Agenda

Agenda

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Sunday, February 9

10:00am

Event Check-In Opens (10:00am - 6:30pm)

Registration Desk

A Brighter Future: Cultivating climate hope through kids media (10:00am - 10:45am)

Pacific 18

Climate literacy drives climate action and is the antidote to a growing sense of eco-anxiety among kids. In this session, Aspen Institute fellow and Planet Media founder Laura Schifter will outline the four well-researched climate principles that all children need to understand as they enter adolescence. Then we’ll sneak-peek seven new projects that put these principles to work on-screen. And finally, you’ll receive a digital copy of Planet Media’s brand-new Storytellers Climate Toolkit to steer the way as you plan your own involvement in this important global mission.

Moderating:

Amy Friedman

Founder & President

Redhead Consulting

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11:00am

Venue Tour (11:00am - 11:30am)

Registration Desk

Don’t waste precious time trying to find sessions, events and people throughout the week! Get a feel for the layout of Kidscreen Summit before the event officially kicks off. This tour departs from Meeting Point B (close to the Registration Desk) and shows you where everything will take place.

A Brighter Future: Greening up the screen (11:00am - 11:45am)

Pacific 18

Many producers have been working hard of late to provide younger audiences with more hopeful and inspiring content that addresses topics related to climate change. We’ve invited some of them to join us for a discussion about how to approach these themes in an age-appropriate way that entertains, sparks curiosity and empowers young viewers to be part of the movement towards a more sustainable future. We’ll also do a fun “green scene breakdown” with each panelist to look at what went into making it—from curriculum, to visual cues, to roads not taken and why.

Featuring:

Amanda Evans

Creator & Founder

Obki Productions

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J.J. Johnson

Partner, Executive Producer

Sinking Ship Entertainment

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Dete Meserve

Partner

Wind Dancer Films

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Halle Stanford

President of Television, Executive Producer

The Jim Henson Company

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Moderating:

Amy Friedman

Founder & President

Redhead Consulting

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12:00pm

Pitch Prep 1 (12:00pm - 1:00pm)

Pacific 23/24

Get ready to pitch your project more effectively! In these one-on-one consults, some of the industry’s most talented pitchers will take a look at your materials and give you advice on how to deliver them with more punch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Libbie Doherty

Co-CEO

Run Wild Media

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Josh Fisher

Producer, Creator, Consultant

I Josh Around

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Gregory R. Little

Senior Content Executive & Executive Producer

Independent

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Helen McAleer

IP, Publishing & Production Consultant

Independent

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Bronwen O'Keefe

Head of Brand Marketing & Content

Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios

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Ira Singerman

Consultant & Producer

Hero Complex Entertainment

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Kristen Souvlis

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Like a Photon Creative

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Kristofer Updike

Senior Vice President, Creative

Hidden Pigeon Company

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Alexi Wheeler

Executive Director & Producer

Wheel In Motion

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Lorna Withrington

Head of Development

Gigglebug Entertainment

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A Brighter Future: We're going carbon-neutral, stat! (12:00pm - 12:45pm)

Pacific 18

Broadcasters are starting to make carbon-emissions reporting and reduction plans mandatory for commissions and renewals, which has lit a fire under producers to comply. In this session, we’ll talk about the changes that make the biggest difference, the cost of doing business in a net-zero way, and some tools that are available to make all of this easier to manage. Whether you work in production or adjacent to it, understanding the changes in approach that are coming is key.

Featuring:

Sarah Muller

Senior Head of Commissioning (7+)

BBC Children's

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Moderating:

Ryan Tuchow

Senior Reporter

Kidscreen

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2:00pm

Pitch Prep 2 (2:00pm - 3:00pm)

Pacific 23/24

Get ready to pitch your project more effectively! In these one-on-one consults, some of the industry’s most talented pitchers will take a look at your materials and give you advice on how to deliver them with more punch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Lynn Chadwick

Independent

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Athena Georgaklis

Executive Producer, Creative & Business Strategy

Independent

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Tommy Gillespie

Senior Director, Content Production

PBS KIDS

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Ian Lambur

EVP, Content Strategy, Co-Productions & Global Distribution

Cloudco Entertainment

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Adina Pitt

Independent

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Jillianne Reinseth

Senior Creative Executive

Jolly Chipmunk

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Sueann Rochester

CEO & Co-Founder

Wild Child Animation

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Chris Rose

Creative Consultant

Creative Sprouts

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Julian Scott

Consulting Executive Producer

Julian Scott Associates

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3:00pm

Super Bowl Party (3:00pm - 6:00pm)

Marriott Grand Ballroom Foyer

We’ll be streaming the game and halftime show live on our giant screen, with plenty of beer and tailgate-style snacks on hand to keep you fired up for the football season's big finale. Team jerseys and fan flair are highly encouraged. 


