Kidscreen Summit is renowned as the kids entertainment industry’s most important annual event. In 2013, the conference welcomed more than 1,600 attendees from 47 countries. Top executives attend Kidscreen Summit to take advantage of the year’s best business networking, and to engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry.
1,600 delegates
47 countries represented
98% plan to attend again
99% would recommend the
event to colleagues
400+ content buyers
900+ producers/distributors
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David is a Campaign Specialist at Indiegogo, responsible for consulting with Indiegogo's most impactful campaigns - developing strategy, providing feedback, and imparting best practices. Since May of 2012, David has worked with hundreds of film and video campaigns including The Bounce Back, and Todd & The...show more
Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101
Greg Alkalay is the Co-Founder and CEO of batteryPOP, the online and mobile video network exclusively for 6-11 year olds, where kids are in command of what “POPS.” Recently named among Café Mom’s Top 10 Mom-Approved Sites, the network features curated and unique content ranging from cartoons, live action series,...show more
Featured in: Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch
1980 Worked in the theatre as a stage manager and assistant director
1985 Started as a runner in the BBC
1988 Joined BBC Children’s as an assistant producer and started working on Blue Peter
1992 Became a director in Children’s Entertainment and then Children’s Drama
1995 Started producing Grange Hill
1999 ...show more
Featured in: Focus on Formats
Donna’s extensive experience in television broadcasting includes senior management positions at Network Ten, ABCTV, Nickelodeon and Channel [V]. In 2000 Donna moved into independent television production and is a founding partner and the CEO of Sticky Pictures Pty Ltd.
Across Donna’s career she has produced / executive produced over 700 hours...show more
Featured in: Co-Production Face-Off!
Evan Baily is a writer, producer, and director focused on developing unforgettable characters, building unique worlds, and telling funny, awesome stories for kids and families. His work is informed by a longstanding interest in video games and storytelling across multiple platforms. He is currently executive producer and showrunner of Sonic...show more
Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?; Cultivating Creative Communities
Irene Balotro is a Content Marketing Manager at Hulu. Irene is responsible for strategy and execution of content marketing initiatives to build brand awareness and viewership of Hulu Originals, including exclusively licensed...show more
Justine is an independent children’s media consultant with 20 years experience in the children’s entertainment industry. Her very broad skill set spans distribution, acquisitions, co-productions, production, post-production, marketing, brand and community management gained notably at 20th Century Fox, The Lagardère Group, Disney Channels...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development
Patti Becker is CEO and Founder of Becker Associates LLC, www.BeckerAssoc.com, a full-service agency providing strategic global consulting services, product and brand development, sourcing, social media, and licensing. Becker’s recognized expertise in the Toy Industry and unique background in marketing and developmental child psychology, coupled with her extensive experience...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Licensing
Andrew Beecham is Senior Vice President, Programming for 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout. Beecham is responsible for program and digital strategy, original programming, scheduling, program operations and acquisitions for Sprout’s digital cable channel and video on demand (VOD) and online offerings.
Prior to joining the network, Beecham was Senior Vice President...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Andrew Beecham, Sprout; Harnessing the Power of the App; Lunching With...
Kay was appointed Controller of CBeebies in May 2010 and is responsible for commissioning content for the under-six demographic across all platforms—TV, online, mobile and radio (download to own daily podcasts). Kay has over 20 years of experience in children’s programming, primarily at the BBC, but also in the independent...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Kay Benbow, CBeebies
Jennifer Bennett currently serves as Director Licensing Acquisitions, Fisher-Price where she is charged with evaluating new properties, securing new licenses and managing relationships with existing licensors. Prior to joining Fisher-Price, Jennifer held senior licensing and branding positions with a number of production and distribution companies including Entertainment One and Alliance...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Licensing
Aaron D. Berger co-founded Chatrone, LLC with Carina Schulze in 2007. Before working with Carina, Aaron established the companies AniManagement, LLC and Quattro Media, LLC. All these companies were born of Aaron’s passion for artists and storytelling. His clientele included many of the top talents in the animation business: writers,...show more
Featured in: Cultivating Creative Communities
Sara Berliner is Chief Revenue Officer of Night & Day Studios, one of the premier mobile app developers in the world, Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101
Stephanie Betts is responsible for managing, fostering and expanding the kids development slate. Stephanie’s expertise and focus is on building strong creatively-driven teams and series, which will appeal to domestic and international broadcasters, and mostly importantly kids! Prior to joining DHX Media, Stephanie worked at Breakthrough Films and Television for...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4
Ted Biaselli is Vice President, Programming for Hub Network, a destination for kids and their families. Biaselli, who reports to Hub Network’s President and CEO Margaret Loesch, has spent over a decade in kids’ entertainment. His experience, which varies from programming, production, and writing to character designing, digital...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Ted Biaselli, The Hub; Lunching With...
Malcolm has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 28 years. Malcolm has operated across traditional and digital media launching three television networks, two online networks, producing thousands of hours of television programming and Internet programming.
Prior to creating The Viddiverse, Malcolm ran a public fund culminating in a $174mm...show more
Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101
Laurence Blaevoet was appointed Director of Programming for the Canal+ Group's youth unit in 2010, after spending 10 years operating in the same role for Canal+ Channels.
Laurence is a graduate of the Paris School of Journalism, and started her career as a journalist at RTL-Télévision. In 1985, she joined TMC...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Laurence Blaevoet, Canal+ Youth Department; Lunching With...
VP, Content Acquisition & French Language Programming, Télétoon & La Chaîne Disney
TELETOON
Carole Bonneau is VP of Programming for TELETOON Canada, where she oversees program schedules, acquisitions and original production for five nationwide television networks: TELETOON, TÉLÉTOON, TELETOON Retro, TÉLÉTOON Rétro and CARTOON NETWORK Canada.
Carole joined TELETOON in November 1996 as Director of Programming, and became VP of Programming five years later....show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Carole Bonneau & Alan Gregg, TELETOON Canada; Lunching With...
