Registration Desk

Registration Desk

Get a feel for the layout of our venue before the Summit officially kicks off so you don’t waste precious time trying to find sessions, events and people throughout the week. This tour departs from the Registration Desk and shows you where everything will take place.

Registration Desk

Get a feel for the layout of our venue before the Summit officially kicks off so you don’t waste precious time trying to find sessions, events and people throughout the week. This tour departs from the Registration Desk and shows you where everything will take place.

Isles

Join some of the industry’s most experienced creators, who will work with you on fine-tuning your show concept and pitch materials so you’re ready for market. You can also pop in and ask any questions you may have about developing and pitching kids content.

Featuring:

Brenda Bisner

Chief Content Officer

KidoodleTV

Jeff Brustrom

Independent Producer

Brustrom Media

Sarah Haasz

Producer

Federation Kids & Family

Heath Kenny

Chief Content Officer

U and Eye Creative

Helen McAleer

IP, Publishing & Production Consultant

Helen McAleer Ltd.

Kristen McGregor

Showrunner | Writer | Director

Andrew Rheingold

Writer & Producer

International Rheingold Productions

Dave Skwarczek

Writer and Producer

Eat Your Lunch

Isles

We’ve recruited a handful of leading kids content producers to advise you on your financing game plan and setting up effective co-production partnerships.  

Featuring:

Tatiana Kober

President

Bejuba! Entertainment

Eric S. Rollman

CEO

Rollman Entertainment, Inc.

Frank Saperstein

CEO & Executive Producer

Surprise Bag Inc

Beth Stevenson

CEO & President

Brain Power Studio Inc

Brenda Wooding

Owner

Kid Glove

Xilam Bayfront

How 2016/2017 turned Gen Z’s emotional landscape upside down, and the doors it opens for more emotionally relevant media platforms and content 

For the last 10 years, US research firm The Family Room has been mapping the shifting emotional landscape of Gen Z youth. And for the first eight, these core hopes, fears, dreams and anxieties remained remarkably constant. And then came 2016, which triggered the start of some astonishing shifts in the Passion Points Gen Z kids and teens are most focused on, leading to implications for the kids media industry that cannot be overstated. In this kick-off keynote, TED Talk speaker and Family Room CEO George Carey will track these shifts in Gen Z’s emotional landscape, exploring how they will impact the where, how and what of youth media consumption, and recommending strategies for kids media players to reflect this new reality and elevate the emotional relevance of their properties and platforms with today’s kids and teens

Featuring:

George Carey

CEO

The Family Room

Xilam Bayfront

Kidscreen Summit welcomes the return of actor Geena Davis, founder and chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender and Media. Davis delivered Kidscreen Summit’s 2016 keynote about gender and diversity in the content development process. The Oscar-winner is returning to Miami to unveil new research from her organization that focuses on how products are being marketed to boys and girls through the use of brand mascots.

Featuring:

Geena Davis

Founder & Chair

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Moderating:

Dete Meserve

Principal

Wind Dancer Film and Television

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Sarah Aspinall

Acquisitions Editor

Virgin Media

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Luca Milano

Executive Director

RAI

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Erika Vogt-Lowell

Director of Programming and Acquisitions

HITN

Xilam Bayfront

The Super Hero experts at Marvel are expanding the Marvel Universe with their first animation-led franchise, Marvel Rising. What makes it especially unique to the Marvel Universe is its target audience—tweens ages 7 to 11. Marvel Rising features a primarily female and inclusive cast of some of Marvel’s fan-favorite and breakout heroes. Cort Lane, Marvel SVP of Animation and Family Entertainment, will give attendees a look at the research conducted that fueled the development of this new multiplatform franchise and discuss how it’s been designed to unfold across TV, digital and social platforms. Meet the next generation of Marvel heroes for the next generation of Marvel fans!

Featuring:

Cort Lane

VP, Original Content, Fashion Brands

Marvel Entertainment

Sevilla

Preschoolers have always been super-served by educational media, but what about that slightly older six to eight crowd? This session will explore some of the barriers to creating educational content for this demo, as well as current opportunities and renewed interest among buyers. It will also delve into what it can and should tackle in terms of curriculum to create enriching content that these viewers will seek out on their own, without teacher prompting. 