Monday, February 10

8:00am

BREAKFAST (8:00am - 10:00am)

Marriott Grand Ballroom 10-13, Outdoor Terrace

Venue Tour (8:00am - 8:30am)

Registration Desk

Don’t waste precious time trying to find sessions, events and people throughout the week! Get a feel for the layout of Kidscreen Summit before the event officially kicks off. This tour departs from Meeting Point B (close to the Registration Desk) and shows you where everything will take place.


9:00am

KEYNOTE – Developing an Overcomer Mindset (9:00am - 9:45am)

Pacific 21

This inspiring keynote presentation from award-winning business leader and author Chad E. Foster will deliver a powerful message about embracing obstacles as opportunities, underpinned by Chad’s personal story of going blind at the age of 21. 

When most people were preparing for the adventure of adult life, Chad was watching the world he grew up with fade to black. But that didn’t stop him from becoming the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s leadership program or from creating the world’s first customer relationship software for the visually-impaired, something that Oracle said couldn’t be done.

Turning adversity into advantage, Chad went on to thrive at Fortune 500 companies, directing financial strategies that resulted in billions in revenue, industry-leading growth and best-in class margins despite hyper-competitive market conditions.

Now Chad is on a mission to teach his overcomer mindset to other leaders and companies around the world. The current rate of change is eroding people’s resilience, grit and commitment, leading to higher levels of anxiety, burnout and attrition. This has created chronic organizational underperformance that affects internal productivity, as well as the value that businesses are able to provide to their customers. As a result, many companies are falling behind and missing out on massive opportunities created by so much disruption.

Most thought leaders on resilience and change offer platitudes that create zero sustained impact on people’s behavior. Due to Chad’s firsthand experience with personal difficulty and building enterprise value, he understands the anatomy of resilience at a practical level, and has developed a set of tried-and-true tools that empower people to emerge from setbacks stronger, more agile and resolute to succeed.


Sponsored by:

Featuring:

Chad E. Foster

CEO & Keynote Speaker

Blind Ambition

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10:00am

30 Minutes with… Ming Hsien Chan, Bilibili (10:00am - 10:30am)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Ming Hsien Chan

Vice President

Bilibili

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Balance vs. Burnout: Navigating mental health in high-performance environments (10:00am - 10:45am)

Pacific 18

For achievers in the kids entertainment industry, there’s a near-constant focus on outcomes, advancement, promotion, development, progression and improvement. And now we’re also dealing with extra pressures stemming from the market downturn, resource cuts and seismic shifts in technology and business models. It’s no wonder we’re all feeling so close to the edge of breakdown these days! With our panelists sharing their candid first-hand experiences with burnout, The Practice Lab’s Kara Hardin will lead an open discussion about how to spot the early signs before it kicks in and how to create a toolbox for successfully managing common stressors and achieving a healthier work/life balance.

Featuring:

Edward Galton

CEO

CAKE

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David Michel

Co-Founder & President

Cottonwood Media

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Moderating:

Kara Hardin

Lead Executive Officer

The Practice Lab

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Speed Pitching 1 (10:00am - 11:30am)

Temecula

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who may be the key to getting your project financed. This highly effective format will feature 10-minute meetings, and you should prepare to spend eight minutes delivering the perfect elevator pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.



Featuring:

Stephanie Betts

Executive Vice President, Content Creation

WildBrain

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Jessica Bishop

Director, Acquisitions & Co-Productions, Kids & Family

Warner Bros. Discovery

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Eduardo Calvo Martinez

Kids Licensing & Content Sales

RTVE

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Craig Hunter

Senior Executive, Amazon Kids+ Originals

Amazon Kids+

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Viktoria Johansson

Acquisitions Executive, Children

SVT

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Dean Koocher

Co-Founder & Head of Content

Kidstream

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Yann Labasque

Director, Youth Programming

TF1

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Ingrid Tous Tovar

Manager, Development

Disney Junior

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10:15am

Leveling Up on Roblox (10:15am - 11:15am)

Pacific 21

Want to know what it takes to launch a successful branded experience for kids on Roblox? This panel will bring together experienced platform developers, brand partners and Roblox Head of Entertainment Partnerships Todd Lichten to take an illuminating look at some recent breakout launches, exploring how they did it, what they learned and where things are going next in this highly popular gaming ecosystem.

Featuring:

Darragh Barker

Head of Strategy

Feenix Group

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Nic Hill

Co-Founder & Head of Interactive

Sawhorse Productions

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Todd Lichten

Head of Entertainment Partnerships

Roblox

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Moderating:

Jo Redfern

Senior Executive, Content & Platform Strategy

Independent

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10:30am

30 Minutes with… Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle, M6 (10:30am - 11:00am)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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.

10:45am

BREAK (10:45am - 11:00am)

11:00am

When One Door Closes: How to come back stronger from a layoff (11:00am - 11:45am)

Pacific 18

Let’s face it, we are having a moment. Collectively. And it’s high time we just acknowledge it and try to respond progressively. With the market continuing to contract, consolidate and shapeshift to meet new needs, workforce reductions are still likely to be a reality for some time. And that sucks big time for anyone who finds themselves suddenly on the outside of an organization they’ve given their everything to. But the kind of fundamental industry changes we’re experiencing right now could lead to big opportunities for talented execs who are willing to do the hard work of pivoting to take their next step.