Jules Borkent is Senior Vice President, Global Acquisitions and International Programming, Nickelodeon, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). In his role, which he assumed in 2008, Borkent is responsible for leading global acquisitions for Nickelodeon around the world, as well as programming strategies for Nickelodeon International. Borkent works in close partnership...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Jules Borkent, Nickelodeon International
Jeff Borkin is co-creator of Blaze & The Monster Machines, Nickelodeon’s original CG-animated preschool series debuting in 2014. Created with partner Ellen Martin, Blaze & The Monster Machines is the first preschool series that features a curriculum dedicated to all areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Previously, Borkin served as...show more
Featured in: Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV
James Bowen is Google NYC's Campus Facilities Manager and Regional FM for other Google offices on the east coast. Google's New York operations are its largest outside of its headquarters in Mountain View, CA and the NYC office currently has over 3,500 Google employee's working in Sales...show more
Featured in: LEADER'S BREAKFAST—Putting the Power of Play to Work
Jenna Boyd is the Senior Vice President of Animation Development, Nickelodeon Group. Ms. Boyd oversees the pipeline of all new animated series and the comedy shorts program, focusing on bringing in creator-driven original comedies, fresh animation styles and developing new contemporary classics. Prior to that, she was Vice President, Live...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Jenna Boyd, Nickelodeon Animation; Comedy: The King of Kids TV
Mary Bredin is the VP of Guru and is involved in all aspects of running the studio. Focusing on the development of Original Content, she is always looking to acquire new properties for Guru’s growing development slate. Previously her jobs included 8 years at the Disney Channels in London, England,...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development
A dedicated public broadcaster with a passion for the children’s genre, Deirdre Brennan commenced her new role as Head of Children’s Television, ABC TV with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in December...show more
Featured in: Meet the Studio Head: DreamWorks Animation's Marjorie Cohn; 30 Minutes with Deirdre Brennan, ABC Television; Lunching With...
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in London and graduating from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business with an MBA degree, Tim worked in Investment Banking in Europe before moving to Australia in 1976.
He started working in the Film and TV industry in 1983 and became extensively...show more
Featured in: Focus on Formats
For nearly 20 years, Matt has been creating transformative experiences by innovating and launching new brands and companies focused on activating play to make our lives happier, healthier and more vibrant. Matt is currently the Chief Gaming Officer of Conteneo, an innovative company dedicated to using the science of social...show more
Featured in: LEADER'S BREAKFAST—Putting the Power of Play to Work
Iyan M. Bruce is the Senior Manager of Content Strategy and Marketing for Mattel, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for the development of strategic content plans for Mattel’s Girls IP portfolio and manages the company’s global home entertainment strategy, release and marketing initiatives for top Mattel brands including:...show more
Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High
Massimo Bruno is Head of TV Channels at De Agostini Editore, where he runs DeAKids, DeAJunior and DeASapere (on the Sky satellite TV platform), as well as Super!, a DTT free-to-air channel in Italy. DeAKids is dedicated to kids and families with a lineup of new TV productions and acquisitions;...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...
Marc Buhaj is Senior Vice President, Programming and General Manager, Disney XD. Buhaj is responsible for fueling Disney XD’s continued growth through brand-focused leadership and strategic direction for the multiplatform brand and 24-hour channel in the U.S. He also oversees strategic multiplatform programming and scheduling, and works with the Programming...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Mark Buhaj, Disney XD
From the scalable server infrastructure to web, mobile and connected TV applications, James leads Toon Goggles' technology development and feature integration. James is dedicated to exploring new technologies that can drive increased revenue and facilitate implementation of business strategies for the...show more
Featured in: The Future is Now
Brian Casentini oversees all original and acquired programming for Vortexx, a new multiplatform kids entertainment brand that delivers high-energy action, adventure and comedy, both on television with a five-hour Saturday morning kids block on The CW, and online with a robust digital experience at www.MyVortexx.com. Additionally, Brian leads creative development...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Brian Casentini, Saban Brands; Lunching With...
Heading into her 11th year at KidScreen, Editor & Content Director Lana Castleman currently oversees all editorial planning for the magazine and the brand’s online and event content. Career highlights so far include having Oscar the Grouch wish her “a rotten day” and getting early peeks...show more
Featured in: Meet the Chief Creative: Nickelodeon's Russell Hicks
Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China
Insight Kids is a research and strategic consulting company dedicated to the development of innovative, impactful, and inspiring experiences for kids and families. Sarah has been with Insight since 2005, guiding a team that talks to kids and parents every day, on subjects ranging from action figures and SpongeBob to...show more
Featured in: Boys vs. Girls: Really Understanding the Gender Divide
Jesse Cleverly is Creative Director at Wildseed Studios, a next generation entertainment company investing in new creators and new ideas; nurturing talent and creating fresh, exciting and original content for the digital age.
Over the next three years Wildseed will make 50...show more
Featured in: Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch; The Future is Now
Executive Director, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships
Cartoon Network and Boomerang
Rick Clodfelter is director, content acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network and Boomerang. In this capacity, Clodfelter is responsible for acquiring pre-produced series, specials, short-form product and series co-productions that fit the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands for exposure on all platforms. He represents the U.S. networks at all major...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Lunching With...
Andrew is an up-and-coming creative force who, sure as he is tall, is carving out his portion of the film and entertainment industry. He is best known as Executive Producer, Director, and Writer for the viral YouTube sensation UBC LipDub. He organized over 1000 screaming students, a platinum recording artist, five cameras,...show more
Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web
Marjorie Cohn currently serves as Head of Television for DreamWorks Animation where she oversees all television development and production, including the content for DreamWorks Animation’s ground-breaking multi-year deal with Netflix. As part the studio’s television initiatives, Cohn and her team are tasked with creating more than 1100 episodes of new...show more
Featured in: Meet the Studio Head: DreamWorks Animation's Marjorie Cohn
Richard K. Collins, co-founder & CEO of Big Tent Entertainment, has operated successfully across many industries in a career spanning over thirty years, much of it in senior management positions.
In 2002 Mr. Collins co-founded Big Tent Entertainment as a boutique agency focused on execution of marketing and licensing strategies...show more
Featured in: The BIG Pitch!
Vince Commisso is the Co-founding Partner, President & CEO of 9 Story Entertainment, one of the industry’s leading creators, producers and distributors of award-winning content for young audiences around the world. Leading the production, creative, technical, sales and marketing aspects of the company's activities, Vince has contributed to 9 Story’s...show more
Featured in: The Future is Now
As a Content Partner Manager at Hulu, Alicia Krautheim helps create programming and promotional opportunities for a range of different media companies, Hulu’s content partners. In her role, she digs deep into the metrics to determine what is working, what is not working and devises strategies to constantly...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...
