TV Kids Summer Festival 2023 Agenda

Event Agenda

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BY MANSHA DASWANI

In the Game

A study released in the U.S. last fall had some surprisingly comforting news for parents: all that screentime spent in front of video games is apparently not as terrible as many had feared. Those who reported playing video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests compared to children who had never played video games, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open and based on data from the ongoing Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other entities of the National Institutes of Health.

Gaming is one of the key priorities for executives in the children’s content business; it is the number one competitor for channels and platforms vying for a share of kids’ entertainment time. It is paramount for brand extensions. It is increasingly a source of new IP, be it in storylines or the influencers who are amassing millions of views by playing or reviewing games online.

Gaming is among the pressing subjects you’ll hear discussed as the third edition of the TV Kids Summer Festival kicks off next week, along with perspectives on animation technology, brand-building, windowing strategies and more. Sessions will be available live and on-demand on www.TVKidsSummerFestival.com , and we’ll release the entire virtual conference as a podcast after the event wraps.

Enjoy the show!

The only video portal for the kids’ media industry.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

9 a.m. EDT Buying for AVOD

Kidoodle.TV’s Brenda Bisner, HappyKids’ David Di Lorenzo, Canela Kids’ Maggie Salas-Amaro and Playground TV’s Daniel Nordberg on curating programming slates in the AVOD space.

10:30 a.m. EDT France in Focus

Superprod’s Clément Calvet, Mediawan Kids & Family’s Julien Borde, Dandelooo’s Emmanuèle

Pétry-Sirvin and HARI’s Sophie “Kido” Prigent discuss the latest developments in French animation.

12 p.m. EDT Mercury Filmworks’ Animated Edge

Heath Kenny, chief content officer at Mercury Filmworks, and Chantal Ling, VP of original series and co-productions, showcase the creativity at the heart of the animation studio.

1:30 p.m. EDT Disney Branded Television’s Ayo Davis

As president, Ayo Davis leads all operations for the unit of Disney Entertainment that produces imaginative premium content for kids, tweens, teens and families on Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.

3 p.m. EDT The Moonbug Way

Moonbug Entertainment is pioneering new production and distribution models with its slate of popular titles; Nicolas Eglau and Andy Yeatman take delegates inside what’s driving the buzzy company’s gains.

Heath Kenny Chantal Ling

Nicolas Eglau Andy Yeatman

Clément Calvet

Julien Borde Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin Sophie “Kido” Prigent

Ayo Davis

Brenda Bisner

David Di Lorenzo Maggie SalasAmaro

Daniel Nordberg

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

9 a.m. EDT BBC Studios Kids & Family’s Cecilia Persson

The managing director of the children’s division will outline her strategy for bringing shows with the BBC stamp of creativity to platforms across the globe.

10:30 a.m. EDT Toon Innovation

We hear about new approaches to animation from Cyber Group Studios’ Raphäelle Mathieu, Toon2Tango’s Ulli Stoef and Sinking Ship Entertainment’s Matt Bishop.

12 p.m. EDT Drew & Jonathan Scott

After conquering the lifestyle content space with their beloved shows as the Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott are bringing their signature style to the kids’ arena with their animated series Builder Brothers Dream Factory.

1:30 p.m. EDT Classic Properties Revisited

Banijay Kids & Family’s Delphine Dumont, ZDF Studios’

Katharina Pietzsch and Mondo TV Group’s Luana

Perrero will share insights into what goes into resurrecting and rebooting classic properties.

3 p.m. EDT Evan Shapiro

The media cartographer and thought leader will share his unique perspective on engaging with kid audiences today.

Evan Shapiro

Cecilia Persson

Raphäelle Mathieu Ulli Stoef Matt Bishop

Drew Scott Jonathan Scott

Delphine Dumont

Katharina Pietzsch Luana Perrero

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

9 a.m. EDT TV Kids Pioneer Award: Maud Branly

For her achievements as children’s acquisitions director and international TV channels children’s programming director at M6 Group, Maud Branly will receive the TV Kids Pioneer Award after outlining her content strategy.

10:30 a.m. EDT The WIT Kids Garden

Bertrand Villegas, co-founder of The WIT, will spotlight the kids’ properties making waves across the globe.