Come join us for an honest and authentic conversation that explores what you can do to control your own destiny in the face of an unexpected career disruption, guided by Danette Johnson, a highly experienced executive coach and owner of People Culture.


Featuring:

Adina Pitt

Independent

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Jillianne Reinseth

Senior Creative Executive

Jolly Chipmunk

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Chris Rose

Creative Consultant

Creative Sprouts

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Moderating:

Danette Johnson

Owner & Talent Coach

People Culture

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11:30am

30 Minutes with… Kirsten Hurd, TVOKids (11:30am - 12:00pm)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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:

Kirsten Hurd

Commissioning Editor

TVOKids

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11:45am

BREAK (11:45am - 12:00pm)

The Big-Screen Pivot (11:45am - 12:45pm)

Pacific 21

With consistently good box-office numbers speaking volumes about the market demand and business potential for family feature films—and with funding options for kids TV at an all-time low—it’s no wonder so many producers in our industry are shifting gears to focus on concepts for the big screen right now. But there are equally big differences in the financing, production and distribution models for theatrical releases, and that’s what this panel will explore.


Featuring:

Nadine Bates

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Like a Photon Creative

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Jennifer Dodge

President, Entertainment & Consumer Products

Spin Master

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Edward Galton

CEO

CAKE

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Kate Sanagan

Head of Sales & Distribution

Sinking Ship Entertainment

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Teri Weiss

EVP, TV Development

DreamWorks Animation Studios

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Moderating:

Matt Wexler

CEO & Executive Producer

WexWorks Media

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Tech Talk (11:45am - 12:45pm)

Pacific 23/24

With AI poised to radically disrupt just about everything in the world, this is your chance to discover some new tech solutions and services that have applications for kids content producers and brand owners. NOTE: This is not a pitching opportunity, and advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Margarita Grubina

VP, Business Growth

Respeecher

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Greg Harman

CEO

Motion Tech Lab

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Andy Robbins

Head of Entertainment & Advertising

Wantent

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12:00pm

WORKSHOP - Choosing Your Next Door (12:00pm - 12:45pm)

Pacific 17

Now that you’ve listened to the experiences of others who have just gone through layoffs/career changes and are learning how to move forward in an industry that’s in a state of constant flux, let’s take some time to sort out what it means for you. Join us for more reflection and conversation as we help you put pen to paper to build a few tangible next steps in your own career journey. Talent coach and People Culture owner Danette Johnson will guide a practical exercise to help you unleash what’s possible.

Moderating:

Danette Johnson

Owner & Talent Coach

People Culture

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Transforming Performance into Profit (12:00pm - 12:45pm)

Pacific 18

In a world that's flooded with content, the challenge isn't creating a new IP - it's ensuring it reaches and resonates with the right audience to start generating fans. This presentation dives into how big data can be a game-changer for media companies of all sizes, both traditional and new.

Gone With will demonstrate how to measure performance and transform insights into actionable strategies that optimize revenue growth. Join us as we explore how metrics such as consumer products sales, views, watchtime, return rates, organic traffic and more can be leveraged to build effective funnels that grow audiences and convert casual viewers into devoted fans. This session will include practical visualizations and models that bring the data to life, with easy takeaways that can be implemented by anyone.   


Featuring:

Peter Robinson

Founder

Gone With

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12:45pm

LUNCH (12:45pm - 2:00pm)

Marriott Grand Ballroom 10-13, Outdoor Terrace

2:00pm

The SVOD Problem: Redefining the relationship between producers and platforms (2:00pm - 2:45pm)

Pacific 18

Streamers may have drastically cut down on kids content commissioning, but the genre is still a huge driver of viewership and engagement on these platforms, which are currently relying on high-volume acquisitions of older titles to satisfy this voracious appetite. Moving forward, Ampere Analysis explores what producers can do to reestablish their role as an essential part of the kids content supply chain.

Featuring:

Fred Black

Principal Analyst

Ampere Analysis

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Mastering the Flywheel with Nickelodeon (2:00pm - 2:45pm)

Pacific 21

Join trailblazing executives from the Nickelodeon Digital Studio as they reveal the strategies behind their explosive success in the kids YouTube ecosystem. Beginning with just two channels and 10 million subscribers, they will detail how their innovative approach enabled them to scale to 46 channels worldwide, hundreds of millions of subscribers, and billions of views and minutes watched. This presentation will focus on their industry-leading flywheel method, which includes defining target audiences, feeding content obsessions and consistently optimizing output. Whether you're a legacy media executive or a budding creator, their experiences and insights will help you find your own flywheel and build a kids & family audience on today’s preeminent content platform.