Joe D'Ambrosia is Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Junior. He oversees production and creative development of entertainment and learning-based television properties including cable's top-rated series for preschoolers, Sofia the First, featuring Disney's first little girl princess; the Emmy-nominated Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; popular...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Joe D'Ambrosia, Disney Junior; Lunching With...
For almost 30 years Sheila has been very happily immersed in working with ideas for broadcast on various platforms. As Producer of both TV and Radio content, aswell as TV Location and Multi-Camera Director, she spent many great years making live and pre-recorded programming across all genre including Factual, Entertainment,...show more
Featured in: Co-Production Face-Off!; Lunching With...
Tiphaine de Raguenel graduated from the Paris Institute of Political Studies and started her career at Carat/Aegis Media Group as a consultant and then Deputy Director of consultancy assignments for producers and broadcasters. In 2006, she joined the children’s and youth division of Lagardère Active as Research Director for TiJi,...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Tiphaine de Raguenel, France Télévisions
As Director of Production for Mattel's Playground Productions, Marge Dean is responsible for assuring the best production quality on budget and on time for all animation production including the selection of production partners and recruitment of talent. She is currently supporting the productions of Monster High,...show more
Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High
Matthew Deaner is the Executive Director of Screen Producers Australia. Screen Producers Australia is a national organisation that unites the screen industry to campaign for a healthy commercial environment. We support the interests of businesses, large and small, in their production of feature films, television programs, interactive content and games...show more
Featured in: Co-Production Face-Off!
EVP Programming & Content Strategy Acquisitions &Co Productions
Disney ABC Television Group
In his current role, Paul DeBenedittis leads the planning, scheduling, acquisitions and co-production teams in the US and is responsible for over 300 hours of televised programming across the multiplatform kids TV portfolio: Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior. His scheduling purview covers all originally produced series, movies, on-air promos...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Paul DeBenedittis, Disney Channels Worldwide
Sebastian Debertin helped create and launch KiKA – Der Kinderkanal of ARD & ZDF in November 1996. As Head of Fiction, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, a position he has held for more than 15 years, Sebastian oversees all international acquisitions, productions and co-productions. Sebastian has won several national and international awards,...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Sebastian Debertin, KiKA; The BIG Pitch!
As Vice President, Digital Media for Disney Channels Worldwide, Lauren DeVillier is responsible for the strategy, production and operations of DisneyChannel.com, DisneyJunior.com, DisneyXD.com and RadioDisney.com, as well as efforts related to the development of broadband, apps, mobile, social and interactive television applications for the Disney/ABC Television Group’s kids channels and...show more
Featured in: Harnessing the Power of the App
Frank Dietz joined Super RTL in 2000 and currently manages the channel’s programming supply for daytime and primetime, as well as content for off-air platforms such as merchandising, mobile and online services. Super RTL is Europe’s leader in children’s television and is jointly owned by RTL Group and Walt Disney...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...
Ellen Doherty is an Emmy Award-winning producer and writer with more than twenty years’ experience in children's and family media. As Executive Producer of the popular PBS KIDS series Cyberchase, she is currently overseeing production of its ninth season, as well as Cyberchase Shape Quest, a new augmented-reality game for...show more
Featured in: Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV
Julia Donaldson has written many picture books and novels for young readers, which have earned her international acclaim, including The Gruffalo. Her dedication to children’s literature has also earned her the role as the UK Children’s Laureate for 2012. In April 2013, Scholastic published The Highway Rat, a picture book...show more
Featured in: In Conversation with Julia Donaldson
Jackie Edwards started her career as an animation producer and consultant working on many prestigious and award-winning animated series and specials in the independent sector, including The First Snow of Winter for BBC1, and Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101; Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 2
As president of Nerd Corps, Ken Faier is responsible for the business management and administration of the company's roster of intellectual properties,...show more
Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success
Jonathan Finkelstein has created 7 television series for young people, and produced more than 800 half-hours of television that have been audience favorites and received multiple international awards.
Featured in: Focus on Formats
With over 300 hundred episodes of animated television to his credit, Nerd Corps' C.E.O. Asaph “Ace” Fipke has established himself as one of North America’s top producers of animation. With a rare blend of expertise in the creation, development, production and business of animated television and feature-length animation productions, Fipke...show more
Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High
A Froebel trained B.Ed grad of Trinity College, Dublin in her first life. Three years and 45 kids in the classroom later, ran away to see the world. Did, then moved to Paris taking first steps in the animation business at L&M entity, VIP, in 1993. Enthralled by...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing
Amy Friedman serves as Senior Advisor to MTV Scratch, Viacom’s creative S.W.A.T team. With a focus on Millennial culture, their partners include Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, General Motors, The Guggenheim Museum and others.
Amy is also the President and Founder of Redhead Consulting, a brand...show more
Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web
Donna Friedman Meir is the founder of LEMONADE Creative Consulting, a strategic consulting firm that sparks business growth for clients focused on building inspiring experiences for kids and families. An accomplished brand builder, producer, programmer and marketer of children’s media content, her career has been dedicated to creating...show more
Featured in: LEADER'S BREAKFAST—Putting the Power of Play to Work
As head of television development for DreamWorks Animation, Peter oversees the creative development of all original television projects for the studio and currently manages the production process for Turbo FAST– the first original kids series for Netflix. Prior to DreamWorks Animation, he spent three years as Vice President, Production at...show more
Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?
A veteran distribution professional with 17 years of experience under his belt, Edward Galton is the Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer at CAKE. In this dual role, he oversees all sales operations, the day-to-day running of the company, as well as directly selling CAKE’s growing...show more
Featured in: The SVOD Effect
Athena Georgaklis is the Manager, Original Production for TELETOON Canada Inc. Georgaklis is responsible for supervising the development and production of original programming for TELETOON and TELETOON at Night in English and French. In this role, Athena is charged with securing new talent and partnerships on behalf of...show more
As Director of BBC Children's Joe Godwin is responsible for the strategic direction of the BBC's services for children – the two digital TV channels, CBBC and CBeebies and their websites and mobile apps.