12 p.m. EDT Not Quite Narwhal ’s Brian K. Roberts

The co-executive producer will offer up an inside look at the new DreamWorks Animation series for Netflix.

1:30 p.m. EDT Too FAST?

How should kids’ content distributors be approaching the FAST segment? We’ll hear expert insights from pocket.watch’s David B. Williams and WildBrain’s Lara Ilie

3 p.m. EDT Brand Promise

9 Story’s Katrina Hitz-Tough, Aardman’s Rob Goodchild, Epic Story’s Ken Faier and Cookbook

Media’s Rob Bencal talk brand building today.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

SCREENINGS DAY

Visit www.tvkidssummerfestival.com beginning at 9 a.m. EDT to screen a range of trailers from our sponsors and partners.

Bertrand Villegas

Brian K. Roberts

Maud Branly

David B. Williams Lara Ilie

Katrina Hitz-Tough

Rob Goodchild Ken Faier Rob Bencal

Within Cookbook Media, Rob Bencal is the expert in developing brand franchise strategies to build exposure, establish partnerships and maximize revenue opportunities.

During his extensive career working with enter tainment-based IP, Bencal has held various senior-level positions at leading toy and media companies, including a 13-year tenure at Mattel, where he managed highly successful global toy portfolios and partnerships with Nickelodeon, Disney and DreamWorks, and managed brands such as Dora the Explorer and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse . Bencal also held leadership roles in international marketing, digital development, licensing and content distribution for Mattel’s core franchise brands, including Barbie, Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends and American Girl. Bencal has also held roles at Hasbro, Tongal and Clear Chan nel Media.

SESSION

Thursday, June 8: 3 p.m. EDT Brand Promise

Rob Bencal Co-Founder Cookbook Media

Matt Bishop is a five-time Emmy Awardwinning producer. At Sinking Ship, Bishop and his partners have brought to life 17 original series and over 700 half-hours of children’s television. With shows airing in every country and in over 40 languages, Sinking Ship has grown to become one of North America’s premier kids’ enter tainment companies. It has been selected as Kidscreen ’s top kids’ company in the world and Playback’s Canadian kids’ company of the year.

In the animation space, Sinking Ship continues to push technology with its cutting-edge Unreal Engine pipeline on the 3D animated real-time series Builder Brothers Dream Factory. In addition, it will be releasing its first 3D animated feature in Q3 2023, utilizing its advanced Universal Scene Description (USD) pipeline.

Bishop has been the recipient of Emmy, BAFTA, Gemini, Canadian Screen, Prix Jeunesse, Banff Rockie, Shaw Rocket Prize and the Youth Media Alliance awards. In his spare time, he is the co-chair of CASO (Computer Animation Studios of Ontario) and is an avid supporter of the animation and visual effects industries.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 10:30 a.m. EDT Toon Innovation

Matt Bishop Founding Partner

Sinking Ship Entertainment

Brenda Bisner Chief Content Officer A Parent Media Co.

AParent Media Co. is the creator of the Safe Streaming™ platform Kidoodle.TV. Brenda Bisner is an integral force behind its successful acquisition of top children’s media content from around the world and a future caster for all new business development on behalf of the company. Bisner has proven expertise in navigating an ever-shifting children’s digital media landscape. She has the rare talent to spot trends and recognize brand potential, along with an innate ability to optimize for their success. Bisner’s work with Kidoodle.TV continues to set a standard for a more safe and reliable online space to relieve parents and help protect and entertain kids from over 160 countries as they learn and grow into the best versions of themselves.

Over her 23-plus year career in the children’s media space, Bisner has developed, produced and sold live-action, animation and reality series across multiple channels worldwide and executed on numerous licensing and merchandising deals. Discovering novel ways to bring great content to children in a safe way all around the globe is her goal, and she pursues it with passion.

Julien Borde has more than 25 years of experi ence in kids’ and family brands. Before becoming president of Mediawan Kids & Family, he was managing director of Mediawan Animation.

Until 2018, he was head of kids and general entertainment channels at WarnerMedia for France, French-speaking territories and Africa. Between 2005 and 2015, he created France Télévisions’ kids’ department and established it as the leader of the European animation industry. He was appointed secretary-general of France 3 in 2012, then head of digital programming with responsibility for AVOD, TVOD and SVOD.

