The Big Pitcher

From 16:15 to 17:30 at Dingle Skellig Hotel

Have you got what it takes to Pitch? Join our Animation Dingle community as it supports and listens to those brave enough and confident enough to pitch their ideas to our panel of experts.

Winner will get a 6 month paid internship at JAM Media and a chance to Pitch at Cartoon Springboard 2023, which will take place in Madrid.

sponsored by

Sarah’s First Day

Created by: Jen Quinn College: Coláiste Dhúlaigh

On Eir

Created by: Fay Antar College: IADT

Malka

Created by: Timea Papesch College: BCFE

Aoife Allta

Created by: Georgia Rao-Williams College: BCFE supported by

Fiáin

Created by: Ailbhe Fearon College: IADT

Meet the Judges

Chair: Alan Shannon

Psychedelic Detective

Created by: Daniel Kennedy College: BCFE

Alan is the CCO Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder of JAM Media and oversees the creative content conceived, animated and produced by the company.

Alan is currently Executive Producer for ‘Nova Jones’ series 2 & 3 – 20 X 24 minutes for CBBC. Other recent credits include Executive Producer on ‘Jessy & Nessy’ – 40 x 11 for Amazon Studios and Becca’s Bunch – 52 x 11 minutes for Nickelodeon US & UK.

He has also directed the BAFTA® award winning series ‘Roy’ series 01 - 04 for CBBC. Other directorial credits include, ‘Little Roy’ – 52 X 14 minutes for CBBC/CBeebies. ‘Baby Jake’ 02 – 26 X 11 minute preschool animation series and ‘Tilly and Friends’ – 52 X 11 minute preschool animation series for CBeebies, along with various other series such as ‘Funky Fables’ – 26 x 11 minute, and the award winning preschool animated series ‘PICME’ – 104 x 5 minute for RTE/Nickelodeon.

Courtney Arumugam

Lego

Based in London, Courtney Arumugam is responsible for the creative development of LEGO content, as part of the company’s hugely successful global slate. Before joining LEGO, Courtney served as Vice President at Gaumont, overseeing development for their Animation & Family division. Prior to this, Courtney has held positions in development, production and commissioning, for companies including Mattel, Fremantle, Channel 4 and the BBC.

Kyle Jenkins

Kyle Jenkins is the Programme and Acquisitions Manager at Milkshake! Channel 5 and manages the content pipeline from pitch submission to programme delivery, including the development & production of commissions, acquisitions and short form as a Commissioning Executive. Kyle is currently the working across a wide slate of exciting new programmes as Executive Producer for the preschool audience including Pip & Posy, Tweedy & Fluff, Odo, Milo, Pop Paper City, Mixmups and Meet The Experts. Kyle has worked in children’s TV for over 10 years, starting in production and development at Nickelodeon, before moving into production management and producing shows including Tickety Toc and Floogals for Nickelodeon, Milkshake!, Universal Kids at Zodiak Kids Studios and Nevision Studios 1 Productions. Kyle also produces conference sessions for the Children’s Media Conference.

Tara Sorensen

Tara Sorensen is Apple’s Head of Children’s Programming, Worldwide Video. A respected children’s programming executive, Sorensen oversees the development and production of original live-action and animated children’s series globally.

Previously, Sorensen served as Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios, where she launched the division and shepherded Emmy Award-winning series, including Tumble Leaf, Emmy-nominated Annedroids, WGA Award and Humanitas Prize winner Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, Humanitas, DGA and NAACP Image Award winning special An American Girl Story - Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, and Emmy-nominated Just Add Magic amongst others.

Prior to that, Sorensen was Vice President, Kids Programming for National Geographic. While there, she oversaw the Emmy Award-winning series Toot & Puddle for Nickelodeon. Previously, she was Vice President, Kids Programming for Sony Pictures Family Entertainment and shepherded the development of Dragon Tales; Jackie Chan Adventures, Men in Black, Stuart Little and the Emmy Award-winning Harold and the Purple Crayon. Sorensen began her career at Nelvana spearheading development for hit series Rolie Polie Olie.

Sorensen serves on the Los Angeles Advisory Council for Common Sense Media.

Jo Allen

Head of Commissioning & Acquisitions 7+ BBC

Jo has 30 years experience in the animation industry across a variety of Producing roles on TV commercials, Idents, TV series and short films. Credits include Producer on ‘Morph’, ‘Angry Kid’ the Bafta nominated ‘Go Jetters’, Bafta winning ‘Pearce Sisters’ and Oscar nominated ‘Wat’s Pig’. She is currently Exec Producer for CBBC on ‘BoyGirlDogCatMouseCheese’ and the forthcoming suite of TV specials based on books by Quentin Blake.

Eimear O’Mahony

Eimear O’Mahony has been in RTÉ for 20 years. Over that time she has worked in Sport, Current Affairs, Irish Language and Entertainment. She has produced documentaries, Winning Streak, Up for The Match, Electric Picnic and the Late Late Toy Show in 2018. She joined Young People’s Programmes in 2019 as an Executive Producer.

Thom Chapman

Vice President Sales & Distribution Spin Master Entertainment

An international Media Executive with 20+ years of experience in financing, production, and distribution for feature films and series, Thom has worked on top brands such as Peanuts, PAW Patrol, and Bakugan. Mr. Chapman leads Spin Master Entertainment’s sales and distribution efforts overseeing the global distribution and monetization strategy/execution on all of Spin Master’s content properties. Prior to Spin Master, he headed up the animation studio ToonBox Entertainment, producing feature films and series for the global market.