After reading History at Manchester University, Joe joined the BBC in 1986, working at BBC Southampton in...show more
Featured in: Focus on Formats
Richard Goldsmith joined The Jim Henson Company in 2011 in the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Global Distribution. He oversees worldwide distribution of both Henson-produced and HIP (Henson Independent Properties) brands in the domestic and international markets across all media, including television, home entertainment and digital platforms. In addition,...show more
Featured in: The SVOD Effect
After many years as a Senior Executive at the BBC and then consulting across the independent production sector in the UK, Marc has now joined forces with two highly specialised companies that are leading the way in their own particular fields.
He is...show more
Featured in: The Future is Now
In her role as VP of Consumer Insights, Jane Gould is responsible for coordinating consumer insight research for all Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group assets, including Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons Network, Nick at Nite and digital brands like Addicting- Games, Shockwave and Nick.com. She helps...show more
Featured in: Buzz Report: Kid Trends From the Nick Files
Alan Gregg is Director of Content, TELETOON, Corus Entertainment where he oversees all content development and production for TELETOON's English and French networks and their respective multiplatform services. In this role, he leads the TELETOON Original Production team and works closely with all of TELETOON's production partners. Gregg’s career spans 20 years of experience in film and television. Before joining...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Carole Bonneau & Alan Gregg, TELETOON Canada
As Production Executive for Family Channel, Disney XD Canada and Disney Junior Canada, Sarah Haasz oversees the creative aspects of development and production for all networks, including series and movies such as The Next Step, Bunks, Wingin' It, Really Me, Vacation With Derek, Stella and Sam and Justin Time. With over...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Sarah Haasz, Family Channel; Lunching With...
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Doug began his entertainment career as a radio announcer. For over a decade Doug moved from morning show to morning show, from Regina to Yellowknife, then decided to move on to theater, then back to radio again, then parking lot attendant,...show more
Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV
As Senior Vice President, International Production & Development, Nina Hahn oversees international content development and co-production partnerships for Nickelodeon outside of the US.
Based in London, Hahn coordinates and drives the development process, spearheading new production models, managing productions from pilot through to series, and working in direct partnership with Nickelodeon’s...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Nina Hahn, Nickelodeon International; The BIG Pitch!; Cultivating Creative Communities
As Vice President, Programming and Original Production, Corus Kids, Jocelyn Hamilton is responsible for Corus Entertainment’s Kids & Family programming, acquisitions and original production.
Previously, Jocelyn was Vice President, Original Programming, Kids, Comedy and Drama responsible for overseeing scripted original programming for Corus’ specialty and pay networks. For YTV, Jocelyn and ...show more
Featured in: Focus on Formats; Lunching With...; Co-Production Face-Off!; 30 Minutes with Jocelyn Hamilton, Corus Kids
Laura Harbin is the Senior Director of Scripted Programming for Temple Street Productions. A Gemini award and International Emmy Award winner, Harbin is responsible for overseeing the development and production of Temple Street’s scripted series and films including the highly rated, award-winning series Being Erica (CBC),...show more
Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action
John Hardman serves as Director of Development and Production at Saban Brands. In this role, he is responsible for the creative development and production of all brands, including Power Rangers,Julius Jr.,Digimon and Popples. John has held numerous executive positions over the past 15 years. He began his career at Klasky Csupo,...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 2
Anttu Harlin is the co-founder & CEO of Gigglebug Entertainment. The company's mission is to raise smiles around the world through games and entertainment. The company's first app has topped the charts in Finland and China, spreading giggles and winning critical acclaim on the way. The simultaneously released Gigglebug TV...show more
Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action
Russell Hicks is President, Content Development and Production for Nickelodeon Group. Based at Nickelodeon’s Burbank and Santa Monica, Calif. offices, he oversees the company’s live-action, animation development and production teams for all of Nickelodeon’s content platforms and across all of the network’s channels—Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick and...show more
Featured in: Meet the Chief Creative: Nickelodeon's Russell Hicks
A long time champion of children’s programming, Higgins is Executive Vice President of FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment. Higgins oversees the creative direction for FME’s kid’s business, as well as manages content, including acquisitions, development and sales of TV and digital programming. Current programming includes Max Steel, Monsuno,...show more
Featured in: The BIG Pitch!; UK Tax Credits 101
If the show has capes or explosions, there’s a very good chance Rob Hoegee has worked on it. Starting with the smash hit Teen Titans for Cartoon Network, Rob has been the head writer and story editor for an impressive list of award-winning animated series, including Legion of Super Heroes, Storm...show more
Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success
Matt Hornburg is Co-CEO and Executive Producer, marblemedia. Matt leads creative development and production for the company’s original TV and Interactive divisions in Toronto and LA for all genres including the company’s expansion into Prime-Time Scripted as well as Kids and Family programming.
Having founded the company with Mark Bishop over a decade...show more
Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Setting up Shop: Charting the Route to a Successful Production
Creative Director, Executive Producer, Freelance Project Advisor
BBC Worldwide
Henrietta Hurford-Jones is Director of Children’s at BBC Worldwide Channels.
Henrietta is responsible for commissioning and developing a new stream of original programme content for the international CBeebies channels. She also manages the global investment process for all children’s programming and brand properties across BBC Worldwide,...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...; Speed Pitching 1; 30 Minutes with Henrietta Hurford-Jones, BBC Worldwide
Laurie Hutzler has worked as a story and character consultant for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, talkbackTHAMES, Mersey Television/Lime Pictures and Aardman Animation Studio (UK), for Pixar University, Disney, and Dreamworks (US), for Endemol Netherlands (NL), for RTL, Weidemann Berg, and Grundy UFA (Germany), for GloboMedia (Spain) and for TNT...show more
Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Creating with Character: Preparing Characters for the Creative Process
Oli Hyatt has been Creative Director at Blue-Zoo for 14 years, helping it thrive through difficult times for the animation industry. His most resent show Olive the Ostrich is a huge hit on Nick Jr, and has been sold right around the...show more
Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101
Traci Paige Johnson is co-founder of yummico (www.yummico.com), the new interactive children’s media company that is a trusted destination for delicious media. yummico produces entertaining media for preschoolers across multiple platforms, with a focus on digital games, interactive shows, apps and eBooks, as well as traditional narrative animation, print...show more
Featured in: Harnessing the Power of the App
Christopher Keenan, Executive Producer /President, Creating4Kids, Inc.,is a highly accomplished creative executive, executive producer and writerwho has enjoyed over twenty five years of success in the animation, kids and family entertainment industries. With thousands of hours of production to his credit, he is equally adept at development, sales and production.
