First-Timer Tours (10:00 and 10:30)
Registration Desk
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Get the lay of the land early on so you don't waste precious time trying to find sessions and events throughout the week. These informal guided tours are departing from the Registration Desk at 10:00am and 10:30am on the first day of the Summit to show you where everything will take place.

Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development
Rendez-Vous
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

We’ve assembled some of the industry’s most experienced creators to work with you on polishing your show concept so it’s ready for the market. Set aside time to drop by and ask those questions on the tip of your tongue about developing and pitching kids content.

Speaking

MASTER CLASS—Creating with Character: Preparing Characters for the Creative Process
Madison
10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Want to know what turns good kids shows into great ones? One thing that does it every time is interesting characters the audience really cares about. But developing them properly can be tricky, especially given the demands of the rest of the creative process. So we’re bringing in a master of the art to talk process with you, and share tips to help you get started and then stay on the right track no matter what obstacles and challenges pop up along the way.

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees who are keen to pack more professional learning into their Summit week can take part in this session for an additional $250. If you're interested in signing up, contact Maggie Wilkins (mwilkins@brunico.com or 416-408-2300 x539).

Speaking

MASTER CLASS—Setting up Shop: Charting the Route to a Successful Production
Clinton
10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Don’t get caught with a greenlight and the wrong roadmap for taking your show into production. Attend this session and find out first-hand from folks who’ve been through it how to build up your infrastructure, workflow and resources—and still get the most bang for your buck. 

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees who are keen to pack more professional learning into their Summit week can take part in this session for an additional $250. If you're interested in signing up, contact Maggie Wilkins (mwilkins@brunico.com or 416-408-2300 x539).

Speaking

Mentor Meeting: Licensing
Rendez-Vous
11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Looking to figure out how to tackle the world of consumer products licensing? We've assembled a group of experienced licensing agents and operatives working in the kids entertainment brand business to help you get started on planning your consumer products strategy. Take some time out for this session, and bring your questions about moving a kids property into the world of licensing.

Speaking

Break
12:00 PM-2:00 PM

First-Timer Tours (2:00 and 2:30)
Registration Desk
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Get the lay of the land early on so you don't waste precious time trying to find sessions and events throughout the week. These informal guided tours are departing from the Registration Desk at 2:00pm and 2:30pm on the first day of the Summit to show you where everything will take place.

Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing
Rendez-Vous
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Some of the industry’s most experienced producers are all in one room and ready to share advice on how to plan the best financing blueprint for your project. They’ll also go over the finer points of effective co-production partnerships. Set aside time to drop by and ask those questions on the tip of your tongue about co-productions and financing kids content.

Speaking

MASTER CLASS—Funny for Under-Fives: Mastering the Art of Preschool Humor
Madison
2:00 PM-4:00 PM

As they try to trigger co-viewing for their preschool fare, kidcasters are looking for shows with layered humor and laughs tailored to the unique sensibilities and developmental milestones of two to fives. An industry expert will deliver the inside scoop on writing scripts and crafting storylines that bring the funny to TV's youngest viewers in this half-day workshop.

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees who are keen to pack more professional learning into their Summit week can take part in this session for an additional $250. If you're interested in signing up, contact Maggie Wilkins (mwilkins@brunico.com or 416-408-2300 x539).

Speaking

MASTER CLASS—Hit-Mapping: Building a Five-year Brand Plan that Works
Clinton
2:00 PM-4:00 PM

What makes a hit? What kinds of revenue goals and signposts indicate this level of success? And how do the industry's best brand managers chart a property's progress across platforms to build 360-degree traction? Sit in and learn from an experienced IP guru about how to build a five-year brand plan that puts your kids project on the road to evergreen success.

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees who are keen to pack more professional learning into their Summit week can take part in this session for an additional $250. If you're interested in signing up, contact Maggie Wilkins (mwilkins@brunico.com or 416-408-2300 x539).

