doc The Game Changers will screen in the section, alongside projects about rapper M.I.A. and fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

Prime Time ’18: How to pitch Netflix
Netflix exec Elizabeth Bradley sits down with Halfire’s Noreen Halpern to talk shop on getting shows on the platform.

Prime Time ’18: Mastin opens with a call for collaboration
As the Canadian TV industry looks ahead to this year’s Broadcasting Act review, the head of the CMPA asks the industry to consider both sides of the story.

Banff World Media Festival to honour NBCUniversal
The global media co will be presented with the Company of Distinction award at the four-day festival in June.

Jenn Kuzmyk named exec director of BANFF
The former director of international distribution at Proper Rights will head up all commercial activities and partnerships related to the festival.

WFF ’17: Women’s voices rise to the top
Confronting sexual assault in the industry and achieving gender parity were two of the major topics tackled at the annual Women on Top breakfast.

Awards roundup: Borsos tie at Whistler
Plus: Jennifer Podemski wins ACTRA Award of Excellence and Tulipani nabs an international audience award.