The Banff World Television Festival has unveiled two new programs meant to give a leg up to writers and showrunners. The Canwest Emerging Writers Program and the Canwest Showrunner Training Program will bow this June — bringing as many as 15 TV-makers to the Alberta festival.

Up to five writers will take part in the writing program, attending specially designed seminars and master classes. After the festival, they will meet with story teams from current Canadian series, learning more about the demands of series writing, say organizers. As many as 10 other writers will be admitted to the showrunner program, meant to teach the ins and outs of producing a series. Participants will also take part in classes at Banff, and be flown to L.A. for a week of meetings with a U.S. story team.

‘This partnership with the Banff World Television Festival will ensure that the country’s most talented writers and producers remain working in the Canadian broadcasting industry,’ said Canwest content exec Barb Williams, in a statement. The deadline for applications is April 18. See www.banff2008.com for details.