By Nick Abote: I had the privilege of spending a few energizing days in Banff during one of Canada’s premier media market events, the Banff World Media Festival. And let me tell you, the first night alone set the tone for something special.

Together with Michael, the producer, host, and co-creative mind behind our reality TV show (currently in its pilot phase), we headed to the iconic resort town nestled in Alberta’s Rockies. We were not just there to soak in the stunning views, but also to reset, reflect, and realign as we map out our next production moves. Our Executive Producer, James, made sure our experience was top-tier, and he truly delivered, as he connected us to fellow creatives attending the four day event.

Banff, with its breathtaking lakes and majestic mountains, is Canada’s oldest national park and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring. We made time for the hot springs, a perfect therapy for our ‘aging’ production bodies and even chased a local myth about dumped golf bags left behind by tourists. (Let us just say we did not find any, but the hunt itself was hilarious, while enjoying views of the well manicured golf course.)

The first night started off mellow, but soon turned into a high-spirited karaoke jam, the kind of night where creative energy fills the room. Our host made sure everyone got a chance to showcase their ‘signing’ powers, and we did deliver the magic. That was my first sign: I was in the right place. I met amazing creatives, shared ideas, and planted seeds for future collaborations. From that point forward, I realized how much first impressions matter.

Every year, for the past 45 years, the event has been more than a festival; it’s where creative visions are pitched, partnerships are forged, and the next big hits across scripted, unscripted, and kids’ content are born. It draws over 50 countries into one powerful space, bringing together the world’s leading producers, showrunners, streamers, talent, and media leaders. Through the Banff Television Festival Foundation (BTFF), it’s opened doors for over 1,000 racialized and underrepresented creatives since 2018, challenging the system, shifting the narrative, and helping reshape Canada’s media landscape into one that’s more just, as inclusive, and unapologetically reflective of the world we live in. I witnessed it all in my three days there, and that’s the kind of impact I stand for.

Just showing up with your energy and ideas can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. Away from the formal elements of the festival, I had the chance to meet decision-makers and storytellers from across Alberta and beyond, and they actually listened. Their encouraging feedback confirmed that our project has potential.

Some quick takeaways from my Banff creative sprint:

• Always be pitch-ready. You should be able to sell your idea in under five minutes.
• First impressions open doors. Nail the first 30 seconds.
• A “no” is not the end, the “yes” is waiting.
• Know your product and your ask.
• Be early. Always.
• Keep your pitch short, sharp, and focused on the product.
• Stay memorable, a creative leave-behind goes further than a traditional business card.
• Follow up. Stay present in people’s minds.
• Rehearse. When in doubt, rehearse again.

Beyond the meetings and market buzz, Banff itself was a source of inspiration. The fresh mountain air and quiet reflection with Michael and James gave us room to realign our creative compass. We are clearer now: unscripted content still commands great interest and respect, our show has space in that conversation. Now we work on cultivating on the relationships created to begin the level of our production plans.

On more highlights, one was meeting two powerhouse producers from New York, the ‘Desvarieux Sisters’, looking to expand their content into new markets; great energy, real synergy. And yes, I also had the surreal moment of bumping into Taye Diggs and his manager, Troy Brookins. Mr. Brookins was generous enough to listen to our idea and shared feedback that was insightful and encouraging. Let’s just say, I am manifesting my visit to one of their sets soon, fingers very much crossed!

This Banff journey was the ultimate creative escape and learning experience for me this year. I am deeply grateful for the friends and collaborators who believe in our vision and continue to open doors. As I was doing my final trip to the social networking hubs at the festival, I met one of the delegates representing her distribution company. She highlighted one key and important thing to look out for when pitching an idea, and that was ‘being original’ and unapologetic about your story. I felt that, and I believe in authentic narratives too. 2025 has plenty in store and through God’s love and provision, we will keep building.

Stay empowered. See you in the next #AboteEdition.

With over 20 years in film, TV, and digital media, Nico Abote is a visionary storyteller and media strategist. He is the Lead Consultant at Abote Media Consultancy based in Canada and Zimbabwe. As co-founder of My Afrika Magazine and Play Afrika TV, he highlights Africa’s creativity and connects the continent with its diaspora.
In Canada, Nico continues to produce award-winning content, spearheading projects like Dance Matchmaker, a reality TV series, building production studios and contributing to numerous other creative initiatives. He is an advisor and mentor on a number of boards, in Canada and across Africa. His work empowers communities, nurtures talent, and reshapes how Africa’s stories are told, boldly and authentically.