Featuring:

Marc Cantone

VP, Preschool Digital Content

Nickelodeon Digital Studio

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Makeda Mays Green

SVP, Digital & Cultural Consumer Insights

Nickelodeon Consumer Insights

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Alex Reeds

SVP Growth, Operations, and Podcasts

Nickelodeon Digital Studio

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Speed Pitching 2 (2:00pm - 3:30pm)

Temecula

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who may be the key to getting your project financed. This highly effective format will feature 10-minute meetings, and you should prepare to spend eight minutes delivering the perfect elevator pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Jenna Boyd

SVP, Live-Action Development

Disney Branded Television

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Sebastian Debertin

Head of International Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions

KiKA

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Telidja Klaï

Content Manager, Program Acquisitions & Co-Productions, Animation

Ketnet

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Annita Romanelli

Head of Co-Productions & Presales

RAI

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Hila Sharif

Director of Development

Spin Master

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Géraldine Soto

Head of Acquisitions, Prebuys & Co-Productions, Kids Content

Canal+

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Kitty Walsh

Executive Director, Development

Atomic Cartoons

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2:45pm

BREAK (2:45pm - 3:00pm)

3:00pm

30 Minutes with… Vicky Schroderus, YLE Finland (3:00pm - 3:30pm)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Vicky Schroderus

Senior Executive, International Co-Productions & Acquisitions

YLE Finland

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How to Win in the New Streaming Normal (3:00pm - 3:45pm)

Pacific 18

Disruption has happened, and many of the strategies and tactics that used to work in the kids media business no longer even apply. We need to rewrite our playbook for today’s landscape. Using insights extracted from Netflix’s published data, the first part of this session will identify who’s winning in streaming, looking at both trends and emerging strategies. Then we’ll hear from the people executing this success to understand their journeys, thought processes and key tactics. 


Featuring:

Paul Schleicher

Co-Founder & Executive Producer

Snafu Pictures

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Moderating:

Emily Horgan

Kids Media Consultant

Independent

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NewTube: Some fresh takes on digital content strategy (3:00pm - 3:45pm)

Pacific 21

Using YouTube as a launchpad for kids & family content has become a go-to move for indie creators and established production companies alike, but the blueprints for these launches are starting to diversify. It’s not all about high-volume shorts anymore—digital-first projects are building big, engaged audiences and attracting the attention of broadcasters and streamers with content wells that look a lot different from a few years ago. And in this session, we catch up with a few players who are breaking the mold and cutting through.

Featuring:

Elianne Friend

VP, Digital & Distribution

9 Story Media Group

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Catherine Winder

CEO, Founder & Executive Producer

Wind Sun Sky Entertainment

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Moderating:

David Levine

Founder & Consultant

Lightboat Media

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3:30pm

30 Minutes with… Yuanchang (Amanda) Sun, Youku Kids (3:30pm - 4:00pm)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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:

Yuanchang (Amanda) Sun

Director, International Co-Production & Acquisition

Youku Kids

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3:45pm

BREAK (3:45pm - 4:00pm)

4:00pm

Every Penny Counts: An intro to kids content crowdfunding (4:00pm - 4:45pm)

Pacific 18

Looking to kill two birds with one stone? Come and hear from a handful of producers who have navigated the crowdfunding landscape to finance their kids & family projects, turning small-stakes investors into an engaged fanbase at the same time. They’ll share tips and best practices for setting up successful campaigns, as well as taking you through their wins, their fails and everything they learned in between.

Moderating:

Brock Starnes

CCO & Executive Producer

Shining Isle Productions The Wingfeather Saga

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Greenlight Yourself: Creating a YouTube channel with limited resources (4:00pm - 4:45pm)

Pacific 21

With the right creative approach, a nimble pipeline driven by simple and powerful tools, and an understanding of the power of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, you can launch an animated series and build an audience there in the same time it takes to develop, pitch and attempt to set up financing in the more traditional way. This group of YouTube executives and kids content creators with thriving businesses on the platform will offer inspiration and valuable insights on how to go about creating a YouTube channel at a variety of price points.

Featuring:

Claire Dodin

Director, Operations

Voffla

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Cory Williams

Creator, Animator

Just For Kids

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Adam Williams-Walters

Creator

English Tree TV

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Moderating:

Michael Blum

Owner & CCO

Pipsqueak Animation

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5:00pm

The New Business of Content (5:00pm - 5:45pm)

Pacific 21

In a rapidly evolving media landscape, kids content owners have to explore some pretty unique business models these days to continue growing their brands by driving engagement, growth and loyalty. This panel will focus on four different case studies, highlighting what has worked for each and how they’ve been able to scale, and offering glimpses of some future opportunities.