Borde started his career at Disney in 1997, where he remained until 2005, serving as deputy director and then executive director for programs and production at Disney Channels France.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 10:30 a.m. EDT France in Focus

Julien Borde President Mediawan Kids & Family

Maud Branly holds a B.A. in modern literature from Sorbonne Nouvelle University and an H.N.D in audiovisual production from Efficom. She began her career at Patrick Spica Pro duction, where she was in charge of production scheduling. In December 2006, she became the EMEA sales coordinator for DIC Entertainment/ Cookie Jar. Then she joined Lagardère Active as executive buyer in February 2009, where she was in charge of acquisitions of animated series. In January 2014, she was appointed head of acquisitions for all the channels of the Lagardère Active TV division, comprised of Gulli, TiJi, Canal J, June, MCM and Santa Claus TV Channel, in France and worldwide. In Jan uary 2017, she was appointed to her current role.

In September 2019, M6 completed the acquisition of the kids’ TV channels from Lagardère. She now works for M6 Group as director of children’s acquisitions and international TV channels programming director for Gulli, M6, Canal J, TiJi, Gulli Girl Russia, TiJi Russia, Gulli Bil Arabi and Gulli Africa.

SESSION

Thursday, June 8: 9 a.m. EDT TV Kids Pioneer Award Keynote

Maud Branly Children’s Acquisitions Director & International TV Channels Children’s Programming Director M6 Group

Clément Calvet has 25 years of experience in audiovisual production, first as an intellectual property lawyer, then as an award-winning producer and general manager of Gaumont Animation, before founding Superprod in 2010 with Jérémie Fajner.

Superprod develops, produces and distributes premium audiovisual content for the international market. Superprod and its subsidiaries (Superprod Animation, Superprod Drama, Superprod Films, Superights, 440Hz and The Co-Production Company) use state-of-the-art technology in offices in Paris, Angoulême, Milan, New York and Los Angeles, and attract top talent and partners.

Superprod’s productions have won at the Euro pean Film Awards and Emmy Awards, been nominated for the Oscars and Césars, and played at major international festivals, including TIFF and Sundance.

In 2023, Superprod has four feature films and eight series in production for partners such as Netflix, Max, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, Canal+, France Télévisions, M6, SND, OCS, BBC, Rai and ARD.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 10:30 a.m. EDT France in Focus

Clément Calvet CEO Superprod

Ayo Davis President Disney Branded Television

Disney Branded Television is the unit of Dis ney Entertainment that produces imaginative premium content for kids, tweens, teens and families for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior. Davis leads all operations, including development, current, production, casting and business affairs for the group’s slate of live-action, animation and unscripted content.

Since being named to this role in 2021, Davis has not only helped lead Disney’s kids’ networks to continued dominance, she has attracted some of the industry’s top creative talent to develop new concepts and franchises for kids and families on Disney+. Major deals secured by Davis include an overall with Dan Povenmire to create new seasons of Phineas and Ferb and Hamster & Gretel, and agreements with the BBC for animated smash hit Bluey and global franchise Doctor Who.

A 20-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company, Davis’s prior roles include executive VP of creative development and strategy at Disney Branded Television and executive VP of talent and casting at ABC Entertainment and Disney+. Davis also launched ABC Discovers, a collection of casting initiatives aimed at discovering and nurturing up-andcoming talent from around the world.

Tuesday, June 6: 1:30 p.m. EDT Keynote

David Di Lorenzo has more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. In his current role, he oversees programming, content acquisitions, channel (app) partnerships and monetization across Future Today’s extensive portfolio of kids’ and family channels, including the toprated ad-supported streaming app HappyKids.

Before joining Future Today, he was president of Kabillion, where he was responsible for daily operations of the Kabillion TV network, managing programming, ad sales, content distribution, licensing and partnerships. Di Lorenzo was responsible for growing the network’s cable footprint by more than 35 percent while also launching its presence across OTT platforms, increasing profitability and extending its content partnerships with top-tier brands. Previous experience includes ten years at Universal Studios as director of sales for the Americas and director of retail development sales. During his tenure at Universal, Di Lorenzo was responsible for worldwide licensing deals for mobile apps across theatrical and television content, managing content and promotions with mobile carriers and overseeing sales and marketing of licensed merchandise at major retailers, including Walmart, Target and Best Buy.