Under...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development
As Director of Children’s Programming at PBS, Keith oversees the rollout of video content for broadcast, web and mobile platforms, creating and implementing strategies to develop and manage children's programs as they progress from proposal stage to production and exhibition. Keith is also responsible for working directly with producers, evaluating...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 2
With over 20 years experience in multiplatform production; John has worked as a content strategist and producer across radio, TV, web, tablet and mobile. Before joining Kids Industries, John worked as an executive producer at the BBC responsible for developing CBeebies interactive and has worked across...show more
Featured in: The Ongoing Evolution of Play
As Co-Head of Nelvana Enterprises, Andrew oversees all aspects of the Corus Kids distribution and merchandising business and Nelvana’s brand rights in the Americas and Australasia. Andrew joined Corus in January 2012 as the Head of Consumer Products, The Americas and Australasia....show more
Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China
Ben Kim is responsible for content acquisition efforts for the Hulu Kids platform in the U.S., in addition to developing domestic content partnerships with key media companies, sports content partners and Asian content providers. Previously, he worked in entertainment and media, overseeing investments in entertainment assets...show more
Featured in: The SVOD Effect
Tatiana started Bejuba! Entertainment 10 years ago to specialize in the executive production, financing, co-production and distribution of children’s and family entertainment. The goal was to work with producers to get their babies off the ground. The company now has over 650 half hours...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing
Joan Lambur is the Executive Producer for animation and kids’ live action and family programming at Breakthrough Entertainment. Joan handles acquisitions of projects in these areas as well as oversees creative development and financing. She also oversees all licensing and merchandising activities for the company that...show more
Featured in: Cultivating Creative Communities
Cort Lane is Vice President, Animation Development & Production for Marvel Television. As a life-long Marvel fan, Mr. Lane is thrilled to develop and produce shows within the rich Marvel Universe. In addition to supervising the animation development team, he serves as current series executive on all ongoing series. Drawing...show more
Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?
Matt Lauderbach is the Design Director for Fisher Price, which is based out of the New York City office. He oversees the design team developing toys for the Thomas the Tank Engine Brands which include: Wooden Railway,Take N Play, Trackmaster, My First Preschool, Collectible Railway, and...show more
Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success
Curtis Lelash is vice president of comedy animation for Cartoon Network. In this capacity, Lelash oversees the development and ongoing production of Cartoon Network’s animated comedy series, which has helped drive the network to consistently rank as the #1 network among boys. Creatively responsible for projects from pilot development through...show more
Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV
In this role, David is responsible for all strategic and operational aspects of programming across Disney Channels EMEA, including the development of the linear and multi-platform programming strategy. He also determines the direction of original production and oversees the development and production slates of originally produced content, acquisitions and co-productions...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with David Levine, Disney Channels EMEA; Harnessing the Power of the App
Ira levy is a co-founder, partner and owner of Breakthrough Films & Television, Breakthrough Entertainment and Breakthrough New Media.
Since creating Breakthrough over 27 years ago, Ira and his partner Peter Williamson have built a creative partnership and established themselves as one of Canada’s most prolific providers...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing; Co-Production Face-Off!
The invasive impact of media on children became the impetus, in 1991, for Levy to create KIDS FIRST! / Coalition for Quality Children's Media, dedicated to promoting and nurturing quality children's media as a vehicle for social change. A former educator, Levy designed an award-winning television series, Kidnetics, for PBS...show more
Featured in: Meet the Critics
SVP, Global Acquisitions & Content Partnerships, Kids & Family Group
Nickelodeon International
Layla Lewis is Vice President of Content Acquisitions for Nickelodeon, a role she assumed in May 2013. Lewis is responsible for negotiating, sourcing and managing content acquisitions for Nickelodeon channels globally. She also supervises all content acquisition proposals and is integral in the greenlighting process of new Nickelodeon programming and...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...
Prior to stepping away from full-time work, Joan Lofts served as Director of Television at Contender Entertainment Group and was responsible for developing and overseeing the television production division. Recent animated hits that were shepherded by Joan include Tractor Tom, Peppa Pig, Humf, Little Kingdom and Channel 4 special Lost and...show more
Featured in: In Conversation with Julia Donaldson
Carl Lumbard joined FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment in 2012 to head up the division’s global licensing team. Carl works alongside FremantleMedia’s own international offices and third party agents around the world to sign best-in-class consumer products partners for the division’s key brands (including Tree Fu Tom, Strange Hill High...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Licensing
Stacey is a founder of Insight Strategy Group and Insight Kids. Her leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to providing clients with "truth, possibility, and inspiration" gained from robust research techniques and thought-provoking strategic insights.
Stacey is a child development expert who has dedicated her career to helping clients create...show more
Featured in: Boys vs. Girls: Really Understanding the Gender Divide
Ira is publisher of the news services The Licensing Letter, Content Licensing, and Research Alert Pro, as well as research studies including “The Global Market For Licensed Preschool Properties,” “Tween Sensibility, Spending & Influence,” “Teen Spending & Influence,” “How Tweens & Teens Use Social Media,” “Marketing To Tweens & Teens,”...show more
Featured in: Preschool Reality Check
Grant McCracken looks at the places where culture and commerce, anthropology and economics meet. Through his highly-customized presentations, he provides audiences with a comprehensive¯but incisive¯review of contemporary culture, including its foundations, current state, and future trends¯and strategies for managing it.
McCracken is the author of several books including Culture and Consumption;...show more
Featured in: KEYNOTE—Shifting Platforms, Changing Audiences
Jamila Metran joined CiTV in September 2004 as an Administrator, working closely with Estelle Hughes. Over the past seven years, Jamila’s role has expanded to Programming Manager, and as such, she oversees all acquisitions and commissions for the channel. In 2006, Jamila worked on the launch of the CiTV channel,...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Lunching With...