Featuring:

Darran Garnham

Founder & CEO

Toikido

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Sean Gorman

President

Cloudco Entertainment

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Hanna Valkeapää-Nokkala

VP, Transmedia

Rovio Entertainment Corporation

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Andy Yeatman

CEO

Miraculous Corp

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Moderating:

Peter Robinson

Founder

Gone With

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Mix & Mingle: Broadcasters (5:00pm - 6:00pm)

Pacific 23/24

This lively table-hopping format lets you spend a little time socializing with pairs of key execs from leading channels/platforms. It’s designed as a networking opportunity, so please save your pitch for a private meeting. And we strongly encourage you to work your way around the room rather than staying put at one table the whole time. Space will be filled and managed on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit capacity.

Featuring:

Cathryn Asip

Associate Director, Content

PBS KIDS

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Stephanie Betts

Executive Vice President, Content Creation

WildBrain

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Rick Clodfelter

Executive Director, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Disney Branded Television

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Tommy Gillespie

Senior Director, Content Production

PBS KIDS

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Sean Henry

VP, International Content Partnerships & Strategy

Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA

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Christina Jang

Manager, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Disney Branded Television

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Abby Jenkins

Senior Director, Content

PBS KIDS

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Marie McCann

Senior Director, Children's Content

CBC Kids

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Sarah Muller

Senior Head of Commissioning (7+)

BBC Children's

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Anna Taganov

Head of Content & Programming Strategy

BBC Children's

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Ingrid Tous Tovar

Manager, Development

Disney Junior

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Sarah Wallendjack

Senior Director, Content Development

PBS KIDS

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Katie Wilson

VP, Global Sales & Acquisitions

WildBrain

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Marion Winter

Senior Manager, Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions

Super RTL

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6:00pm

Welcome Party (6:00pm - 7:30pm)

Pool Garden

Join us poolside in the Marriott Marquis garden for great conversation and cocktails as the sun sets on the first full day of Kidscreen Summit 2025.

Tuesday, February 11

8:00am

BREAKFAST (8:00am - 10:00am)

Marriott Grand Ballroom 10-13, Outdoor Terrace

9:00am

KEYNOTE - What Walmart Wants (9:00am - 9:45am)

Pacific 21

Walmart’s Ned Ward will sit down with UTA licensing agent Sid Kaufman for an illuminating fireside chat about what the mighty retail chain is looking for in entertainment brands. On top of his role as Associate Director of Retail Marketing Planning & Strategy, Ned is a member of Walmart’s Entertainment Council, which collectively assesses film, TV and digital IPs looking for shelf space.  

Among other things, this conversation will touch on what markers they’re looking for, the critical importance of speed to market, and Walmart’s growing openness to brands that are heating up in digital spaces.

Ned has 25 years of experience in the consumer products industry and has worked at companies including Mattel, MGA Entertainment and several kids tech startups. He spent eight years in a Director of Entertainment Development role at Mattel, crafting game show and feature film pitches for the toyco’s portfolio of IPs that resulted in four television and eight theatrical development deals. Ned’s category experience spans toys, apparel, accessories, consumer electronics and education/STEM, and he’s adept at brand marketing, strategic insights, product innovation and new business development. He also joined the Board of Directors for Licensing International earlier this year.

Don’t miss this chance to better understand the needs of a company that operates 10,000-plus stores in 19 leading markets around the world.  


Featuring:

Ned Ward

Retail Marketing Planning, Entertainment Council

Walmart

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Moderating:

Sid Kaufman

Licensing Agent

United Talent Agency

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10:00am

Making Sense of the Licensing Market: 10 things you need to know (10:00am - 10:45am)

Pacific 18

The kids business has never been more competitive or complex. No matter where you sit within it, the changing patterns of consumption, new platforms, new paths to market and new generational considerations make it very hard to chart a coherent strategy without a view of the bigger picture. Join Kristen McLean, Senior Executive Director of Circana’s Entertainment Knowledge Group, as she walks us through the current state of the US market for children’s licensing, with a particular focus on the biggest challenges, changes and opportunities. You’ll come away with a data-driven understanding of key questions and considerations to help guide your licensing strategy for success in the years ahead.

Featuring:

Kristen McLean

Senior Executive Director

Circana

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Speed Pitching 3 (10:00am - 11:30am)

Temecula

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who may be the key to getting your project financed. This highly effective format will feature 10-minute meetings, and you should prepare to spend eight minutes delivering the perfect elevator pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Emily Carson

Manager, Development

Disney Television Animation

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Daphné de Beauffort

EVP, Animation Acquisitions

TF1

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Qing Fan

Producer, Content Investment, Co-Productions & Partnerships

Tencent Video

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Brenda Maffuchi

Head of Acquisition & Property Development

De Agostini Editore

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Josh Mandel

Senior Executive, Development & Production

Amazon Kids+

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Anna Taganov

Head of Content & Programming Strategy

BBC Children's

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Sarah Wallendjack

Senior Director, Content Development

PBS KIDS

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10:45am

BREAK (10:45am - 11:00am)

11:00am

30 Minutes with… Marie McCann, CBC Kids (11:00am - 11:30am)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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

CBC Kids

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From Theory to Practice: AI applications in kids content-making (11:00am - 11:45am)

Pacific 21

Another year into our AI journey, and many companies in the kids content supply chain have started to integrate these tools into their workflows for development, production and post. This panel will catch up on what’s working, how much time and money it’s saving, and other ways AI could empower human creators.