Speaking

Breakfast (served in Americas Hall)
8:00 AM-10:00 AM

KEYNOTE—Shifting Platforms, Changing Audiences
Trianon
10:00 AM-10:45 AM

TV is in the midst of a revolution. The rise of SVOD services like Netflix has triggered the evolution of a new media consumption pattern that sees viewers binge-watch a high volume of episodes of their favorite shows in a single sitting. This is changing what we watch and how we watch it. More importantly, it will change how we make TV and other kinds of cultural content. In this year’s keynote, cultural anthropologist Grant McCracken will discuss the new rules for creativity that are beginning to emerge, and how this trend is playing out in the kids space, where video services and broadcasters are burning through content as quickly as their audiences.

Speaking

Break
10:45 AM-11:00 AM

The SVOD Effect
Trianon
11:00 AM-11:45 AM

The SVODs of the world continue to serve up original and library content for their kid viewers, but how are these services affecting the kids television business? How are they making kids content that travels well? And what avenues are being explored to build SVOD-first kids franchises? This session will feature industry leaders working in the space evaluating the impact of SVOD on kids entertainment. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Kay Wilson Stallings, Nickelodeon Preschool
Madison
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Kim Wilson, Kids' CBC
Clinton
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Paul DeBenedittis, Disney Channels Worldwide
Gibson
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Break
11:45 AM-12:00 PM

Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch
Trianon
12:00 PM-12:45 PM

Upstart tween/teen-targeted AwesomenessTV made headlines with its US$300-million sale to DreamWorks last May. But don't worry, there are plenty of other emerging next-generation studios/networks creating content that’s captivating kid audiences everywhere and on every device. This panel brings together some of the brightest in the bunch to explore the challenges of creating content for digital devices, working with talent in this space, and identifying the best next opportunities.

Speaking

UK Tax Credits 101
Rendez-Vous
12:00 PM-12:45 PM

Show thee the money!  In April 2013, new tax breaks for the UK animation industry went into effect. While most people know they’re worth 25%, many still do not understand how the process works, what projects qualify, who may apply, how the rules pertain to multi-territory co-productions, and―most importantly―how they can take advantage. This panel, produced in association with BAFTA Kids, will seek to answer these questions and clear up any mysteries surrounding these important new funding sources. Panelists include UK-based producers, broadcasters and legal experts.

Speaking

30 Minutes with Adina Pitt, Cartoon Network
Madison
12:00 PM-12:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Sarah Haasz, Family Channel
Clinton
12:00 PM-12:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Kay Benbow, CBeebies
Gibson
12:00 PM-12:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Lunch (served in Americas Hall)
12:45 PM-2:00 PM

Harnessing the Power of the App
Trianon
2:00 PM-2:45 PM

The opportunity to binge-watch past seasons has propelled live-TV ratings for series like Breaking Bad, so how can the children’s entertainment industry adopt this strategy? Our panelists will share how they’re testing these waters and innovating distribution by launching series via apps first, as well as what it means for viewing habits and gathering audience feedback. 

Speaking

Co-Production Face-Off!
Rendez-Vous
2:00 PM-2:45 PM

Australia, Canada and Ireland boast significant incentives for local productions, as well as strong broadcast support, and they have similar production costs. But which country offers the best deal for your co-production dollar? In this panel session, a team from each country will run down the financing available for specific animation and live-action programs… in just four minutes flat! 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Linda Simensky, PBS Kids
Madison
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Nina Hahn, Nickelodeon International
Clinton
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Carole Bonneau & Alan Gregg, TELETOON Canada
Gibson
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Break
2:45 PM-3:00 PM

Meet the Chief Creative: Nickelodeon's Russell Hicks
Trianon
3:00 PM-3:45 PM

He's responsible for setting the global content direction at Nickelodeon, one of the most influential children's broadcasters in the world. But how did Russell Hicks get to where he is, what influences have shaped the way he chooses content, and how does he approach creativity and innovation? These are just some of the questions to be answered at this marquee session featuring Nickelodeon's President of Content Development and Production as he discusses the challenges and successes that have helped him hone his ever-sharp creative instincts.

Speaking

Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China
Rendez-Vous
3:00 PM-3:45 PM

There is no doubt that China is a region booming with creative and business potential in the kids entertainment space, but what exactly are the opportunities and regulations? In this session, join our panelists as they discuss their collaboration efforts as well as pose suggestions on how to build meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with partners in the East.