David Di Lorenzo

Senior VP, Kids & Family Future Today

Delphine Dumont heads up Banijay Kids & Family’s commercial arm and dedicated sales division, Zodiak Kids & Family Dis tribution, which is responsible for the exploitation of the rights for all Banijay’s kids’ content on linear and nonlinear television, driving ancillary activity across platforms and through brand licensing and digital exploitation.

Dumont oversees all Banijay Kids & Family commercial activities across digital, brand and marketing, licensing, distribution and acquisitions. As an expert in kids’ content, having worked in both acquisitions and distribution, she is responsible for growing the Banijay Kids & Family portfolio of brands across all sectors.

Previously, Dumont headed up acquisitions, distribution and co-productions for Zodiak Kids, and before that held roles at RDF, Virgin Media and Jetix Europe.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 1:30 p.m. EDT Classic Properties Revisited

Delphine Dumont Chief Commercial Officer Banijay Kids & Family

Nicolas Eglau oversees all commercial activities in the EMEA and AsiaPac regions, where Moonbug has a presence working with leading players such as Sky, Tencent and Disney. Eglau’s remit includes distribution, originals and advertising.

Before joining Moonbug in 2019, Eglau was executive VP of international at ProSiebenSat.1 Group. Eglau’s responsibilities included leading the company’s international business and network expansion. Additionally, he was responsible for the European Media Alliance (EMA), a network of leading European media companies that ProSiebenSat.1 established in 2013, and business activities beyond the borders of Europe.

Before this, Eglau worked for A+E Networks in London. As COO of EMEA and general manager for Benelux, Nordics, CEE, Middle East and Africa, he oversaw the company’s international offices.

Eglau spent a significant part of his career at the RTL Group, starting as VP of Central and Eastern Europe in Luxembourg and ultimately in Amsterdam as a member of RTL’s executive board, accounting for the pay-TV business and the company’s Venture Fund.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 3 p.m. EDT The Moonbug Way

Nicolas Eglau Managing Director, EMEA & AsiaPac Moonbug Entertainment

Th e mission for both Epic Story Media and its Epic Story Interactive subsidiary, which Ken Faier also leads, is to put creators at the center of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. Epic’s reason to be is to service the goal of creating a love of story and play while servicing the talents of the world’s best creators, providing them the tools and the support to achieve their dreams of creating something that kids will remember when they become parents.

Previously, Faier served as senior VP and executive producer for DHX Media after it acquired Nerd Corps Entertainment, where he served as El Presidente for over ten years. Faier was instrumental in building the company into a world-renowned studio, with each of its original properties sold to 150-plus territories, and he continues to drive the success of those properties globally.

Prior to Nerd Corps, Faier was VP of production and distribution for the children’s division at Alliance Atlantis. Prior to Alliance Atlantis, he was with Brunico Communications, where he launched Kidscreen as the founding publisher and eventually Kidscreen Summit.

SESSION

Thursday, June 8: 3 p.m. EDT Brand Promise

Ken Faier

El Presidente & CEO

Epic Story Media

With over 30 years of experience in family entertainment and consumer products, Rob Goodchild is responsible for the overall rights and ancillary programs for Aard man IP, which includes the world-famous Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit brands. Goodchild also heads up business development for the Aardman studio, which offers a portfolio of creative services, bringing character, story and craft to multiple market sectors.

SESSION

Thursday, June 8: 3 p.m. EDT Brand Promise

Rob Goodchild Commercial Director Aardman

Katrina Hitz-Tough SVP, Franchise Strategy & Marketing 9 Story Media Group

Katrina Hitz-Tough is a seasoned brand, marketing and franchise management executive with 25 years of experience across industries as varied as entertainment, gaming, consumer products, automotive, consulting and nonprofit. Her skill set includes specialties in brand strategy, franchise management, brand marketing, consumer insights, complex problem-solving and relationship building. She’s also had the opportunity to work in many parts of the world, across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

Prior to joining 9 Story Media Group, Hitz-Tough spent three years at Sony Pictures Entertainment, estab lishing the Sony Pictures franchise group and building film-based brands such as Ghostbusters, Spider-Man and Men in Black. Before that, she spent nine years working for The Walt Disney Company, where she established the LEGO-Disney partnership, led franchise management for the digital portfolio and developed the consumer-product brand strategies for some of the biggest brands in entertainment, including Frozen, Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean and Mickey Mouse.