Featuring:

Philippe Alessandri

CEO

Watch Next Media

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Tom Box

Co Founder & Joint Managing Director

Blue Zoo Animation

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Sixte de Vauplane

Co-Founder & CEO

Animaj

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Cathal Gaffney

Managing Director, Brown Bag Films & COO, 9 Story Media Group

Brown Bag Films

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René Veilleux

CEO & Founder

Verité Entertainment

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Moderating:

Justine Bannister

Founder & Creative Facilitator

JUST B

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11:15am

Kidscreen Licensing Challenge (11:15am - 12:45pm)

Pacific 18

This brand-new competition showcase will shine a spotlight on five kids entertainment properties with untapped licensing potential. Each IP will be presented live on stage to a panel of highly experienced consumer products professionals, who will collectively determine a final winner. Come watch the showdown and learn a little more about the secrets to franchise success. 

Featuring:

Host

Steven Ekstract

Managing Director

Global Licensing Advisors

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Judge

Sid Kaufman

Licensing Agent

United Talent Agency

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Judge

André Lake Mayer

SVP, Global Strategic Partnerships & Consumer Products

Spin Master

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Presenter

Sandra Lanc

Head of Business Development

Metaxilasis
TinkerBen and Motor

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Presenter

Hanna Mouchez

CEO & Executive Producer

MIAM! Animation
The Tinies

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Judge

Roz Nowicki

Global Head of Consumer Products

Miraculous Corp

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Judge

Simon Philips

President

Falcon's Beyond

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Skibidi Toilet: Flush with potential (11:15am - 12:45pm)

Pacific 18

A viral sensation that has taken YouTube by storm since launching in February 2023, this animated series about toilets with talking heads trying to take over the world is considered to be the first evidence of Gen Alpha developing a unique internet culture.  Skibidi Toilet is currently being developed into a franchise by noted Hollywood producers Adam Goodman and Michael Bay, with a TV series, feature films and a first consumer products range from key partner Bonkers Toys in development. Is it “brain rot” or the future of kids entertainment? Come and find out in this intermission segment of the Kidscreen Licensing Challenge.

Featuring:

Elie Dekel

Owner

Dekel Brands

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11:45am

BREAK (11:45am - 12:00pm)

World of Co-Pros (11:45am - 12:45pm)

Pacific 23/24

As co-productions continue to offer hope to kids content producers struggling with financing challenges, spend some quality time in small groups with regional experts who can give you advice about how to set one up successfully in their corner of the world. NOTE: This is not a pitching opportunity, and advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Miguel Aldasoro

International Sales Director

Anima Kitchent

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Philippe Alessandri

CEO

Watch Next Media

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Agnes Augustin

President & CEO

Shaw Rocket Fund

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Pedro Citaristi

CEO & Producer

Red Monk Studio

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Patrick Egerton

Co-Founder/Chief Content Officer

Cheeky Little Media

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Shabnam Rezaei

Co-Founder

Big Bad Boo Studios

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Julian Scott

Consulting Executive Producer

Julian Scott Associates

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Gary Timpson

Owner & Managing Director

Kavaleer Productions

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12:00pm

30 Minutes with… Luca Milano, RAI Kids (12:00pm - 12:30pm)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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 Kids

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AI and Creativity (12:00pm - 12:45pm)

Pacific 21

For the first time in our history, machines can make things that are indistinguishable from things humans make: stories, images, music, videos and more. Some of us find this deeply offensive—an affront to creative people and what we do. Others see it as the key that unlocks previously unimaginable creative possibilities and levels of productivity. The one thing we all seem to agree on is that the “Should we or shouldn't we?” conversation is pretty much over, and we've blown right past “We will.” to “We already are.” Join showrunner and independent producer Evan Baily for a hands-on look at the AI tools and workflows that will transform what we make, how we make it, how we monetize it—and what it means to be a maker.

Featuring:

Evan Baily

President

Consolidated Baily

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12:45pm

LUNCH (12:45pm - 2:00pm)

Marriott Grand Ballroom 10-13, Outdoor Terrace

2:00pm

30 Minutes with… Estelle Hughes, Sky Kids (2:00pm - 2:30pm)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Estelle Hughes

Commissioning Editor

Sky Kids

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Toy Talk: Exploring content brand potential with the leaders of play (2:00pm - 2:45pm)

Pacific 18

Mattel, Spin Master, Moose Toys and Bonkers Toys join us for a candid discussion about what it takes for entertainment IPs to land a master toy deal and cut through at retail.

