Click here for the list of confirmed presenters!

Opening Keynote

By Arianna Huffington, President & Editor-In-Chief, AOL Huffington Post Media Group

Opening Reception and Welcome Cocktails & Dinner

Registration includes your ticket to the Opening Reception, Sunday October 23 at the Festival Theatre, and the Welcome Cocktails & Dinner, Monday October 24 at the Arden Park Hotel. Please note RSVPs for both events are mandatory. Optional activities are available to delegates for additional costs.

Discussions & Debates

A New Creative Process?
How do emerging platforms impact the creative approach to storytelling? Has the World Wide Web truly levelled the playing field for producers of creative content? Do women lend a unique voice to the conversation?   

Beyond Primetime: The Battle of Push vs. Pull  
Although best practices for rights management are evolving, maximizing online content remains a challenge for both producers and broadcasters. Will pull-programming surpass push-programming in the fight for eyeballs? What’s the impact of “whenever, wherever” on the broadcaster/producer relationship? 

Corus Convergent Media Stream Master Class
Open to all iWDMS delegates, the CCMS Master Class will explore strategies and processes for bridging film, television, online and mobile platforms. What opportunities are emerging in mobile? How has knowledge of end-user practice changed the content production process? What might funders be looking for in a cross-platform strategy?
Learn more about the Corus Convergent Media Stream.

The Evolving Business Model
How can media businesses maximize the metrics for strategic planning in the digital age? How can the film, television and gaming industries anticipate evolutionary trends within a transmedia business model?  

Global Outlook: Crossing the Digital Divide
Does the prevalence of mobile over computer access change the creation and distribution of content? Is the internet a human right? International panelists will discuss ingenious applications for crossing the digital divide.

The Great Gender Debate
Do boys and girls interact with technology in different ways? Does technology develop or require different skills between them? Two sides of the controversial topic weigh in. 

Predictions 2012
What trends, opportunities and threats exist for the digital media industry? What will employment look like in 2012 and beyond? Panelists will highlight recent research and expectations in policy and technology development. 

Women in Tech      
What are the barriers to entry for women in hardware and software sectors? Panelists will explore how thought leadership can be used to encourage girls and young women to be both producers and consumers of technology.  

Special Presentations

Ideas & Inspirations
Structured like TED talks, a single speaker has 20 minutes to present an idea, followed by a ten-minute Q&A session.

WIFT-T Industry Study 
A showcase of key findings from our 2011 Industry Study with experts weighing-in on policy and programming recommendations. How have emerging technologies impacted employment trends in Canadian screen-based industries since WIFT-T’s last study in 2004? How does diversity in digital media compare to the traditional sector? What challenges do graduates and businesses face in a fragmented digital world?   

Networking Lunch
Enjoy an informal buffet lunch at a facilitated discussion table—or refresh and recharge in peace. The choice is yours.

This is just a preview! Stay tuned for more programming updates from the iWDMS!