Lara Ilie is responsible for expanding Wild Brain’s content-distribution strategy across emerging platform opportunities, including revenue-share and transactional partnerships. Ilie has built a robust presence for WildBrain’s content on FAST and AVOD services, with over 50 channels launched on some of the most popular platforms across North America and Europe, including Roku, Pluto TV, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus and Amazon’s Freevee.

Formerly VP of rights strategy, she developed and spearheaded integrated strategies to monetize Wild Brain’s portfolio of IP rights across businesses and territories. Ilie first joined WildBrain in 2007 as senior director of sales, handling content distribution partnerships in Iberia, Italy, Benelux, Nordics, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

SESSION

Thursday, June 8: 1:30 p.m. EDT Too FAST?

Lara Ilie VP, Revenue Share & Transactional WildBrain

Heath Kenny is charged with spearheading Mercury Filmworks’ move into original programming. Originally based in Paris, Kenny relocated to Ottawa and works in collaboration with Chantal Ling, VP of original series and coproductions, and Travis Williams, director of development.

Kenny is responsible for content strategy, the development of original content and management of the originals and marketing teams at Mercury Filmworks. With extensive knowledge of animation production and development, and as a talented artist and director, Kenny will identify and develop original properties, both existing IPs and originals, and secure financing to greenlight productions.

Throughout his 20-year career in animation, Kenny has worked with and for clients like Dream Works, Disney, France Télévisions, TF1, Rai, Teletoon Canada, Apple TV+ and Netflix. Before joining Mercury Filmworks, Kenny ran his own Paris-based company, You and Eye Creative. Prior, he served as VP of creative and executive producer at Gaumont Animation.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 12 p.m. EDT

Mercury Filmworks’ Animated Edge

Heath Kenny Chief Content Officer

Mercury Filmworks

Chantal Ling specializes in proprietary content and co-productions. She works directly with Mercury Filmworks’ international partners to develop, finance and co-produce properties that are considered the benchmark in television animation. During her tenure with Mer cury Filmworks, her producing credits include Hilda with Silvergate Media and Netflix; If You Give a Mouse a Cookie for Prime Video; Atomic Puppet, a Mercury Filmworks co-production with Technicolor and Gaumont Animation; and Team Hot Wheels for Mattel Playground Productions.

L ing joined Mercury Filmworks in 2012 as a supervising producer, following an eight-year career with Amberwood Entertainment, where she served as executive VP. She brought an outstanding track record for producing children’s content to Mercury Filmworks, including The Secret World of Benjamin Bear for Family Channel, The Snow Queen for BBC and CBC, RollBots for YTV and Rob the Robot for TVO.

Ling’s two decades of experience have earned her multiple award nominations and wins.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 12 p.m. EDT

Mercury Filmworks’ Animated Edge

Chantal Ling VP, Original Series & Co-Productions

Mercury Filmworks

Raphaëlle Mathieu Executive VP Cyber Group Studios

With more than 20 years of experience in the audiovisual field, Raphaëlle Mathieu has been involved in the creation of television and feature animation production companies. Mathieu spent six years as senior VP of sales, acquisitions and new media at Cyber Group Studios, a leading animation company based in France, the U.S., the U.K., Italy and Singapore. Promoted to executive VP, Mathieu oversees all commercial activities of the company worldwide and works with Dominique Bourse, chairman and CEO, on defining the overall strategic areas of growth for the company’s activities, including sales, digital and licensing.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 10:30 a.m. EDT Toon Innovation

Daniel Nordberg has dedicated his career to technology, media and fostering curiosity among children.

Before founding Playground TV in 2019, Nordberg held various business development roles for major corporations such as HTC and Sony. He was also a key member of the management team responsible for building Opera TV/Vewd, a pioneering smart TV platform based on HTML5, where he oversaw the content division.

