CTV is launching a Canadian Documart on June 13, as part of the 22nd Banff Television Festival. The program, adopted from the Australian Documart, will distribute prize money, donated by CTV, to producers pitching the top three projects. For first prize, $50,000 will be awarded, with $30,000 and $20,000 for the runners-up.

This new event is open to all Canadian independent producers and to international independent producers who have a Canadian partner and a project that will qualify as Canadian content. Projects must be submitted by April 13. Judges will select six finalists to pitch their projects on-site during Banff 2001.

In other Banff news, the Banff Television Festival and Nova Scotia’s Baddeck International New Media Festival have struck a deal to support the branding of each event, share in the presentation of a new media pitching session and highlight future partnership opportunities in professional development.

Pat Ferns, president and CEO of the Banff Television Foundation, says the festivals remain separate but each will be profiled at the other event because "it’s more appropriate to collaborate than to compete."

The Baddeck festival, originated in 1997, takes place annually in the fall. It is a meeting place for new media creative, technical, and business professionals from Canada and abroad, focusing on content and creativity in new media and animation. *

-www.banff2001.com