Featuring:

Cheryl Gotthelf

Founder & President

Cheryl Gotthelf Consulting

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Caterina Gonnelli-Linden

Chief Content Officer

Disney Channels EMEA

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Marie McCann

Senior Director, Children's Content

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Tiphaine de Raguenel

Director of Editorial Strategy

France Televisions

Merrick

Featuring:

Miguel Aldasoro

International Sales Director

Anima (Spain)

Genevieve Dexter

Founder & CEO

Serious Lunch (UK)

Jung-Jin Hong

Head of Creative Development

FunnyFlux Entertainment (Korea)

Joan Lambur

President

Lambur Productions (Canada)

Kiko Mistrorigo

Partner

TV PinGuim (Brazil)

Suzanne Ryan

CEO

SLR Productions (Australia)

Pierre Sissmann

Board Member

Cyber Group Studios (France)

Alix Wiseman

SVP, Distribution & Acquisitions

9 Story Media Group (Ireland)

Xilam Bayfront

Melissa Cobb joined Netflix as the company’s first VP of kids and family last September, signaling an even larger commitment to the genre by the SVOD giant. Now that she’s settled into her role as leader of Netflix's kids and family content team, Melissa will discuss some of her plans to further expand the platform's offering of animated and live-action series, event programming and films for this audience. She'll also share how her past experience working in feature films impacts her approach to creating content that entertains kids and families the world over.

Featuring:

Melissa Cobb

VP Original Animation

Netflix

Moderating:

Lana Castleman

Director, Marketing & Communications

Kidscreen

Sevilla

With US children spending an average of 48 minutes a day on mobile devices, the definition of “family dynamics” has shifted to include more time spent by individuals immersed in their own screens. But what if the pendulum swung back to a time when media was consumed by the whole family as a unit? Well, that may be happening already. Responding to a growing demand for kid-friendly podcasts over the last year, producers in this space are offering families a welcome alternative to screen time. Listen in as this group of award-winning podcast creators they talk business models, creative and production processes and benefits.

Featuring:

Koyalee Chanda

SVP, Animation

This Podcast Has Fleas

David Kreizman

Chief Creative Officer/Showrunner

Gen-Z Media

Lee Overtree

Co-Founder and Creative Director

Story Pirates

Moderating:

Meredith Halpern-Ranzer

Chief Executive Tinkerer

Tinkercast/ Wow in the World

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Gary Finnegan

VP of Programming Strategy

DHX Media

Kayla van der Meer

Scheduler - Family & CHRGD

DHX Media

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Lucy Murphy

Director, Kids Content, UK & ROI

Sky

Xilam Bayfront

Besides discussing the current state of content targeting the core-kid demo, these acquisitions experts will also explore the shifting landscape of the business, and what it means for linear and non-linear platforms and the producers who supply them. 

Featuring:

Rick Clodfelter

Executive Director, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Universal Kids

Adina Pitt

Independent

Cartoon Network

Moderating:

Agnes Augustin

President & CEO

Shaw Rocket Fund

Sevilla

COPPA compliance, Europe's GDPR and recent class-action lawsuits are increasing fears about offering web or mobile content for kids, especially when personal data is involved. And then there are the complexities of working with third-party providers who may be operating data-collection functions on your behalf (i.e. analytics, advertising, voice/facial recognition). Top privacy expert Shai Samet gives a tutorial on what steps IP owners need to take now to help protect their brands and avoid the threat of litigation in the future.

Featuring:

Shai Samet

Founder & President

kidSAFE Seal Program

Xilam Bayfront

With the looming launch of Disney's proprietary SVOD and the seemingly unstoppable rise of services like Netflix and Amazon, it’s worth exploring what the kids "network" of the future can, could and should be. A new type of star will be driving it, with new platforms inspiring the invention of new formats, release patterns, marketing strategies and revenue models. Experimentation is already taking place on these fronts, but early efforts have yet to settle into any sort of consensus. What does the grand design look like? Is there one? This group of industry experts is going to attempt to find out

Featuring:

Deirdre Brennan

Chief Operating Officer

Universal Kids

Sundance Feniger

VP and GM, Boomerang (Premium Video Streaming Subscription Service)

Turner Networks

Stone Newman

Partner

pocket.watch

Moderating:

Jesse Cleverly

Creative Director

Wildseed Studios

Sevilla

You’ve produced some great shorts, with super-cute characters, and believe that licensed consumer products would be a great way to help fund your company’s growth. Perhaps, but before you head down that road, you need to understand what potential licensees, agents and retailers are looking for, and the questions you’ll need to answer for each of them. And this panel of licensing pros will provide the answers.