Featuring:

Lisa Berlin Wright

Head of Licensing

Bonkers Toys

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Hollie Holmes

VP, Global Licensing

Moose Toys

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Meredith Norrie

VP, Global Licensing & Consumer Products

Mattel

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Tracy Warshauer

Global Head, Preschool

Spin Master

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Speed Pitching 4 (2:00pm - 3:30pm)

Temecula

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who may be the key to getting your project financed. This highly effective format will feature 10-minute meetings, and you should prepare to spend eight minutes delivering the perfect elevator pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.

Featuring:

Cathryn Asip

Associate Director, Content

PBS KIDS

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Brenda Bisner

Chief Content Officer

Kidoodle.TV

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David Di Lorenzo

SVP, Acquisitions

Future Today

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Sean Henry

VP, International Content Partnerships & Strategy

Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA

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Kirsten Hurd

Commissioning Editor

TVOKids

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Lisa Mackintosh

Commissioning Editor

Sky Kids

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2:30pm

30 Minutes with… Dominique Neudecker, Super RTL (2:30pm - 3:00pm)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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:

Dominique Neudecker

VP, Kids & Family

Super RTL

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2:45pm

BREAK (2:45pm - 3:00pm)

3:00pm

30 Minutes with… Rick Clodfelter, Disney Branded Television (3:00pm - 3:30pm)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Rick Clodfelter

Executive Director, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Disney Branded Television

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It Takes a Village: Tentpeg licensing partners that build franchises (3:00pm - 3:45pm)

Pacific 18

Beyond the toy aisle, we look at several other product categories with the power to make or break your kids entertainment brand’s licensing program.

Featuring:

Tara Cortner

President & General Manager

Disguise

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Debra Mostow Zakarin

Vice President & Publisher

Printers Row Publishing Group

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Jennifer Nuccio

VP, Licensing

Innovative Designs

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Sarah Scuffham

VP, Licensing

Jay Franco & Sons

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3:30pm

30 Minutes with… Sarah Muller, BBC Children’s (3:30pm - 4:00pm)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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 Muller

Senior Head of Commissioning (7+)

BBC Children's

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4:00pm

30 Minutes with… Heather Tilert, Netflix (4:00pm - 4:30pm)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Heather Tilert

Director, Preschool Content

Netflix

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Mix & Mingle: Consumer Products (4:00pm - 5:00pm)

Pacific 23/24

This lively table-hopping format lets you spend a little time socializing with key licensing execs. It’s designed as a networking opportunity, so please save your pitch for a private meeting. And we strongly encourage you to work your way around the room rather than staying put at one table the whole time. Space will be filled and managed on a first-come, first-served basis until we hit capacity.

Featuring:

Lisa Berlin Wright

Head of Licensing

Bonkers Toys

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Tara Cortner

President & General Manager

Disguise

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Elie Dekel

Owner

Dekel Brands

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Hollie Holmes

VP, Global Licensing

Moose Toys

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André Lake Mayer

SVP, Global Strategic Partnerships & Consumer Products

Spin Master

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Kristen McLean

Senior Executive Director

Circana

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Roz Nowicki

Global Head of Consumer Products

Miraculous Corp

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Jennifer Nuccio

VP, Licensing

Innovative Designs

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Yvette Sittrop

Vice President, Franchise Development

Moose Toys

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Ricardo Solar

EVP, Global Entertainment & LatAm

Circana

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Tracy Warshauer

Global Head, Preschool

Spin Master

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5:00pm

Kidscreen Awards (5:00pm - 7:15pm)

Pacific 21

Join us as we celebrate the year’s best work in kids entertainment at our annual Kidscreen Awards ceremony, hosted by comedian, TV personality and chart-topping podcaster Jessi Cruickshank. With bubbles on the way in and cocktails on the way out, this is a great way to unwind with your peers on Summit Day Two.

Featuring:

Host

Jessi Cruickshank

Comedian & Television Personality

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Wednesday, February 12

8:00am

BREAKFAST (8:00am - 10:00am)

Marriott Grand Ballroom 10-13, Outdoor Terrace

10:00am

KID INSIGHT - A New Preschool Paradigm: How families are navigating life with young kids (10:00am - 10:45am)

Pacific 21

Fresh research from Nickelodeon and wonderworks insights + strategy reveals how a new generation of parents, a pandemic, economic pressures, trust and technology have shifted preschool family life and priorities. Through rich in-person ethnographies and expert insights, discover why and how today's preschool parents are writing a new narrative of connection, creativity and collaborative growth, all while seeking meaningful family experiences. And importantly, learn how this transformation is impacting family entertainment needs and consumption patterns. 

Whether you’re creating content, developing products or marketing to young families, you'll gain actionable insights about preschoolers and their families.


