Insight. Intelligence. Inspiration.

Network and learn in your own back yard
You don't need to fly great distances to find the best and brightest content decision-makers in the world. The Playback Innovations Forum puts you in a room the top players and, if you're in Toronto, it's just a cab ride away.

The Playback Innovations Forum is a series of half-day conferences that bring together top talent, leading content creators, forward-thinking broadcasters, and mavericks of new media to explore opportunities, celebrate excellence, and push boundaries in Canadian film & television.

The inaugural Playback Innovations Forum takes place on October 28th in Toronto. The theme is ‘big thinkers’ and the focus is on content.

Keynote Speaker: RDF USA CEO Chris Coelen

When it comes to reality programming no company in North America is doing it like RDF. Under Chris Coelen, RDF USA has sold and/or produced series such as Don't Forget the Lyrics, Wife Swap, Shaq's Big Challenge, How to Look Good Naked and The Two Coreys. Chris is coming to Toronto to discuss the process, the pain and the sweet success of producing TV formats that work, and to let us in on what it takes to turn an idea into reality.

Featured Speakers

James Manos, Jr., Creator, Dexter

James is the winner of the Emmy Award in the Writing for Dramatic Series category for his College episode of The Sopranos. He then completed two seasons as Consulting Producer on The Shield, and most recently wrote and produced the pilot episode of Dexter, Showtime's premiere one-hour drama, now in its third season.

Robin Veith, EMMY Nominated Writer, "MAD MEN"

Robin is an Emmy nominated writer on Mad Men. Robin has been working with creator Matthew Weiner since 2000 when he wrote the original pilot script for Mad Men. She has also worked with such luminaries as Norman Lear, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Donald Sutherland, Carrol O'Connor, George C. Scott, and August Wilson among others. Robin penned Mad Men's season-one finale episode "The Wheel", for which she is nominated for an Emmy.

Tassie Cameron, Screenwriter

Tassie is a Gemini Award-winning screenwriter, who has written for television series, MOWs, mini-series, and feature films. Her credits include The Robber Bride, Would Be Kings, The Eleventh Hour, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Tom Stone, Fast Food High, and the romantic comedy, Cake. She is currently the Co-Executive Producer on the CTV/CBS smash hit Flashpoint, and has recently written a pilot for TNT, with Steven Bochco producing.

Steve Billinger, Executive Director Business Development, CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Steve has experience at the executive level in both traditional and new media, and extensive media experience in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Steve oversees the growth and development of the CBC's digital programming and services, while fostering business development opportunities on all CBC platforms. He is also responsible for the strategic planning, production and delivery of all CBC's online presence, as well as managing digital partnerships and the international sales of all programming and archival material.

Speed Pitching!!!

Speed Pitching Sessions

Attention Producers. We are introducing Speed Pitching sessions at the forum. Speed Pitching is a stream that brings in programming execs, each at his or her own table, to hear quick one-on-one pitches. Slots are limited and available on a first-come first-served basis. Two speed pitches can be reserved. We regret that sessions cannot be reserved before this time and apologize if sessions of your choice are full. To read a speed pitching article from a programming executive from another one of our events, go to http://www.pbs.org/pov/blog/2008/01/speed_pitching_at_the_realscre_1.html.

Speed Pitching Session Programming Executives

Scott McEwen, Executive in charge of Development, Drama, CBC
Michelle Marion, Director, Independent Production Programming, Movie Network, Astral
Anna Gecan, VP of Content, HGTV
Vibika Bianchi, Director of Original Productions, W Network and Cosmopolitan TV
Jenny Hacker, Executive in Charge of Development, Comedy TV Arts and Entertainment, CBC
Ken MacDonald, VP Programming, Discovery Channel
Bob Culbert, VP, Documentaries, CTV
Joan Jenkinson, Director of Independent Production and Executive Producer, S-Vox
Derek Luis, Executive Director, Independent Production, Sun TV