Featuring:

Naz Amarchi-Cuevas

SVP & GM | Stumble Guys | Scopely

SYBO Games

Sam Ferguson

SVP of Licensing

Jazwares

Bill Graham

President

PhatMojo

Pamela Westman

President

Nelvana Enterprises

Moderating:

Marty Brochstein

SVP, Industry Relations and Information

LIMA International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association

Gusman

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity

Featuring:

Libbie Doherty

Co-CEO

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Jan Stradling

Executive Producer, Children's TV

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Tuttle

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Tiphaine de Raguenel

Director of Editorial Strategy

France Televisions

Pierre Siracusa

Head Of Children’S & Education

France Televisions

Dupont

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Gary Finnegan

VP of Programming Strategy

DHX Media

Richard Rowe

Executive Producer

DHX Media

Kayla van der Meer

Scheduler - Family & CHRGD

DHX Media

Flagler

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Rick Clodfelter

Executive Director, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Universal Kids

Lisa O'Brien

Creative Consultant

Universal Kids

Kristofer Updike

Senior Vice President, Creative

Universal Kids

Mix and mingle poolside with other delegates at the Summit’s biggest social event. This bash caps off the first day and attracts hundreds of kids entertainment execs looking to meet partners, chat about business and soak up the Miami sunset.

Gusman

So you got your first freelance writing gig. Congrats! Now learn how to avoid common pitfalls that often prevent writers from getting a next script and pursuing their craft full-time. Established showrunners Chris Nee (Doc McStuffins,Vampirina) and Sascha Paladino (Miles From Tomorrowland, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan) will share their advice about pitfalls and best practices for writers looking to grow their businesses.

Featuring:

Chris Nee

Executive Producer & Creator

Disney Junior

Sascha Paladino

Writer and Producer

Disney Junior

Tuttle

Fantasy remains a hotly sought-after genre when it comes to entertaining kids and families. But building a fantasy world that can fuel storytelling across platforms and consumer products isn’t straightforward or easy. Currently in production on turning film classic The Dark Crystal into Netflix family series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Jim Henson Company's President of Television Halle Stanford and the series co-executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Emmy-Award winning Producer of Lost) will share what it takes to develop a fully evolved fantasy world, including do’s & don’ts and roadmaps to long-term success.

Featuring:

Javier Grillo Marxuach

Executive Producer

Halle Stanford

President of Television, Executive Producer

The Jim Henson Company

Xilam Bayfront

Along with his brother Sid, Marty Krofft created H.R. Pufnstuf and The Land of the Lost in the 1970s. The duo made a comeback in 2015 with the launch of Mutt & Stuff on Nickelodeon and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters for Amazon Studios. They are now working on Mayim’s WonderLab (starring The Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik). Krofft will discuss the kids business then and now, how it’s changed, why he’s back in it, and his sure-fire tactics for getting a greenlight—“You stay in the room until they say yes, and leave quickly as soon as you get it.”

Featuring:

Marty Krofft

President

Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures Corp

Moderating:

David Arquette

Actor

Sevilla

Traditional public broadcasters have faced the challenges of an ever-evolving “view-niverse” and a much more voracious kid appetite for content head-on with the launch of their own age-appropriate VOD and streaming platforms, groundbreaking formats and programming. Notably in Scandinavia, they’re putting more and more resources into their VOD platforms—sometimes championing them over linear. So far, the results are showing terrific benefits for both the broadcasters and their audiences, but these offerings are creating complications for content creators and distributors in terms of commercial viability and exposure. The future is now, but what does it look like from the perspective of all parties involved?

