Speaker David Michel
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David is Co-Founder of European production powerhouse Federation Entertainment, the production company behind hits such as The Bureau and Baby (Netflix), as well as the Managing Director of its kids division, Federation Kids and Family.
He is also the Founder and President of Cottonwood Media, a production subsidiary of Federation Entertainment.
David launched Cottonwood Media alongside fellow co-founders Zoé Carrera Allaix and Cécile Lauritano in 2014. Cottonwood creates, produces, and invests in premium, talent-driven Kids and Family content (animated series, features, and live-action content). Based in Paris, with offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Berlin, Cottonwood’s productions include their latest premium live-action series Theodosia (co-produced with ZDF, ZDFE, HBO Max, and Globo) the hit teen drama Find Me in Paris (a premium live-action series co-produced with ZDF, ZDF Enterprises, Be-Films and the Opera National de Paris), now with three seasons; an animated feature Around the World in 80 Days, distributed by StudioCanal, as well as preschool series The Ollie and Moon Show and the animated comedy Squish and Circuit Breakers.
With over two decades of television experience producing children’s programming, David previously co-founded Marathon Media, part of Zodiak, now a Banijay company. During this period, he co-created and produced over 12 TV properties including the hit series Totally Spies which notched up six seasons and sold over 120 territories.
David often participates as a speaker on numerous panels and conferences during key industry events such as Kidscreen Summit, MIP/MIPCOM markets, and more. A Science Po Paris and Harvard Business School alumnus, David also sits on the board of Anime France (the French animation producer’s union) and other organizations.
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