Agenda 2019

September 10
DAY 1
Content Canada Screenings

The first day of the two-day Content Canada is devoted to screenings of some of the hottest upcoming shows.

9.45am

REGISTRATION

10.45am – 11.00am

OPENING REMARKS

11.00am – 12.30pm

Departure

Global’s new original event series Departure will have its North American premiere at the inaugural Content Canada screenings. Join stars Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer at the screening of Departure’s first episode, and hear directly from the stars in the Q&A following the screening. Also featured will be series director T.J. Scott. and creator Vincent Shiao, executive producer Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury, and Rachel Nelson, director, original content, drama, Corus. Set to premiere on Global in early 2020, Departure is a thrilling six-part drama that follows the disappearance of a passenger plane that vanishes over the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate this exciting new original series.
Hosted by: Sangita Patel, Entertainment reporter, ET Canada

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer Actor, Departure

Archie Panjabi

Archie Panjabi Actress, Departure

Host: Sangita Patel

Host: Sangita Patel Entertainment reporter, ET Canada

12.30pm – 1.30pm

LUNCH

1.30pm – 3.00pm

Tallboyz

The exciting and hilarious new CBC half-hour sketch comedy series Tallboyz will make its world premiere as part of the new Content Canada Screenings on September 10. In attendance will be the ‘TallBoyz’ – Guled Abdi, Vance Banzo, Tim Blair and Franco Nguyen, as well as executive producers Bruce McCulloch (The Kids in the Hall, Young Drunk Punk) and Susan Cavan (The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town, Young Drunk Punk). In addition to the screening, there will be a Q&A with the TallBoyz cast and producers. Come enjoy some laughs and celebrate the premiere of Canada’s next great sketch comedy right here at Content Canada.

Hosted by: Odario Williams, Musician

Bruce McCulloch

Bruce McCulloch Executive producer and showrunner, Tallboyz

Susan Cavan

Susan Cavan Executive producer, Tallboyz

Sally Catto

Sally Catto General manager for programming, CBC

Franco Nguyen

Franco Nguyen Actor, Tallboyz

Guled Abdi

Guled Abdi Actor, Tallboyz

Tim Blair

Tim Blair Actor, Tallboyz

Vance Banzo

Vance Banzo Actor, Tallboyz

Host: Odario Williams

Host: Odario Williams Musician

3.00pm – 3.30pm

COCKTAIL BREAK

3.30pm – 5.00pm

Dublin Murders


Bell Media presents the world premiere of the new original STARZ series Dublin Murders at Content Canada. Created by Sarah Phelps, starring Killian Scott and Sarah Greene, and from executive producers Kate Harwood and Noemi Spanos, Dublin Murders depicts a contemporary world of psychological mystery and tension, with roots that reach down deep within Ireland’s past. Killian Scott, Sarah Phelps, and Noemi Spanos will be in attendance for the premiere and will participate in a Q&A following a screening of the first episode. Get a sneak peek of one of the most anticipated Crave TV series being released this fall at Content Canada.

*Photo credit BBC/Starz

Hosted by: Julia Sereny, Producer

Killian Scott

Killian Scott Actor, Dublin Murders

Sarah Phelps

Sarah Phelps EP and writer, Dublin Murders

Noemi Spanos

Noemi Spanos EP, Dublin Murders

Host: Julia Sereny

Host: Julia Sereny

5.00pm

COCKTAIL RECEPTION

September 11
DAY 2
Industry Conference

8.00am

REGISTRATION

8.45am

OPENING REMARKS

9.00am

OPPORTUNITY: The New Streamers

With a new breed of streaming entering the market we hear from emerging streaming services about their priorities, strategies and programming needs. How can you work with these exciting brands as they develop?

Moderator: Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund

Gave Lindo

Gave Lindo Executive director of OTT programing, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Margaret Dean

Margaret Dean Head of Studio, Crunchyroll

Carter Pilcher

Carter Pilcher CEO, Shorts International

Jeff Hersh

Jeff Hersh VP, Strategy OTT Distribution and Premium SVOD, Bell Media

Ryan Chanatry

Ryan Chanatry General manager, Topic, from First Look Media Service

Valerie Creighton

Valerie Creighton President and CEO, Canada Media Fund

9.45am

TRENDS: Podcasts as the new pilots

Podcasts are no longer a marketing companion to TV, but rather are a valuable core content product. In their hunt for original content, producers and broadcasters alike are racing to buy up hit podcasts which can serve as today’s pilots – proven audience-tested content. Come join our panel of experts as they discuss podcasts’ place in today’s industry from every angle.
Moderator: Lon Hall, Owner, Hall Webber LLP

Molly Barton

Molly Barton CEO, Serial Box

Kevin Healey

Kevin Healey SVP of Alternative Comedy and Worldwide Formats, Propagate Content

Leslie Merklinger

Leslie Merklinger Senior director of Audio Innovation, CBC

Steve Raizes

Steve Raizes SVP, Viacom Podcasts

Olivia Wingate

Olivia Wingate Founder, Mo Studios

Moderator: Lon Hall

Moderator: Lon Hall Owner, Hall Webber LLP

10.30am

SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Wheelhouse Entertainment

Join us for the launch of our SPOTLIGHT series, featuring progressive companies and executives making innovative changes to the content industry.