Featuring:

Jackie Edwards

Head of Fund, YACF (Young Audiences Content Fund)

BBC Children's

Dominic Gardiner

Managing Director, Distribution

Jetpack Distribution

Irene Pothecary-Huse

Acquisitions & Commissioning Executive

NRK, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation

Vicky Schroderus

Senior Executive, International Co-Productions & Acquisitions

YLE Finnish Broadcasting Company

Moderating:

Justine Bannister

Founder & Creative Facilitator

Just B

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos

Film Commissioner

TFO

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Cecilia Persson

Managing Director, BBC Studios Kids & Family

Turner Broadcasting System EMEA Limited

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Libbie Doherty

Co-CEO

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Jan Stradling

Executive Producer, Children's TV

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Registration Desk, Xilam Bayfront, Sevilla, Merrick, Gusman, Tuttle, Dupont, Flagler

Xilam Bayfront

When preschoolers love a property, they just can’t get enough of it. And in order to satisfy this kind of insatiable demand from its youngest viewers, Netflix is taking a new approach to preschool programming with a brand-new plan to launch multiple pieces of content and immersive worlds around its originals and franchises. In this can't-miss session, get the full scoop directly from the global SVOD service and a selection of its production partners on how they're looking to break the mold.

Featuring:

Kurt Mueller

EVP, Creative Content

Silvergate Media

Angela Santomero

Founder & Chief Creative Officer

Creator, Executive Producer. Angela’s Clues

Alexander Woo

Founder & CEO

Kuku Studios

Moderating:

Dominique Bazay

Director, Original Animation

Netflix

Sevilla

Live events and performances give audiences an opportunity to experience the characters and brands they love in a hands-on, multisensory, engaging way. And many IP owners are diving into the world of location-based entertainment to build deeper, longer-lasting relationships with their audiences. In this session, our esteemed experts will delve into how a brand can develop live experiences from initial concept and market analysis, to operations planning, legal considerations and, ultimately, marketing and promotions.

Featuring:

Wendy Heimann

Co-Managing Partner

Nolan Heimann LLP

Jason McManus

Creative/Art Director

Thinkwell Group

Matthew Proulx

Head of Marketing

Hasbro West

Stuart Rosenstein

Themed Entertainment & LBE Consultant

360 Brand Development -Themed Entertainment Consulting

Moderating:

Donna Friedman Meir

CEO & Founder

WOW Explorations

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Adina Pitt

Independent

Cartoon Network

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Hedda Bruessing

Head of Media Business

NTR

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Lisa O'Brien

Creative Consultant

Universal Kids

Kristofer Updike

Senior Vice President, Creative

Universal Kids

Merrick

Featuring:

Richard Collins

Co-Founder & CEO

Big Tent Entertainment

Mike De Camp

Trends Analyst

Jazwares

Bill Graham

President

PhatMojo

Rob Hudnut

Owner

Rob Hudnut Productions

Menal McGrath

VP, Global Licensing

Moose Toys

Jonathan Mirsky

Director Licensing

Spin Master

Julia Posen

EVP and Commercial Director, Group Rights & Development

Walker Books

Michael Rinzler

Owner

Wicked Cool Toys

Erin Stein

Publisher, Imprint

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Xilam Bayfront

TV series, web series, SVOD and theatrical feature films are all prime launchpads for kids content. And picking the right primary platform for a property could mean the difference between a huge success and a big flop. But what factors go into choosing one form of content over the other? Our panel of successful producers and broadcasters will reveal how they go about determining which route to take, discussing what’s worked, which signposts they watch out for, and what they’ve learned about launching and developing multiplatform properties.

Featuring:

Edward Galton

CEO

CAKE

Adina Pitt

Independent

Cartoon Network

Josh Scherba

President and Chief Executive Officer

DHX Media

Fonda Snyder

President

Alchemy Ink Inc.

Moderating:

Rick Mischel

Executive Producer

Sony Pictures Animation

Sevilla

From Toca Boca and ABC Mouse, to Speakaboos and Hopster, the road for subscription content services has been bumpy, to say the least. There have been a lot of failures, but also some outstanding successes. What makes one enterprise work while others flounder? This panel of experts pulled from the trenches of consumer-targeted subscription services will give a lowdown on the right investors to target, and how much capital you need to weather the storm of subscriber acquisition—just for starters.

Featuring:

Attila Gazdag

Managing Director, Age of Learning Studios

Age of Learning, Inc / ABCmouse

Caroline Ingeborn

President and COO

Toca Boca

Neal Shenoy

CEO & Co-Founder

Speakaboos

Moderating:

CJ Kettler

President

King Features

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Jules Borkent

EVP Kids & Family

Nickelodeon

Layla Lewis

SVP

Nickelodeon

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Lila Hannou

VP Creative Development and Strategy

M6 - Metropole Television

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Nathan Waddington

Director of Children's

BBC Worldwide

Sevilla

Our content and consumer products pros will walk you through the process of what to consider when it comes to design for preschool and core kids properties, whether it’s interpreting visuals from an existing work, creating from scratch, or moving into consumer products licensing.  