Speaking

30 Minutes with Andrew Beecham, Sprout
Madison
3:00 PM-3:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Jocelyn Hamilton, Corus Kids
Clinton
3:00 PM-3:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Karen Mitrega, Super RTL
Gibson
3:00 PM-3:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Break
3:45 PM-4:00 PM

Meet the Studio Head: DreamWorks Animation's Marjorie Cohn
Trianon
4:00 PM-4:45 PM

Appointed the first-ever Head of Television for DreamWorks Animation last August, Marjorie Cohn was immediately charged with overseeing the production of 300 hours of content for Netflix's largest commission ever and given a total of 1,200 new original episodes to shepherd over the next five years. Not exactly a small order, but this kids entertainment veteran is up to the challenge. In this rare one-on-one session, Cohn will discuss the career influences that have shaped the way she approaches content choices and production, what's on deck next at DreamWorks TV and where she sees the future of TV heading.

Speaking

30 Minutes with Brigitta Muhlenbeck, WDR
Madison
4:00 PM-4:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Ted Biaselli, The Hub
Clinton
4:00 PM-4:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Cecilia Padula, Boing
Gibson
4:00 PM-4:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Kidscreen's Kick-Off Cocktail (Join us in the Delegate Lounge)
4:45 PM-6:00 PM

Mix and mingle with other delegates at the Summit’s biggest social event. This soirée caps off the first day and attracts hundreds of kids entertainment execs looking to talk shop, meet partners and unwind. 

Breakfast (served in Americas Hall)
8:00 AM-10:00 AM

In Conversation with Julia Donaldson
Trianon
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Picture book phenomenon The Gruffalo first stomped onto the kids entertainment scene in 1999, and it has since left a trail of books, short films, consumer products and a theatrical debut in its wake. More bestselling titles like Room on the Broom soon followed. In this session, their award-winning creator and author Julie Donaldson talks about her creative process, her life spent entertaining children through her work and performances, and her newest book, Superworm.

 

Speaking

Buzz Report: Kid Trends From the Nick Files
Mercury
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

The Nickelodeon Consumer Insights team is on deck once again to wow us with their latest observations of emerging trends from the cultural landscape of kids, tweens and parents.

Speaking

30 Minutes with Cheryl Taylor, CBBC
Madison
10:00 AM-10:30 AM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes Cecilia Persson, Turner Broadcasting EMEA
Clinton
10:00 AM-10:30 AM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Sebastian Debertin, KiKA
Gibson
10:00 AM-10:30 AM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.  

Speaking

Break
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?
Trianon
11:30 AM-12:30 PM

With sexy new forms of content breaking all the narrative rules right now, is there still a place in children’s media for traditional storytelling? In this session, a panel of producers who are adapting IPs from other formats for TV discuss their strategies and talk through the challenges and opportunities they’ve encountered.

Speaking

The Monster Success of Monster High
Rendez-Vous
11:30 AM-12:30 PM

In just its third year on the market, Mattel's Monster High brand is not only a billion-dollar business, but it's captured the hearts and minds of tween girls the world over. In fact, the current girl power trend in kids entertainment owes a lot to the success achieved by Monster High across toys, consumer products and entertainment. In this one-of-a-kind session, attendees will get an inside look at how Mattel built this brand, its milestones and what the toy and entertainment company has learned about attracting the long-term attention of the notoriously fickle tween girl audience along the way.

Speaking

30 Minutes with Mark Buhaj, Disney XD
Madison
11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Brian Casentini, Saban Brands
Clinton
11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios
Gibson
11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Lunch (served in Americas Hall)
12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Lunching With...
Sutton Suite
12:45 PM-1:45 PM

Spend some quality time getting to know the buyers who can greenlight your projects. You’ll have a chance to share a meal in small groups with one of 20-plus top broadcasters. Bon appétit!

NOTE: Advance sign-up required. 

Speaking

Comedy: The King of Kids TV
Trianon
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

It comes in many forms, and for broadcasters and producers alike, comedy is the Holy Grail of kids programming—but it's also the hardest nut to crack. In this session, a panel of industry experts with long and successful comedy track records will serve up their best tricks of the trade. 

