Wednesday, June 14, 2006, marked the close of another exceptional Banff World Television Festival, with more than 1,450 delegates in attendance, and a combined 1,700 delegates taking in both the television festival and its sister-event, nextMEDIAThe Future of Digital Content. With jam-packed panel and session rooms and a whirl of special events, the festival generated the signing and greenlighting of new deals, as well as the opportunity for delegates to turn their project ideas into reality.
Amongst the many deals at BANFF 2006 was David Paperny of Paperny Films who sealed a $1.4-million financing deal with both the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and CTV Inc. for a new documentary, while Chris Haddocks latest procedural drama, INTELLIGENCE is headed to the U.S. with the help of U.S. distributors Program Partners and Thunderbird Films. As well, last years pitching finalist, Sinking Ship Enterprises, announced that their childrens project ROLL PLAY is slated to air this fall on Canadas Treehouse TV.
This years elite lineup of VIP guest speakers and record number of U.S. delegates really is a reflection on how important this Festival is, globally, commented Robert Montgomery, ceo of the Banff World Television Festival. We not only saw a significant number of deals being signed, but also facilitated the development of a plethora of future programming.
Winners from this years pitching sessions will receive the opportunity to now turn their ideas and concepts into real productions. This years winners include:
CTV CANADIAN DOCUMARTFirst prize and $50,000 was presented to THE DOLPHIN DEALER by Leigh Badgley, OMNI Film Productions Ltd.
Second prize and $30,000 was presented to INVENTING THE FUTURE: ATANASOFF, MAUCHLY AND THE FIRST COMPUTER by Mila Aung-Thwin, EyeSteelFilm
Third prize and $20,000 was presented to WEB WARRIORS by Edward Peill, Tell Tale Productions Inc.
PITCH IT: DRAMA & COMEDYCHUGGA CHUGGA CHOO CHOO by Ian Johnson, Guru Inc. won a development prize of $10,000 from Showcase for the completeness of the pitch its setting and characters and for really knowing the world.
PITCH IT: LIFESTYLE & REALITYHIGH SCHOOL REUNION STORIES by Antonio Hrynchuk, Fahrenheit Films with a development prize of $10,000 from LIFE Network for an appealing concept and endless potential for conflict in the stories.
PITCH IT: CHILDRENS PROGRAMMINGTHE WORLD ACCORDING TO ELLA by Mark Montefiore, Polenta Prods. won for fleshed characters, a nice, simple concept and brilliant writing and casting.
KODAK AUDIENCE AWARDCHUGGA CHUGGA CHOO CHOO by Ian Johnson, Guru Inc. received $5,000 in film stock from Kodak Canada for being the all-round favorite pitch, chosen by the audience.
iPITCHRAVEN TALES by Michael Ockenden, Sand Box Media Games with Joanne Levy, APTN won a development prize of $10,000 from the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund for an incredible game element and portraying beautiful Canadian stories.
nextMEDIATHE FUTURE OF DIGITAL CONTENTnextMEDIA finished on an exceptionally high note Sunday following an impressive 3-day schedule of speakers, panels, keynotes and networking events. The sold-out, three-day event featured more than 260 delegates, representing a 10% increase over last year.
The Banff World Television Festival, owned by the Banff Television Festival Foundation, is produced by Achilles Media Ltd. on behalf of the Foundations Board of Directors and Board of Governors. The Foundations Board of Directors and Board of Governors is international in scope and represents the crème de la crème of producers and broadcasters. Achilles Media is a management organization for some of the world's leading television and new media industry events including the Banff World Television Festival, the World Congress of History Producers and nextMEDIA The Future of Digital Content. For more information of this years festival, visit www.Banff2006.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