Featuring:

Rob David

VP, Content Creative

Mattel

Greg Huculak

Creative Director

Flying Kraken Creative Studios

Helen McAleer

IP, Publishing & Production Consultant

Helen McAleer Ltd.

Darragh O'Connell

Group Creative Director

Brown Bag Films

Moderating:

Matt Wexler

CEO & Executive Producer

Wexworks Media

Sevilla

As the steward of your IP, everything you do tells a part of the brand story. Who are my characters? What are their values? What motivates them? Our panellists will discuss how consumer products need to be part of how a content-driven property communicates with kids, and how companies should take up the challenge and honor that responsibility

Featuring:

David Ciganko

Principle

MGA/Little Tikes

Casey Collins

Head of Global Licensed Consumer Products & Business Development

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment

Peter Yoder

VP Global Franchise Management and Marketing For The Wizarding World

Turner Broadcasting

Moderating:

Marty Brochstein

SVP, Industry Relations and Information

LIMA International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association

Gusman

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Maud Branly

Director, Children's Acquisitions & International TV Channels Programming

Lagardere Active

Caroline Cochaux

Producer

Gulli - Canal J

Tuttle

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Jackie Edwards

Head of Fund, YACF (Young Audiences Content Fund)

BBC Children's

Nathan Waddington

Director of Children's

BBC Worldwide

Dupont

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Layla Lewis

SVP

Nickelodeon

Migdalis Silva

VP Brand Head Nickelodeon Latin America

Nickelodeon Latin America

Join us as we celebrate the year’s best work in kids programming, broadcasting and digital media at our annual Kidscreen Awards Ceremony, hosted this year by Darrin Rose, a four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee and an acclaimed cast member of CBC’sMr. D. And be sure to stay for the after-party and hang out with winners, nominees and judges alike! 

Featuring:

Darrin Rose

Host

Registration Desk, Xilam Bayfront, Sevilla, Merrick

Gusman

What is a pitch bible? A series bible? How long does it have to be? How do you make sure it stands out? Designed for emerging television content creators, this instructional session will provide the essential ins and outs of crafting a show bible, plus tips and tricks for streamlining the process. Veteran award-winning creator/producer Tony Collingwood and former broadcaster turned creator/ producer Jamie Piekarz are all set to lend their insights from both sides of the buyer-seller table to help you stand out from the pack and present your project like a pro.

Featuring:

Tony Collingwood

Managing Director & Writer

Collingwood & Co.

Jamie Piekarz

Content Producer/Creative Consultant

JamPie

Tuttle

Still a significant source of ancillary revenue and marketing power, the ever-evolving mobile space remains tricky for content creators and brand owners to navigate. Speaking from her experience creating mobile networks for partners like Samsung and Verizon, Fingerprint’s Nancy MacIntyre will provide valuable insights for tapping into the mobile market for families. She’ll look at how subscription models are driving the mobile app economy and kids mobile trends, drawing from real-world case studies to highlight challenges and opportunities for content owners and creators alike.

Featuring:

Nancy MacIntyre

CEO

Fingerprint Play

Xilam Bayfront

One of the biggest burning questions for kids producers and content owners right now is whether or not market-leader YouTube, and other digital platforms like Twitch and Facebook, should be viewed as marketing or money-making platforms. Can they actually be both? Is there good business in launching a brand exclusively on the world's largest VOD platform, and if so, what does the P&L look like? We've assembled a panel of experts working in the space to answer these questions and much more. They’ll also examine the challenges—like smaller production budgets, monetization and managing a direct relationship with your audience—that come with the necessity of making YouTube and others like it a key part of a kid-targeted IP's brand plan

Featuring:

Alfred Chubb

VP Corporate Development

Wildbrain

Isaac Quiroga

Vice President

Mattel, Inc.

Jay Shah

Head of Global Content Partnerships & Distribution

LEGO

Artur Spigel

CEO & Founder

7ate9 Entertainment

Moderating:

Ken Faier

CEO & El Presidente

Epic Story Media

Sevilla

Traumatic experiences and the stress they cause can disrupt a child’s brain development and increase the risk of both short-term and long-term physical, social and emotional issues. But kids are remarkably resilient, and the effects of trauma can be blunted if they receive comfort and support. This panel poses the question: As media producers, what responsibility do we have to address and create resources to mitigate the impact of traumatic experiences on young children? 