Luca Milano is Executive Deputy Director and Head of Marketing and Animation Production for RAI Fiction, the department of Italy’s public broadcaster responsible for producing and co-producing fictional live-action and animation programming
Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Lunching With...
Carrie Miller is the Network Manager for all of Frederator Networks' Internet properties, including Cartoon Hangover, Bravest Warriors and the Channel Frederator Network. In addition, she oversees promotion of Frederator properties, including Bravest Warriors, Bee & Puppycat, and the Channel Frederator Network.
A...show more
Featured in: Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch
Erin is the cultural eyes and ears of the CI Research group at Nickelodeon, immersing herself fully in the worlds of kids, teens and young adults. She spends her days keeping a constant watch on all kid/teen/young adult media. As a result, Erin is the point person for reporting on...show more
Featured in: Buzz Report: Kid Trends From the Nick Files
Promoted to her current role this year, Karen is responsible for directing the development of overall scheduling strategies to ensure regional and local programming plans are consistent with global priorities. She also oversees the global acquisitions process, sourcing live-action and animated series and movies on a worldwide basis for Disney...show more
Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics
Rick Mischel currently serves as a Producer at Sony Pictures Animation, the Sony division behind such animated features as Hotel Transylvania and The Smurfs. Prior to his role as a Producer, Mischel served as Senior Vice President for Sony Pictures Imageworks. Mischel launched and managed the animation/vfx facility for Sony...show more
Featured in: Cultivating Creative Communities
As Head of Children`s content, Karen Mitrega is responsible for the development, co-production and acquisition of new series and magazines for the target audience 3-13 years. She is now also responsible for the website www.toggo.de which targets kids 6-13 years. Before joining Super RTL in 2004, Karen has been working...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Karen Mitrega, Super RTL
My name is Brigitta and I am from Germany. I’m the Head of Children’s and Family TV - department of WDR. (That’s a public broadcasting station connected to the ARD.) I started this job in January 2010.
I myself am also not new to the field of children’s...show more
Featured in: Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Brigitta Muhlenbeck, WDR
Sarah Muller is passionate about both drama and animation. Successful projects she’s developed include Hettie Feather, Dr. Who—Dreamland, Emily’s Army, My Almost Famous Family, Dumping Ground, Strangehill High, Sadie J, Wolf Blood and Just William.
Before joining the CBBC team, Sarah was Managing Director of Elephant Productions, a well-known UK company specializing...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; New Dimensions of Live Action
In the winter of 2011, two brothers came up with the idea to marry action VFX with musical theatre. A year later, AVbyte was born. Named for its two founders, Antonius and Vijay Nazareth, AVbyte represents all things audio, video and byte-y.
Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web
In the winter of 2011, two brothers came up with the idea to marry action VFX with musical theatre. A year later, AVbyte was born. Named for its two founders, Antonius and Vijay Nazareth, AVbyte represents all things audio, video and byte-y.
Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web
Moses is a Director in the Film & TV department of Saffery Champness, providing specialist advice on accessing and maximising the UK Film, High-end TV and Animation tax credits.
On the film side, Moses acts for a number of US studios as well as UK and European production companies and over...show more
Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101
Lisa O’Brien has considerable experience as a writer/producer and children’s television executive. She has overseen all day parts for YTV Canada, been a Creative Director at Fox Family Channel and Disney Channel, and currently serves as VP of Original Programming for Sprout.
While at Sprout she's helped oversee the original series...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 2
Bill O’Dowd, President of Dolphin Entertainment and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Dolphin Digital Media, has deep experience in the digital media and entertainment industries. Mr. O’Dowd founded Dolphin Entertainment in 1996, and it has since become one of the world’s leading production companies specializing in children’s and young...show more
Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics
Dr. Lynn Oldershaw is a developmental psychologist, and has worked at the CBC for 13 years as an executive in charge of production for preschool programming. She provides child development and research expertise, specifically as it informs CBC’s mandate and objectives for children’s programming, the development and production of children’s...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 4
Jennifer Oxley was born in Hollywood, California and caught the filmmaking bug early – she made her first film at the age of seven. Since then she has directed fifteen short films for Sesame Street, as well as the award-winning adaptation of Spike Lee and Tanya Lewis Lee’s children’s book,...show more
Featured in: Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV
Audu Paden currently serves as a Senior Director and Executive Producer at Mattel Playground Productions, his creative home since 2007. Responsible for managing strategic storytelling within Mattel on both newly developed IP and classic brands, he is currently show running on the worldwide phenomena...show more
Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High
Brand Lead Nickelodeon Southern Europe Middle East & Africa
Turner Broadcasting System Italy & Boing Spa
Cecilia Padula is currently Content Director at Turner Broadcasting System Italy and Boing Spa (the company born from the Joint Venture between Turner and Mediaset). Fully dedicated to the kids business for the last 10 years, she is running Programming, Acquisitions, Original Productions and Dubbing for four channels in Italy:...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; 30 Minutes with Cecilia Padula, Boing
Cecilia Persson is Vice President of Acquisitions for allTurner Broadcasting’s kids’ channels across EMEA and International, including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito, Cartoon Network Too and Boing.
Cecilia joinedTurner Broadcastingin 2005 as Director of Acquisitions and was promoted to Vice President of Programming, Acquisition and Presentation in 2006. Her role expanded in...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes Cecilia Persson, Turner Broadcasting EMEA; Lunching With...