Under his leadership, Playground TV has become a rapidly growing AVOD and FAST platform, focused on providing multilingual and diverse content to children. With over 200 animated shows in nine languages, Playground TV is expanding its presence across Europe, nurturing a global audience of inquisitive and engaged young minds. The company’s lat est project, Storyplai, is an AI-powered app that empowers children and parents to create their own adventure stories, emphasizing creativity and storytelling in a dynamic and interactive format.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 9 a.m. EDT Buying for AVOD

Daniel Nordberg Founder Playground TV

After gra duating in business economics, Luana Perrero started her career in marketing. In 2003, the switch to the entertainment business came as she joined Warner Bros. Pictures International (WBPI) in London. She then covered sales in different companies (Blink Studios in Dubai, Atlantyca Entertainment in Paris and Milan and Rainbow in Loreto and Milano), as well as set up Atlantyca’s distribution department. Since 2019, Perrero has been heading international content acquisitions and distribution at Mondo TV, where, along with her talented team, she has built content businesses for the company’s growing portfolio of great shows.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 1:30 p.m. EDT Classic Properties Revisited

Luana Perrero Head, Content Sales Mondo TV Group

Cecilia Persson drives an ambitious global strategy for Kids & Family, one of four key genres that make up BBC Studios. As managing director, Persson works in partnership with all areas of the business to ensure the most creative, efficient and effective approach to bring children’s content to audiences around the world.

Persson has extensive creative and commercial knowledge, including more than 15 years at Warner Media, where she most recently held the role of VP of programming and content strategy.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 9 a.m. Keynote

Persson Managing Director, Kids & Family BBC Studios

Cecilia

Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin started her career in 1990, opening the Paris office for Nelvana. During her 17 years at Nelvana, she built the full sales department in charge of worldwide international distribution. As head of the European office, she worked on many co-productions.

Pétry-Sirvin gained her first Emmy Award for the CGI series Rolie Polie Olie and her second for the hybrid series The Treehouse Stories, commissioned by Canal+, which she co-developed and co-wrote. Now in its fourth season, this edutainment series that animates 103 cult children’s picture books helped bring together her passion for books and children’s education into the world of animation. At the Millimages studio in Paris, Pétry-Sirvin initiated and developed Mouk’s World Tour as the executive in charge of development. After that, she co-created the Paris-based production and distribution company Dandelooo (along with Jean-Baptiste Wéry) to produce the Houdini TV special and Stinky Dog. Along with Wéry, she opened the 2D animation studio Ooolala in La Cartoucherie in Valence, France, to produce the original TV special Mum is Pouring Rain . Now in production are Billy the Cowboy Hamster and The Upside Down River.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 10:30 a.m. EDT France in Focus

Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin Producer & Head, International Dandelooo

Ka tharina Pietzsch began her career at Jung von Matt, one of Germany’s most renowned advertising agencies, as a producer for commercials. In 2003, she joined ZDF Enterprises as a management trainee, working in a variety of projectmanaging roles across the company, then was offered a permanent contract as acquisitions manager for children’s programs for ZDF and KiKA.

From acquisitions, she moved to co-productions of children’s programs for the ZDF group. When the company was restructured in 2013, she became responsible for the sale of kids’ and family content. In her current role as Director in the ZDF Studios Junior department, she is responsible for negotiating presales and sales, co-productions and commissions for all key account, pan-national, Scandinavian and global clients, as well as developing “custommade” projects for these clients with selected producers worldwide.

In 2021, Pietzsch secured a commission for the tween/teen live-action series Surviving Summer from Netflix. Following the success of season one in 2022, season two went into production earlier this year. The first season amassed over 20 million hours viewed globally in its first two weeks. It was one of Netflix’s top ten English-speaking shows globally.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 1:30 p.m. EDT Classic Properties Revisited

Katharina Pietzsch Director Junior ZDF Studios

Sophie “Kido” Prigent joined HARI in early 2023 from Jetpack Distribution, where she was the global head of sales. Prior to joining Jetpack in 2019, Prigent was territory manager at DHX Media (now WildBrain). During that time, she worked remotely in cities including Dubai, Istanbul, Warsaw, Budapest, Prague, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Tel Aviv, considerably increasing the opportunities for the Canadian producer and distributor. She began her career in the kids’ industry in 2010 with Cookie Jar, where she remained until it was acquired by DHX. Prior to that, she worked in the music industry for VMA.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 10:30 a.m. EDT France in Focus