Featuring:

Tara Oakman

Senior Program Officer

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Esta Soler

Founder and President

Futures Without Violence

Jane Stevens

Founder and Publisher

ACEs Connection Network

Moderating:

Maria Galarza

Assistant Vice President, US Social Impact

Sesame Workshop

Merrick

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This highly effective networking format will feature eight-minute meetings again this year, giving you ample time to deliver the perfect pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up required.

Featuring:

Libbie Doherty

Co-CEO

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Jackie Edwards

Head of Fund, YACF (Young Audiences Content Fund)

BBC Children's

Natalie Engel

Writer, Producer, Creative Consultant

PBS Kids

Athena Georgaklis

Executive Producer, Creative & Business Strategy

Nelvana

Tommy Gillespie

Senior Director, Content Production

PBS Kids

Claire Heinrich

Head of Acquisitions, Children’s & Education

France Televisions

Liliana Reyes

SVP Content

Portfolio Entertainment

Amy Takahara

Director, Co-Productions & Licensing

Nickelodeon

Emily Chapman

VP Creative

CAKE Entertaiment

Melissa Wolfe

Head, Animation Development

Amazon Studios

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Linda Simensky

Head of Animation & Scripted Content

PBS KIDS

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Yago Fandiño

Director of Clan TVE, Head of Kids Content

TVE

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Caroline Cochaux

Producer

Gulli - Canal J

Xilam Bayfront

With kids needing to be engaged through a variety of media platforms, which is having a considerable impact on current distribution and financing models, it may be time for a new kind of animation studio. The world's next generation of shops will needc to embrace these changes to create enduring, endearing, mindful and community-driven content & businesses. So the question is, how do we redefine the meaning of "animation studio" and content creation in the age of digital distribution and fan engagement? Our panel of experts drawn from all parts of the content-creation universe definitely has some thoughts on the subject.

Featuring:

Alejandro Davila

Producer

CONICAL Interactive Studios

Olivier Dumont

President

eOne Family

Greg Harman

CEO

Mechanic Animation

Kane Lee

Chief Content Officer

Baobab Studios

Moderating:

Don Anderson

Consultant

YouTube

Sevilla

Using CommonSense Media’s landmark Zero to Eight studies from 2011, 2013 and 2017, TK Polly Conway will compare and contrast kids media habits over the years, and ultimately show how rapidly screen time is changing, and how it may continue to develop in the future. She will touch on which platforms kids are using to consume their media, how income and education levels affect screen time, and parents’ concerns and hopes about how their children might benefit from the use of screen media for learning and supporting creativity

Featuring:

Polly Conway

Head of TV/Senior Editor

Common Sense Media

Merrick

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This highly effective networking format will feature eight-minute meetings again this year, giving you ample time to deliver the perfect pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up required.

Featuring:

Aaron Davidson

Development Executive

Amazon Studios

Jackie Edwards

Head of Fund, YACF (Young Audiences Content Fund)

BBC Children's

Natalie Engel

Writer, Producer, Creative Consultant

PBS Kids

Athena Georgaklis

Executive Producer, Creative & Business Strategy

Nelvana

Tommy Gillespie

Senior Director, Content Production

PBS Kids

Jillianne Reinseth

Senior Creative Executive

Entertainment One

Pierre Siracusa

Head Of Children’S & Education

France Televisions

Jan Stradling

Executive Producer, Children's TV

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Emily Chapman

VP Creative

CAKE Entertaiment

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Marney Malabar

Consultant

TVO

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Kay Wilson Stallings

EVP, Chief Creative Development and Production Officer

Sesame Workshop

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Janine Weigold

Manager, Original Animation, EMEA

SUPER RTL/RTL DISNEY Fernsehen GmbH & Co.KG

Xilam Bayfront

Kids and family entertainment is arguably the very last part of the entertainment business to include positive portrayals of LGBTQ characters. But the last few years have marked a significant shift, with shows like Doc McStuffins, Danger & Eggs, The Loud House and Andi Mack breaking new ground in the depiction of LGBTQ characters and issues. This session will thoughtfully address why this shift is happening, how creators and networks are approaching LGBTQ inclusion, and most importantly, how to keep up the momentum.