As Director of Original Programming, Jamie Piekarz has played an integral role in the creation, development and production of a variety of programs including: Mike the Knight, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, My Friend Rabbit,and 4 Square. Some of her production executive credits include: Mr. Young, Some Assembly Required, My...show more
Julia Pistor started producing films in 1995 when she joined Nickelodeon Movies as Associate Producer of Harriet The Spy. During her 11-year tenure, she helped build a number of lucrative television and film franchises and successfully extended the Nickelodeon brand into a leading provider of kid and family movies. At...show more
Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics
Adina Pitt is vice president, content acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, In this capacity, Pitt is responsible for identifying, negotiating and acquiring pre-produced series, specials, movies and short-form product that fit the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands for exposure on all platforms. She continues to oversee those...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Adina Pitt, Cartoon Network
Michael Polis is a senior level strategist and producer specializing in brands and intellectual property. With his proven expertise in marketing, licensing and product development and an ability to work in all media, he has successfully developed, managed and produced content for some of the world’s most celebrated...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Licensing
Maura Regan serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Consumer Products for the nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop. She oversees the Workshop’s global retail business across all major categories of licensed goods including toys, apparel, home furnishings, stationery and gifts. Her division, in large part, funds the nonprofit...show more
Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China
John Rice is a Bafta winning Producer and Director who began his career as an animator in feature film working at 20th Century Fox in the US. This was followed by a position in MTV -...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing
After 15 years in broadcasting and production, Chris joined ABC Television in May 2012 as the channel’s Commissioning Editor for Animation. Chris is responsible for sourcing, developing and executive producing commissioned animation for the ABC’s two dedicated children’s channels, ABC 3 and ABC 4 Kids. Prior to joining ABC Television,...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; Co-Production Face-Off!
Lauren Rose currently serves as Project Supervisor for Mattel Playground Productions and is responsible for project supervision on the worldwide phenomena Monster High® and the new Ever After High™.
Rose currently supervises projects in all stages of content creation on both newly developed Mattel IP and classic brands. From strategic planning and...show more
Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High
Michael is the General Manager, Family at Maker Studios—one of the largest multi-channel networks in the world. Maker and its network partners garner over 4.5 billion views a month on Youtube, more than half of which originate outside the United States. Michael oversees programming and P&L across all verticals in...show more
Featured in: Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch
Based in London, Orion Ross leads the creative development and production of original animation and co-productions for Disney Channel and Disney XD in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Current series include Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja and the upcoming Boyster. Previously Orion served as VP Creative and...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4
The Godfather. The Wire. The Great Gatsby. Let It Be. These are all things that were written. Not by me of course. Not even close. Nope. I’ve written on dozens (baker’s dozens even) of animated TV shows over the course of the last millennium. I started...show more
Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV
Richard Rowe joined Turner’s Cartoon Network UK programming team in 2002, where he was responsible for putting together the UK schedules for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami.
In 2004, Richard shifted into acquisitions and development, charged with assisting on...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development
Jon Rutherford oversees the operation of Tricon’s international distribution company, including all worldwide sales and acquisitions. In addition to growing its catalogue to over 2,000 hours of high quality content in genres such as scripted drama & comedy, factual & lifestyle, documentary, and kids & family, he...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4
Ritsuko Sakai joined NHK in 1985. As a director and producer, she has worked mainly on documentaries about public welfare, medical care, and the challenges facing disabled people. She became a producer of educational content in 2006. Her documentary “I Feel the Words”, which portrays the students at a school...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Ritsuko Sakai, NHK
Katherine is a writer, executive story-editor and development consultant whose work has been broadcast around the world. Katherine is very proud to have executive story-edited The Adventures of Napkin Man for Breakthrough Entertainment and Little Airplane Productions which debuted last month on the CBC to rave reviews. She is just finishing story-editing...show more
Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Funny for Under-Fives: Mastering the Art of Preschool Humor
Alyssa Sapire is VP of Development and Programming for FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment. Current programming includes Kate & Mim Mim, Danger Mouse, Strange Hill High, and Tree Fu Tom.
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 2
Josh Scherba, SVP, Distribution joined DHX Media in 2000. DHX Media is a leading international supplier of television programming, with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. In his role, Scherba oversees the distribution arm of DHX Media with a catalogue that includes programming from all of...show more
Featured in: The SVOD Effect
Larry Seidman is CEO of Dimensional Branding Group (DBG), a Bay Area-based brand extension agency that focuses on brand licensing, business development and promotion services, with a unique emphasis on the interactive & digital channels. DBG specializes in developing toys & games, iconic brands & digital trademarks into entertainment placement...show more
Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Hit-Mapping: Building a Five-year Brand Plan that Works
As Vice President of Children’s Programming at PBS, Linda Simensky collaborates with producers, co-production partners, PBS station programmers, and distributors throughout the development, production, post-production, and broadcast phases for PBS KIDS programming.
Linda’s efforts in transforming PBS KIDS’ lineup for preschool- and school-age children over the past several years have brought...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Linda Simensky, PBS Kids; Lunching With...; Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV
Nat Sims is the CEO and founder of Night & Day Studios, a kids’ app company based in Portland and Brooklyn. He has been a content developer and interface designer for over 20 years, creating educational software, interactive installations, and games for clients such as Nickelodeon, Mattel, and the Smithsonian...show more
Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101
As Senior Producer for Mattel Playground Productions, Ira Singerman is responsible for content strategy, story development and production across multiple platforms on a diverse slate of kid-targeted intellectual properties.
Singerman has been a producer on...show more
Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High
Pierre Siracusa joined the French public broadcaster in 1993, starting in the fiction department of France 2 before being promoted to Deputy Programming Advisor in the same department. In 1996, he shifted to the children’s and youth department as Programming Advisor, and then joined France 3 in 1998.
In October 2008,...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4
With more than 25 years of experience in the development, production and distribution of cultural and entertainment products, Pierre Sissmann has been involved, for more than twenty years, in TV channel launches, music production and distribution and even in the creation of a press group.
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing
Dave Skwarczek heads Los Angeles creative studio Eat Your Lunch. Leveraging the power of futuristic thinking, solid business strategy and farts, he has consulted on projects in all media, including Disney Jr.'s 7D and Imagination Movers, marblemedia's Splatalot!, a virtual world for American Greetings Properties, digital and broadcast projects for...show more
Featured in: The BIG Pitch!
Tara Sorensen is Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios. In her role, Sorensen oversees the development and production of original kid’s programming for Amazon.
Sorensen joined Amazon Studios from National Geographic Kids Entertainment, where she was Vice President, development & current programming. During her tenure with National Geographic she was essential to...show more
Featured in: The SVOD Effect; 30 Minutes with Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios
From 1996 to 1999, Géraldine Soto was Acquisitions and Programming Coordinator for Disney Channel France, joining the team a year before the net’s broadcast launch. In 1999, she joined TPS as Programming Manager for TéléTOON and launched Eureka! and Piwi in 2003. Since then, she has been serving as Head...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 1
Julie Stall has been in the forefront of producing quality children’s television for over twenty-five years. As VP Production for Portfolio Entertainment, Julie helms the Canadian production of the company’s prestigious animated series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! featuring Dr. Seuss’...show more
Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101
James Stephenson is Senior Vice President of Content Development, Digital Media for Nickelodeon Group. In this role, Stephenson is responsible for the creative development of original content for Nickelodeon’s digital destinations including Nick’s websites, Apps, digital platforms and premium games publishing businesses.