Sophie “Kido” Prigent Head, Sales HARI

Bria n K. Roberts is a co-executive producer on the upcoming DreamWorks Animation preschool series Not Quite Narwhal, created for Netflix and based on the New York Times best-selling book. The series is a comedy adventure that follows fun-loving Kelp, who believed he was a narwhal until discovering he’s a unicorn. Rather than choose one or the other, Kelp embraces being both, learning to navigate his two worlds: the ocean and land.

Over the last ten years with DreamWorks

Ani mation, Roberts has served as animator, director and producer on numerous award-winning series featuring fantastical creatures, from dragons to unicorns to talking, singing vegetables. In previous roles as a co-executive producer at DreamWorks Animation, he helped bring to life the Netflix series Dragons: Res cue Riders and VeggieTales in the House, as well as Peacock’s Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky . Roberts also served a s a consult ing producer on DreamWorks and Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series Gabby’s Dollhouse.

SESSION

Thursday, June 8: 12 p.m. EDT Keynote

Brian K. Roberts Co-Executive Producer Not Quite Narwhal

Maggie Salas-Amaro is an award-winning producer and media executive. During her media career, she has worked for some of the world’s most successful brands, including Viacom, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, FOX, Hola! TV and Univision.

Salas-Amaro currently leads Canela Kids, part of Canela Media, the first AVOD for Hispanics in the U.S. and Latin America. In 2023, she was recognized by the Worldwide Audiovisual Women’s Association (WAWA) as an honorary member for her 30-year career in media.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 9 a.m. EDT Buying for AVOD

Maggie Salas-Amaro Director, Canela Kids Canela Media

Dr ew Scott is an investor, entrepreneur, designer and renovation expert with a real estate investment company, multi-category home furnishing brands sold in major retail outlets across North America and a production company producing hundreds of hours of unscripted lifestyle content for major networks worldwide. He’s the cohost and executive producer of several hit TV series, including the Emmy-nominated Property Brothers, Celebrity IOU and Brother vs. Brother, which reach over 60 million annual viewers in the U.S. and air in more than 160 countries.

Since 2017, Drew has been an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity as a Global Habitat Humanitar ian—the international housing organization’s highest honor. He also sits on the Environmental Media Association’s board of directors and, along with his twin brother, Jonathan, is a creative changemaker and philanthropist advocating for affordable housing, clean energy and happy and healthy homes.

Drew and his wife, Linda Phan, are proud parents to their son, Parker, and enjoy spending time in their Los Angeles home recording their popular podcast, At Home with Linda & Drew Scott, where they talk with experts, thought leaders and celebrities about how every good thing starts at home.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 12 p.m. EDT Keynote

Drew Scott Co-Creator & Executive Producer Builder Brothers Dream Factory

Jonathan Scott is a multifaceted entrepreneur, home transformation television and lifestyle personality and real estate expert. Jonathan and his twin brother, Drew, star in and executive produce hundreds of hours of programming watched every year in over 160 countries, with over 60 million annual TV viewers in the U.S. alone.

Drew and Jonathan are the co-founders of Scott Brothers Global, a leading lifestyle and entertainment company producing content and consumer brands and products for the masses. The Scott brothers are also New York Times best-selling authors, changemakers and philanthropists, advocating for affordable housing, clean energy and happy, healthy homes. Having renovated nearly 600 homes during his career, Jonathan’s passion for helping families naturally led him to become an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity, where he and Drew have served as Global Humanitarians since 2017. In 2020, Jonathan produced an awardwinning documentary, Jonathan Scott’s Power Trip, which investigates renewable energy and the struggle to make it more available to families across the U.S. Jonathan recently bought and renovated his forever home in Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Zooey Deschanel.

Jonathan Scott Co-Creator & Executive Producer Builder Brothers Dream Factory

Over his career, Evan Shapiro has been an outspoken thought leader in the entertainment industry. For decades, he has created innovative, award-winning programming and media properties. He is producing the podcasts Cancel Culture and Next with Novo, as well as the feature film The Grimm Legacy for Disney+, All Over Christmas with Vortex Pictures and Cooper’s Bar for AMC.