Featuring:

Sarah Kate Ellis

CEO

GLAAD

Terri Minsky

Creator & Executive Producer, Andi Mack

Disney

Chris Nee

Executive Producer & Creator

Disney Junior

Linda Simensky

Head of Animation & Scripted Content

PBS KIDS

Kevin Sullivan

Staff Writer, The Loud House

Nickelodeon

Moderating:

Cort Lane

VP, Original Content, Fashion Brands

Marvel Entertainment

Sevilla

How will you get kids interacting with and buzzing about your shows and products? Kids are naturally social beings, so it’s no surprise that they are taking advantage of digital technology to connect with others. But what are they talking about, which platforms are they using, and why? The kid experts at Insight Strategy Group are on deck to present the results of their latest study, which illuminates kids’ social media habits and outlines concrete ways you can reach and delight them at each age and stage.

Featuring:

Sarah Chumsky

Consultant

Insight Strategy Group

Merrick

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This highly effective networking format will feature eight-minute meetings again this year, giving you ample time to deliver the perfect pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up required.

Featuring:

Hedda Bruessing

Head of Media Business

NTR

Massimo Bruno

Director, TV Channels

De Agostini

Madeline Ferguson

Senior Sales Manager, International

Nelvana Enterprises

Gary Finnegan

VP of Programming Strategy

DHX Media

Caterina Gonnelli-Linden

Chief Content Officer

Disney Channels EMEA

Lisa O'Brien

Creative Consultant

Universal Kids

Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos

Film Commissioner

TFO

Jennie Stacey

VP, Development & Production

Brown Bag Films

Marion Winter

Senior Manager, Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions

SUPER RTL

Gusman

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Angela Lin

Head of Family & Learning, YouTube North America

Google/YouTube

Tuttle

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Jackie Edwards

Head of Fund, YACF (Young Audiences Content Fund)

BBC Children's

Dupont

A returning favourite at the Summit, our 30 Minutes with… sessions give you a chance to hear about the future plans and priorities of the kids industry’s major content investors first-hand, as well as participate in some Q&A and meet-and-greets. You are welcome to attend as many of these popular buyer briefing sessions as you can fit into your schedule! Space will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Katie Cordes

Director Content Planning

The Walt Disney Company Australia

Xilam Bayfront

This panel of seasoned acquisitions execs from some of the world’s most active kids platforms will give a lowdown on the current state of content targeting preschoolers. Come and find out what’s resonating, what’s not, and perhaps most importantly, what’s next for this all-important demo.

Featuring:

Carolina Lightcap

EVP & Chief Content Officer, Discovery

Discovery Communications

Linda Simensky

Head of Animation & Scripted Content

PBS KIDS

Moderating:

Natalie Osborne

Chief Strategy Officer

9 Story Media Group

Sevilla

Let’s get it out in the open. Money is a topic that’s shrouded in far too much mystery—and that needs to change. If producing is about enabling the creation of great content, then being a producer in 2018 means being an entrepreneur. It’s time for more producers and creatives to get entrepreneurial. This session is all about gaining perspective on your business strategy from business leaders and investors who are experts about raising investment to fuel business growth.

Featuring:

Neil Court

Executive Chairman

9 Story Media Group

Genevieve Dexter

Founder & CEO

Serious Lunch (UK)

Jean-Philippe Randisi

Company Director

Zodiak Kids Studio

Larry Schwarz

President

Animation Collective

Moderating:

Anttu Harlin

CEO, Co-Founder

Gigglebug Entertainment

Merrick

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who have the power to greenlight your project. This highly effective networking format will feature eight-minute meetings again this year, giving you ample time to deliver the perfect pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up required.

Featuring:

Jessica Brinder

Director and Head, Entertainment Business Development

Nelvana Enterprises

Massimo Bruno

Director, TV Channels

De Agostini

Caterina Gonnelli-Linden

Chief Content Officer

Disney Channels EMEA

Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos

Film Commissioner

TFO

Richard Rowe

Executive Producer

DHX Media

Jennie Stacey

VP, Development & Production

Brown Bag Films

Kristofer Updike

Senior Vice President, Creative

Universal Kids

Marion Winter

Senior Manager, Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions

SUPER RTL

Xilam Bayfront

With recent industry-altering announcements from Canada’s Minister of Heritage (including the much-discussed Netflix deal) and a marked slow-down in homegrown commissions, the future of Canada’s renowned kids business has arguably never been quite so fuzzy. What do these changes mean for Canadian producers and distributors and their many international partners? This distinguished panel of key Canadian industry players is going to help attendees bring things into focus. 