Previously, Stephenson was Senior Vice President, Creative Director, Digital...show more
Featured in: Harnessing the Power of the App
Alison Stewart has worked in the field of children's media production for most of her career, first at the BBC and later as a freelance consultant, producer, director and scriptwriter. She returned to the BBC in 2007 and in her current role she leads a team that creates, develops and...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 2
Melanie set up Kindle Entertainment with Anne Brogan in 2007. Since then she has exec-produced Jinx, a comedy for CBBC; Dustbin Baby, an International Emmy-winning drama for BBC One; Some Dogs Bite, a drama for BBC3 directed by Marc Munden and starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster; mini-series Treasure Island for Sky One starring Eddie Izzard, Donald Sutherland and Elijah...show more
Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action
Fernando Szew is founding partner and chief executive officer of MarVista Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent producers and distributors of features and family entertainment programming. Under Szew’s leadership, MVE has achieved remarkable growth through a strategy that complements its distribution slate with acquisitions across all media platforms as...show more
Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics
Despite a sober Quaker upbringing, Cheryl has always loved Drama and Entertainment and embarked on a media career in 1987 as...show more
Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV; Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Cheryl Taylor, CBBC
Gary Timpson’s experience spans almost twenty years and three continents, starting out in 1995 in Dublin’s Shepherd Studios and then at Terraglyph Productions working as an assistant animator on three features; Carnival, Help...show more
Featured in: Co-Production Face-Off!
Colm Tobin is a writer and producer with Kite Entertainment, a small but perfectly formed Dublin based production company that produces a broad mix of entertainment and factual programming for a variety of Irish and international broadcasters. Colm is the co-creator of three seasons of Science Fiction, a puppet--based series of...show more
Featured in: Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV
Dan Victor is Founder and President of Victor Advisors PLLC, a New York professional corporation that focuses on the media business, including representation of a variety of media clients: cable channels, video and digital media producers, internet companies, traditional and new media publishers, educational service companies, licensors, and merchandising representatives....show more
Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China
Rachel Webber is VP, Video for Rovio Entertainment, where she oversees the company's video distribution businesses, including Rovio's owned-and-operated video distribution platform (ToonsTV) and the sales of Rovio's original animated series to broadcast TV networks and digital platforms around the world. Previously Rachel served as Head...show more
Featured in: The Future is Now
Manager, Original Animation, EMEA
Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe
Janine Weigold, born 1978, has been working for Nickelodeon, the kids and family brand of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN - formerly MTV Networks Germany), for 8 years. After several stations within programming she now leads the Acquisitions & Development department for Northern Europe as a Vice President (VP). In this...show more
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4
Teri Weiss is Executive Vice President of Preschool Development and Production, Nickelodeon Group. She is responsible for overseeing all production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool and Nick Jr., Nickelodeon's 24-hour digital preschool channel.
Weiss, who joined Nickelodeon in 1999, most recently served as Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Nickelodeon Preschool....show more
Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?
Based in Technicolor’s Los Angeles location, Steven Wendland is a vice president and the creative head of Technicolor Animation & Games and joined the company in 2008. Wendland is charged with overseeing and developing properties for the company, while working with a development team located in Technicolor’s Bangalore studio, as...show more
Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development
As Supervising Producer for Mattel Playground Productionss, David Wiebe is responsible for development and production of creative content for the world's largest toy company. He developed and show runs the hit web series Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?
Kim Wilson has dedicated her life to children’s programming, beginning with a degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson University in Toronto and augmented by a prolonged career in public broadcasting that has included many roles at TVOntario and the CBC.
As Creative Head of Children’s Programming for Canada’s national...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Kim Wilson, Kids' CBC; Lunching With...
Kay Wilson Stallings is Vice President of Preschool Production and Development for Nickelodeon Group. In this role, she has overseen development of such shows as Yo Gabba Gabba!, Fresh Beat Band, and the upcoming new preschool CG series Peter Rabbit and Blaze...show more
Featured in: 30 Minutes with Kay Wilson Stallings, Nickelodeon Preschool
Alan Winnikoff is co-principal of Sayles & Winnikoff Communications, the boutique public relations firm he co-founded in 2003, along with his partner, Carina Sayles. Alan shares in the strategic direction and overall management of the company. The agency’s focus is primarily, though not exclusively, on companies, product and content for...show more
Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Hit-Mapping: Building a Five-year Brand Plan that Works
Marion Winter joined Super RTL in April 2011 as Senior Manager of Acquisitions and Co-Productions. Previously, she held numerous positions within the Program Acquisitions and Sales department of parent network RTL Television, and worked as Manager of Content Sourcing for RTL Interactive’s online, mobile and VOD platforms.
Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4
With 20 years of experience in international distribution, Alix started her career at Channel 4 selling over 3000 hours of programming across factual, animation, drama and feature films. Following her passion for animation, she decided to specialize in children’s programming and brands, joining newly formed Entertainment Rights (now...show more
Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101
Karl has worked in children’s television as a presenter, writer, producer and director for over 15 years. He was managing director of Tell-Tale Productions from 1999 to 2004 in which time the company produced Tweenies, Boo, BB3B, Fun Song Factory and a number of live children’s arena tours including Tweenies...show more
Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV
As Senior Vice President of Live-action Development for Nickelodeon, Brian Wright oversees all development and pilot production for live action shows on Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, TeenNick and the network’s international co-productions.
Wright joined Nickelodeon in 2007 as Vice President of Live Action Development. He has shepherded a number of series...show more
Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action
Nancy Zwiers is CEO and Chief Funosopher of Funosophy, Inc., a leading brand-building consulting and invention firm in the play industry. Founded in 2000, Funosophy conducts extensive research in the area of kids and play and has advised over 150 clients ranging from large entertainment companies to toy companies like...show more
Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success