Speaking

The Ongoing Evolution of Play
Mercury
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

As more and more children join the digital native ranks, kids entertainment professionals are dying to know what the implications on traditional play will be. In this informative session, John Kent will explore this technological culture and provide insightful research on the relationship between all things digital and some fundamental changes in play patterns. 

Speaking

Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success
Rendez-Vous
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Moving a character from the world of TV to the toy shelf is tricky business. More often than not, studios and toy companies miss the mark when it comes to organically building play patterns and toyetic values into a property and vice versa. How do producers and toy designers approach content creation to ensure success?  What inventive strategies do they employ to ensure a smooth translation from fictional universes to the real one? We've assembled a panel of experts in the field to deliver the answers to these burning questions and much more. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Laurence Blaevoet, Canal+ Youth Department
Madison
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Ritsuko Sakai, NHK
Clinton
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Jules Borkent, Nickelodeon International
Gibson
2:00 PM-2:30 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Break
3:00 PM-3:15 PM

New Dimensions of Live Action
Trianon
3:15 PM-4:00 PM

With tween and teen audiences grokking to newer and newer levels of engagement, how is interactive live-action programming being currently developed? In this session, join some of the industry’s best storytellers from the drama scene as they discuss the challenges of intertwining interactive elements with compelling projects, and where they see this genre heading as technology and story evolve together. 

Speaking

Boys vs. Girls: Really Understanding the Gender Divide
Mercury
3:15 PM-4:00 PM

Listen up as boys and girls ages six to 12 talk with us live about how their gender differences and similarities impact the entertainment choices they make.

Speaking

Preschool Reality Check
Rendez-Vous
3:15 PM-4:00 PM

Did you know there are more than 175 preschool properties competing for consumer attention right now? Licensing expert Ira Mayer does. In this presentation, The Licensing Letter publisher will present original research that breaks down the US$10.4-billion global preschool consumer products market, looking at what properties are earning more than US$100 million annually, and how parents are spending.

Speaking

30 Minutes with Deirdre Brennan, ABC Television
Madison
3:15 PM-3:45 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Joe D'Ambrosia, Disney Junior
Clinton
3:15 PM-3:45 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Jenna Boyd, Nickelodeon Animation
Gibson
3:15 PM-3:45 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Break
4:00 PM-4:15 PM

Cultivating Creative Communities
Trianon
4:15 PM-5:00 PM

Managing the workflow of any creative team can be tricky enough at times, without the added layer of fostering their talent and imagination through it all. Prominent creative leaders in the kids entertainment space will explore some tactics, strategies and lessons learned on how to keep a creative team, well, creating. 

Speaking

Meet the Critics
Rendez-Vous
4:15 PM-5:00 PM

Take a look beyond the ratings to find out what kids really think of the content you’ve made for them. We've recruited a panel of articulate and witty kids ages 10 to 15 from the KIDS FIRST! critics program to discuss their favorite TV shows and why they like them. (KIDS FIRST! film reviews reach an audience of six million Americans every month.) 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Tiphaine de Raguenel, France Télévisions
Madison
4:15 PM-4:45 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with David Levine, Disney Channels EMEA
Clinton
4:15 PM-4:45 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

30 Minutes with Henrietta Hurford-Jones, BBC Worldwide
Gibson
4:15 PM-4:45 PM

Feel free to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can this year. A returning hit at the Summit, our 30 Minutes With…sessions offer you the chance to participate in some Q & A and meet-and-greets, as well as hear first-hand about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity. 

Speaking

Kidscreen Awards Ceremony & After-Party
5:00 PM-7:30 PM

Join us as we celebrate the year’s best kids programming and broadcasting efforts at our annual Kidscreen Awards ceremony, hosted this year by renowned stand-up Seán Cullen, the star of numerous comedy specials that have aired on Comedy Central, BBC America, CBC and CTV. Be sure to stay for the after-party and hang with the winners and judges! 