Featuring:

Agnes Augustin

President & CEO

Shaw Rocket Fund

Mary Bredin

Creative Development Producer

Guru Animation Studio

Vince Commisso

President & CEO

9 Story Media Group

Joan Lambur

President

Lambur Productions (Canada)

Marney Malabar

Consultant

TVO

Moderating:

Mark Bishop

Co-President, Blue Ant Studios

marblemedia

Sevilla

With the BBC’s announcement that it will be leaning into content for 12 to 16s, and platforms like Netflix enthusiastically mining the YA genre, kids producers are looking at the demo with new interest. But producing for this adjacent audience who watch adult and alternative content can be challenging. How do we  engage and entertain young teens, offering them content that delivers dramatic twists and psychological tension without veering into the adult lane? Where do we draw the lines on relationships, substances, and so much more?  We've assembled a diverse panel of producers actively working in the space to share experiences, best practices and (most fun) an example of a scene they feel they either "nailed" or failed" for teens. 

Featuring:

Anne Brogan

Joint Managing Director

Kindle Entertainment

Melanie Halsall

Head of Development

Komixx Entertainment

Bob Higgins

President

Boat Rocker

David Michel

Co-Founder & President

Federation Entertainment

Moderating:

Amy Friedman

Founder & President

Redhead Consulting

Gusman

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Hedda Bruessing

Head of Media Business

NTR

Juliëtte van Paridon

Head of Kids Content

NTR

Loes Wormmeester

Commissioning Editor Youth Department

NTR

Tuttle

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Natalie Engel

Writer, Producer, Creative Consultant

PBS Kids

Tommy Gillespie

Senior Director, Content Production

PBS Kids

Linda Simensky

Head of Animation & Scripted Content

PBS KIDS

Dupont

Chat over drinks with leading kids broadcasters in this brand-new format that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections at channels that buy kids programming. This is designed as a networking opportunity, folks, so please save your pitch for a private meeting.

Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit room capacity.

Featuring:

Frank Dietz

Head of Acquisitions & Co-Productions

SUPER RTL/RTL DISNEY Fernsehen GmbH & Co.KG

Janine Weigold

Manager, Original Animation, EMEA

SUPER RTL/RTL DISNEY Fernsehen GmbH & Co.KG

Xilam Bayfront

LEGO products are designed on a multi-faceted research foundation, to understand kids’ media habits, but more importantly their needs, interests and competencies that can be further enhanced through product design. LEGO’s Jais Holm Christensen and Dubit’s Peter Robinson will delve into the process behind the development of new LEGO products for children and family audiences.

Featuring:

Jais Holm Chritsensen

Creative Manager

LEGO

Peter Robinson

Founder

Dubit

Sevilla

Unscripted live-action programming is a highly empowering genre that literally gives children a voice in media. But how much do young children engage with live-action content as viewers, and to what level do they embrace diversity on-screen? This pioneering study set out to answer these questions using facial-recognition software. The cutting-edge technology reveals kids’ emotional reactions to what they’re watching second by second, without the bias of traditional interview methods that are typically used with young viewers. Surprising results came to light, including the discovery that live-action programming supports the development of empathy and emotional intelligence in young viewers more than previously believed.

Featuring:

Sallyann Keizer

Managing Director

Sixth Sense Media Ltd

Xilam Bayfront

Viacom Global Consumer Insights SVP Christian Kurz is unveiling the results of the international media company's exciting new Kids of the World study at Kidscreen Summit. Viacom, home of renowned kidsnet Nickelodeon,  surveyed roughly 6,000 six- to 11-year-olds from 31 countries, delving into how our fast-paced and ever-changing world is shaping kids’ attitudes, experiences and behaviors. Speaking directly to kids, not their parents and caregivers, the study reflects their unvarnished perspectives and voices. What’s emerging is a portrait of a group of fearless kids that’s growing up aware of uncertainty and change, but ready to embrace the countless possibilities ahead of them. Now it’s up to you to figure out how to entertain them.

Featuring:

Christian Kurz

SVP, Global Consumer Insights

Viacom

Join us on the Pool Terrace to celebrate another successful Kidscreen Summit with some drinks and downtime.