Sun Shines By Day, Stars Come Out At Night

After a June snow fall on Saturday followed by a blustery day, the sun shone on Monday drawing the delegates out onto the terrace at the Banff Fest Day 2. The celebrations surrounding the festival got off to a great start Sunday night, where the CBC held the Limelight in the Riverview Lounge at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel during the CBC Opening Reception. 

Adam Beach was charming and the camera still loves him (who doesn't?) Dragons' Den star, Arlene Dickinson - whom I had the pleasure of working with behind the scenes at the 2009 Gemini Awards in Calgary - was beaming and the Broadcast Executives were proud of the past years' production slate - which netted the Public Network it's best winter viewing ratings ever - proving Canadians love homegrown programming.

Exhaustion is common but the exhilaration of meeting with broadcasters, cable and internet companies all looking for content, making pitches, getting feedback, connecting with potential production partners, attending inspiring sessions and enjoying the fantastic social scene allows you to function on next to no sleep.  (No wonder the TC Media Oxygen Bar was so busy giving delegates a 6-minute sample of its rejuvenating benefits.)

News Larry King would not be attending the Festival to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award Tuesday due to “unforeseen circumstances” gave delegates an excuse to stay out a little later Monday night. With two main events downtown plus a BBQ in Canmore for the Decision Makers - the clear sky and mild temperatures had everyone out for the night. 

A comfortable crowd turned out at the annual Women In Film & Television Alberta (WIFTA) Martini Madness in the Saltlik Steakhouse Lounge with many more enjoying dinner upstairs in the restaurant. (Great calamari!) The Netflix Late Night Party downstairs at Hoodoo Lounge was jam packed with a techno soundtrack that made conversation impossible, but the crowd could always step out onto the street for a real chat. The sight of suits in Banff is an oddity unless you're attending a wedding and the locals on the town for the night were surely muttering "Gorby's!" 

I enjoyed conversations with many other writers and met new contacts as well as seeing old acquaintances. It was Girls Night for me with the WIFTA board members as their honorary alumni guest, as past Vice-President, for a midnight dinner and then some more conversation in our mountain top chalet made for an interesting albeit sleepless night. It meant a slow start and missing out on the mornings' substitution for the absent honoured guest .

Steve Hannah, President and CEO of The Onion News Network (ONN) - famous for it's satirical take on the news - dressed up in a frumpy suit and bow-tie, did a pantomime as opposed to having a conversation - stopping to take calls and read the paper; all of which the audience found most entertaining. 

Hannah's only words to the audience came as he was about to leave the stage and said, "Take off, eh" - paying homage to our own homegrown icons of the same class SCTV and the hosers' Doug and Bob McKenzie (aka Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas with their tag line for the Great White North segment - which eventually was released as a song featuring Geddy Lee of Rush on lead vocals back in the early 1980's. (Bob and Doug became a half-hour animated comedy for Global in Canada which first aired in 2009).