Shapiro has evolved into a noted commentator on the entertainment industry. In 2020, Deadline published Shapiro’s first Media Universe Map, the first view of the media business to truly include all the major combatants in the war for attention. His essays on media have become must-reads for industry professionals, and his ensuing updates to the Media Map, and two subsequent maps—the Gaming Omniverse and the CTVerse—have made him one of the most influential thinkers in the business. He is a professor of media and entertainment at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Busi ness. Additionally, through his company ESHAP, Shapiro and a nimble team offer their media insights as a service to clients as diverse as PBS and Samsung, across projects as varied as connected TV distribution, podcast producing and web3.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 3 p.m. EDT Keynote

Evan Shapiro Media Cartographer & Thought Leader

Ulli Stoef CEO & Producer Toon2Tango

Ulli Stoef started his career in the field of toys and games with Schmidt Spiele and later held positions such as managing director at Universal Studios Consumer Products Merchandising, managing director at CTM

Concept-TV & Mer chandising and CEO of m4e and Studio 100 Media, where he was also chairman of the group content committee.

Stoef is also a producer and brand builder of many properties, including Mia and me, Huntik, Level Q and more. He had a hand in various successful brands, such as Mia and me, Wissper and Tip the Mouse, created and/or co-produced and managed by Stoef and his team at m4e.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 7: 10:30 a.m. EDT Toon Innovation

The WIT is a leading agency specializing in research and information on TV programs worldwide. The WIT’s services are used by broadcasters, producers and distributors around the world. The WIT offers the Daily Wit, a newsletter on projects and formats in development; Fresh TV, an online database for TV and digital content in more than 70 countries; the Fresh Projects database about new upcoming ideas; Cool TV, an analysis of viewing hits and creative trends; The WIT Schedules, the ongoing and enriched programming grids of 80 channels worldwide; and The WIT Top Formats, a real-time format sales ranking worldwide.

With The WIT’s Geneva-based team and researchers worldwide, Villegas follows new ideas in TV and digital and the emerging trends in all genres of programs around the world.

The WIT gives lectures and training to a wide range of audiences worldwide. The WIT’s Fresh TV conferences at MIPCOM and MIPTV in Cannes are the most packed events of both markets.

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Thursday, June 8: 10:30 a.m. EDT The WIT Kids Garden

Bertrand Villegas Co-Founder The WIT

At pocket.watch, David B. Williams is charged with winning fans and growing franchises on streaming video platforms. With 25 years at the frontier of digital media, Williams was previously part of Maker Studios’ senior leadership, where he led the talent team and engineered marquee content initiatives. Prior highlights include serving as chief content and technology strategist for Endemol Beyond USA; co-founding the venture-backed Take180, which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company; and developing patented technology that powered fan-driven initiatives for such franchises as Star Trek and Toy Story, earning an Interactive Emmy Award nomination for The L Word . A longtime entrepreneur, in 1996, Williams founded a digitalfirst entertainment studio where he developed the world’s first major animated web series, which was widely licensed to distributors, including Showtime Networks.

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Thursday, June 8: 1:30 p.m. EDT Too FAST?

David B. Williams SVP & General Manager, Channels pocket.watch

Andy Yeatman Managing Director, Americas Moonbug Entertainment

Moonbug Entertainment is a global entertainment company that develops and distributes fun and enriching content for children. Yeatman is responsible for North and South American operations and content partnerships and distribution for the fastest-growing kids’ entertainment company in the world. Yeatman is responsible for the deals that landed Moonbug IP such as CoComelon , Little Angel, Blippi and Little Baby Bum on nearly every streaming platform, including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Max, Peacock, Roku, Hulu and Disney+.

Before Moonbug, Yeatman founded and led Netflix’s kids’ content department, which was responsible for original productions, co-productions and acquisitions of content for kids aged 2 to 12. He also led Netflix’s kids and family programming strategy and acquisitions globally, including content from 50-plus countries and original productions in ten. He joined Netflix in 2011 to help acquire content for its international expansion.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 6: 3 p.m. EDT The Moonbug Way