Featuring:

Jane Gould

Co-Founder & Partner

wonderworks insights + strategy

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Andrea Strauss

SVP, Nickelodeon Brand & Content Insights

Nickelodeon

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10:30am

30 Minutes with… Mary-Ellen Mullane, ABC Australia (10:30am - 11:00am)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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:

Mary-Ellen Mullane

Head of ABC Children & Family

ABC Australia

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11:00am

30 Minutes with… Adriano Schmid, PBS KIDS (11:00am - 11:30am)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Adriano Schmid

VP & Head of Content

PBS KIDS

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KID INSIGHT - The More Things Change, Do Some Things Stay the Same? (11:00am - 11:45am)

Pacific 21

Gen Alpha is certainly spending more time on new platforms, but what do we actually know about how these migratory shifts are changing their tastes and choices when it comes to entertainment? Drawing on new research conducted by Maverix Insights & Strategy, this session will frame an interesting discussion of what is fundamentally different and what is fundamentally the same about the relationship between kids and content.

Featuring:

Liz Huszarik

Chief Strategy Officer

Maverix Insights & Strategy

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Tricia Melton

Co-Founder & Principal

Pith & Pixie Dust

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Alexia Raven

Co-Founder & Qualitative Research Lead

Maverix Insights & Strategy

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Moderating:

Tom Ascheim

Co-Founder & Principal

Pith & Pixie Dust

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Speed Pitching 5 (11:00am - 12:30pm)

Temecula

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who may be the key to getting your project financed. This highly effective format will feature 10-minute meetings, and you should prepare to spend eight minutes delivering the perfect elevator pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.


Featuring:

Maud Branly

Director, Children's Acquisitions & International TV Channels Programming

M6

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Karen Fowler

VP, Development & Production

9 Story Media Group

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Christina Jang

Manager, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Disney Branded Television

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Darren Nartey

Senior Acquisitions Manager, Films & Kids

ITV

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Nancy Roy

Content Manager, Youth & Family

Tele-Quebec

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Vicky Schroderus

Senior Executive, International Co-Productions & Acquisitions

YLE Finland

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Katie Wilson

VP, Global Sales & Acquisitions

WildBrain

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Marion Winter

Senior Manager, Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions

Super RTL

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11:30am

30 Minutes with… Pablo Zuccarino, Warner Bros. Discovery (11:30am - 12:00pm)

Pacific 16

A returning favorite 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:

Pablo Zuccarino

SVP & GM, Kids & Animation, LatAm & International Portfolio Strategy

Warner Bros. Discovery

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12:00pm

30 Minutes with… Alexis Rice, YouTube (12:00pm - 12:30pm)

Pacific 17

A returning favorite 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:

Alexis Rice

Global Head of Partnerships, Youth Content

YouTube

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KID INSIGHT - What Does TV Even Mean to Touchscreen Natives? (12:00pm - 12:45pm)

Pacific 21

Using the connected screens they have access to, kids today are curating their own media lives—and they’re radically different, with YouTube, TikTok and other nontraditional content platforms accounting for a sizable share of watchtime. This research presentation by The Insights Family will go deep to unravel what kinds of content consumption each screen and platform is used for, and how producers and traditional TV channel operators can position themselves to be relevant and appealing in this new audience landscape.

Featuring:

Adam Woodgate

VP, Research Solutions

The Insights Family

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12:45pm

LUNCH (12:45pm - 2:00pm)

Marriott Grand Ballroom 10-13, Outdoor Terrace

2:00pm

KID INSIGHT - Me, Myself and Icon (2:00pm - 2:45pm)

Pacific 21

Why do older Gen Alpha gamers devote so much time (and money) to their avatars on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite? Why are runway games like Dress to Impress topping charts and moving massive amounts of “verchandise”? Why would someone pay two million Robux (US$20,000 in real money) for a one-of-a-kind virtual necklace? And most importantly, how do entertainment brands get in on this action? In this fascinating presentation, Dubit will share two data-driven perspectives on the huge and growing world of avatars, outfits and accessories, discussing the work its studio has been doing launching experiences, stores, pop-ups and item drops for brands such as H&M, Adidas and Barbie; and presenting insights from its Fashion Forum study of the attitudes, influences and consumer journeys of eight- to 18-year-olds in real life and in digital worlds.

Featuring:

Laura Dudley-Gough

Associate Director

Dubit

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David Kleeman

SVP, Global Trends

Dubit

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Speed Pitching 6 (2:00pm - 3:30pm)

Temecula

Sit down one-on-one with top broadcasters and investors who may be the key to getting your project financed. This highly effective format will feature 10-minute meetings, and you should prepare to spend eight minutes delivering the perfect elevator pitch. NOTE: Advance sign-up is required.

Featuring:

Sarah Aspinall

Acquisitions Editor

BBC Children's

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Daniel Bays

SVP, Development

CAKE

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Estelle Hughes

Commissioning Editor

Sky Kids

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Abby Jenkins

Senior Director, Content

PBS KIDS

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Ole Kampovski

Head of Department Children and Youth

ARD & NDR

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Siobhán Ní Bhrádaigh

Commissioning Editor & Acquisitions Executive, Children’s Content

TG4

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3:30pm

Closing Cocktail (3:30pm - 4:30pm)

Outdoor Terrace

Let’s celebrate a successful week in San Diego with a final round of sunset drinks and downtime.

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