The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos as the first keynote speaker for its BANFF Summit Series, a premium lineup featuring the boldest voices and the world’s most influential media leaders. Sarandos will speak on Monday, June 15th in an exclusive fireside conversation at the 41st edition of the Festival which will take place June 14-17, 2020 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
“Great stories can come from anywhere, and many have had their beginnings at Banff World Media Festival. Netflix is proud to be a part of BANFF, working with our incredible partners and deepening our commitment to a vibrant Canadian creative community whose work is seen and loved by the world,” commented Sarandos.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ted to the incredible lineup of top-tier speakers at our Summit Series,” said Randy Lennox, Chair of the Board of Directors, BANFF, and President, Bell Media. “This year’s lineup is going to be full of industry leaders and legendary innovators, resulting in fascinating conversations that can’t be missed.”
“Ted’s contributions to global media have been astounding and revolutionary,” said BANFF Executive Director, Jenn Kuzmyk. “It’s almost impossible to quantify the impact that Netflix and its content has had within the entertainment business as well as the daily lives of people around the globe. Ted continues to support new voices and champion groundbreaking work, raising the bar for creative excellence. The festival is thrilled to welcome him back to beautiful Banff for what is sure to be an inspiring keynote, outlining his vision and tackling some of the big questions in the industry and where it’s headed amid continuing seismic change.”
Launched last year in celebration of the Festival’s 40th anniversary, the BANFF Summit Series is a curated, future-focused lineup of keynote sessions. This powerful speaker roster will feature the global players who are shaping the future of the media industry. Previous keynotes include Jeffrey Katzenberg, Co-founder of Dreamworks, and currently Managing Partner of WndrCo and Chairman and Founder of Quibi; Paula Kerger, CEO of PBS; Sarah Barnett, President, Entertainment Networks, for AMC Networks; and Paul Feig, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated director, producer, screenwriter and activist.
Sarandos oversees the teams responsible for the acquisition and creation of all Netflix content including original series from around the world such as Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy, Dark (Germany) La Casa De Papel (Spain), and Sacred Games (India) and films including such blockbusters as To All the Boys I've Loved Before, The Irishman, Bird Box, the 3-time Academy Award winning film ROMA, and Academy Award winning Marriage Story. Ted has been responsible for all content operation since 2000, and led the company's transition into original content production that began in 2013 with the launch of the series House of Cards, Arrested Development and Orange is the New Black, among numerous others. Today, Netflix is available in 190 countries and Netflix originals have received numerous awards around the world including 93 Primetime Emmy wins, 8 Academy Awards, and 7 BAFTA Film Awards including Best Picture.