Breakfast (served in Americas Hall)
8:00 AM-10:00 AM

LEADER'S BREAKFAST—Putting the Power of Play to Work
Rendez-Vous
8:30 AM-9:45 AM

Many of us grew up being told to "Stop playing and get back to work!" But today we know that some of the world's most successful companies have proven that play is a critical ingredient in sparking innovation, creativity, employee satisfaction and overall corporate profitability. Come play and chat with an impressive panel of leaders from visionary companies including Ideo, Electronic Arts and Galileo Innovation Camps as they share insights about how and why they created playful cultures, and you will walk away with some concrete ideas and tactics to craft a company culture that brings out the best in your employees. 

PLEASE NOTE: Attendance for this breakfast session is by invitation only. Invites will be emailed in mid-January, and recipients are encouraged to RSVP quickly before space runs out.

Speaking

The Future is Now
Trianon
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Everyone in the kids entertainment business is looking around the corner to see what the Next Big Thing might be―but what if it’s already here? Each member of this seasoned panel will bring something to the stage that they believe is a major part of the industry's future, and tell us why. The audience will then get to decide who has presented the most powerful proof.

Speaking

Family-Friendly Film Forensics
Mercury
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Tag along as we explore new business models and market opportunities building up around the production of made-for-TV family films right now—from teaser to tail credit. 

Speaking

Speed Pitching 1
Americas Hall
10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Get coveted facetime with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This favored session format features 10-minute meetings again this year, giving you more time to deliver that pitch you’ve been polishing.

NOTE: Advance sign-up required. 

Speaking

Break
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Curation Nation: Best of the Web
Trianon
11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Join this fast-paced, curated romp through the most hilarious, inspired and fascinating work you’ve never seen. Hosted by kids and millennial expert Amy Friedman, a panel of guest YouTube curators will each share their top three picks from all over the web, with brief backstories on how the content got made, shared and used.

Speaking

Focus on Formats
Mercury
11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Looking to cash in on the reality jackpot, kids producers have been having considerable success lately with science, history and comedic reality formats. But how are such high-concept series funded, and how well can they really travel? Sit in and listen as our panel of expert format producers review current trends in this genre, identify the concepts that are making waves internationally, and examine the challenges and rewards inherent in co-commissioning and co-funding big ideas.

Speaking

Speed Pitching 2
Americas Hall
11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Get coveted facetime with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This favored session format features 10-minute meetings again this year, giving you more time to deliver that pitch you’ve been polishing.

NOTE: Advance sign-up required. 

Speaking

Lunch (served in Americas Hall)
12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Lunching With...
Rendez-Vous
12:30 PM-1:30 PM

Spend some quality time getting to know the buyers who can greenlight your projects. You’ll have a chance to share a meal in small groups with one of 20-plus top broadcasters. Bon appétit!

NOTE: Advance sign-up required. 

Speaking

It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101
Trianon
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are gaining traction as legit sources of funding within the kids production community. But mounting a successful crowdfunding campaign isn't child's play. In this session, companies working in the space will join a rep from Indiegogo to outline the best-practice approaches for getting the past the fundraising goal line.

Speaking

Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV
Mercury
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Want to add some math to your show? Or experiment with science? Want to know what broadcasters look for, how these themes drive development and how the shows get produced?  Our panel of experts will answer these questions and more while discussing the finer points of creating and selling shows with “STEM” themes – science, technology, engineering and math.

Speaking

Speed Pitching 3
Americas Hall
2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Get coveted facetime with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This favored session format features 10-minute meetings again this year, giving you more time to deliver that pitch you’ve been polishing.

NOTE: Advance sign-up required. 

Speaking

Break
3:00 PM-3:15 PM

The BIG Pitch!
Trianon
3:15 PM-4:15 PM

Two series will be chosen to compete for a top slot at The Big Make-Believe Network in this death-defying live development session! We're looking for creator/writer teams to present their pitches live on stage and make adjustments in real time, based on notes thrown at them by a panel of broadcast, licensing and production executives.

Speaking

Speed Pitching 4
Americas Hall
3:15 PM-4:15 PM

Get coveted facetime with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This favored session format features 10-minute meetings again this year, giving you more time to deliver that pitch you’ve been polishing.

NOTE: Advance sign-up required. 

Speaking