Moderator: Adam Benzine, Editor, Content Canada

Sean Cohan

Sean Cohan President, Wheelhouse

Moderator: Adam Benzine Editor, Content Canada

11am

NETWORKING BREAK

11.30am

TRENDS: Family co-viewing programming

Many broadcasters, producers and platforms across all genres are moving toward programming to a family co-viewing audience. Why are both traditionally older-skewing and younger-skewing channels/platforms steering their programming decisions to this broader audience strategy? Is the trend specific to North America? What is driving it: Discoverability? Broader advertiser appeal? Research that families are tuning in to more content together? Our panel of experts discusses this trend and the strategy and the opportunities for all players in the value chain.
Moderator: Agnes Augustin, President and CEO, Shaw Rocket Fund

Mark Bishop

Mark Bishop Co-CEO and partner, Marblemedia

JJ Johnson

JJ Johnson Founding partner, Sinking Ship Entertainment

Paul DeBenedittis

Paul DeBenedittis EVP, Programming and Content Strategy, Nickelodeon

Colin Bohm

Colin Bohm EVP content and corporate strategy, Corus

Moderator: Agnes Augustin

Moderator: Agnes Augustin President and CEO, Shaw Rocket Fund

12.15pm

BUSINESS BUILDER: Content Strategies to Grow your Business

What does it take to build a global content company? The rapid proliferation of streaming platforms and big media giants has created a very competitive landscape for developing and acquiring the best content. With so much content available across so many distribution alternatives, entertainment companies need to think of innovative strategies in order to futureproof their business. Join our panel of experts as they discuss how build content strategies that achieve success.

Moderator: Marguerite Pigott, Film Commissioner and director of entertainment Industries, City of Toronto

John Young

John Young CEO, Boat Rocker Media

Drew Buckley

Drew Buckley Co-founder and chief operating officer , Electus

Peter Emerson

Peter Emerson President, Cineflix Media Inc.

Jocelyn Hamilton

Jocelyn Hamilton President - Canada, Television, Entertainment One

Moderator: Marguerite Pigott

Moderator: Marguerite Pigott Film Commissioner and director of entertainment Industries, City of Toronto

1pm

LUNCH

2pm

PROGRAMMING: Creating international hit formats

As Canadian producers look to create global format brands a panel of successful content creators discuss the secret to creating global hit formats, making great remakes and developing formats that travel.

Moderator: Adam Benzine, Editor, Content Canada

Jamie Brown CEO & executive producer, Frantic Films

John Brunton

John Brunton CEO, chairman and producer, Insight Productions

Cathie James

Cathie James Co-president, Proper Television

Adam Steinman

Adam Steinman VP, creative, format, development & sales, Warner Bros. International Television Production

Moderator: Adam Benzine Editor, Content Canada

2.45pm

BUSINESS BUILDER: Global Trends

To compete in today’s market it’s essential to have up-to-date knowledge of the entertainment industry trends that are having the biggest impact. What is trending now and what trends are in store for 2020 and beyond? Join our media leaders as they reveal how they expect the business to change in the coming year and what you need to know to survive and prosper.

Moderator: David Jenkinson, Managing director, C21Media

Kevin Beggs Television chairman, Lionsgate

Michael Rotenberg Co-founder and partner, 3 Arts Entertainment

Mike Cosentino

Mike Cosentino President, Content and Programming, Bell Media

Moderator: David Jenkinson

Moderator: David Jenkinson Managing director, C21Media

3.30pm

NETWORKING BREAK

Sponsored by: Frantic Films

Frantic Filams

4pm

SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Netflix

Our SPOTLIGHT series continues, featuring progressive companies and executives making innovative changes to the content industry.

Moderator: Michael MacLennan, Screenwriter and producer

Lisa Hamilton Daly

Lisa Hamilton Daly Director, original series, Netflix

Moderator: Michael MacLennan

Moderator: Michael MacLennan Screenwriter and producer

4.30pm

OPPORTUNITY: National and International Buyers

Come hear from top content buyers about their priorities, strategies and programming needs.
Moderator: David Zitzerman, partner and head of Entertainment Law Group, Goodmans

Meghan Hooper White

Meghan Hooper White SVP, original movies, co-productions and acquistions, Lifetime and Lifetime Movies

Nataline Rodrigues

Nataline Rodrigues Director of original programming, Rogers Media

Adriano Schmid

Adriano Schmid Senior director of Production, Discovery Networks International

Pat DiVittorio

Pat DiVittorio VP, CTV and Specialty Programming, Bell Media

Brad Holcman

Brad Holcman Senior director, A+E

Moderator: David Zitzerman

Moderator: David Zitzerman Partner and head of the Entertainment Law Group, Goodmans

5.30pm-7.00pm

That’s a Wrap Networking Cocktail

Mix with delegates and speakers from the domestic and international market.