The Banff World Television Festival is among the most important international media events in Canada. Held in the Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, the Festival is dedicated to world television programming and its creation and development. Celebrities, writers, directors, and producers from PBS, BBC, NHK, ARTE, Channel 4, ABC, Sony Pictures, HBO, CBC, NFB, SBS, and many other broadcasters and production companies attend the annual event.

The Festival combines a prestigious international program competition, the Banff Rockie Awards which are broadcast on CBC ^[1], with a comprehensive conference agenda. The awards ceremony also bestows the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Comedy Award. Past recipients of the award include John Cleese, Dame Edna, Bob Newhart, Martin Short, Tracy Ullman and Kelsey Grammer. Jan Randall was Music Director and Composer for the awards from 1995-2007.

As well as honouring excellence in international television, professionals from around the world participate in seminars, Master Classes, and pitching opportunities. Described as "the Olympics of television" ^[2], the Festival provides a global platform for industry members to discuss and debate, and explore current issues, challenges and trends.

For its 29th year in 2008, the Festival will open on June 8 and continue through June 11.

See also

• Festivals in Alberta

References

External links

• Banff World Television Festival
• nextMEDIA: The Future of Digital Content

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