TV Kids Festival 2023 Event Agenda

Event Agenda

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BY MANSHA DASWANI

Screen Time

As physical events triumphantly returned in 2022, we wondered about the health and viability of our own virtual festivals. As a team, we had to sit down and really think about the role these events, which we started as a new way to stay in touch with the kids’ community at a time when travel was a nightmare, would serve now that everyone was ready, and eager, to get back on a plane. Our view—backed by the amazing feedback we received throughout 2022—is that our online, ondemand virtual conferences are a brilliant complement to, rather than substitute for, in-person gatherings. Nothing can quite replace the spark of pitching face-toface or making a new connection. But good luck getting this much fantastic intel that is easily digestible and available on your schedule—all free of charge—at any of the many children’s content events we’ll be convening at this year.

Across four jam-packed days, with almost 40 speakers and 20 sessions, we’ve tapped some of the biggest and best names in children’s media to offer their valuable advice and lessons learned in navigating a sector that, like kids themselves, won’t stay still. Whether you need to know what top buyers are looking for or are seeking advice on windowing and funding strategies or are eager to hear from top-notch creators about how to give kids entertainment, with a side of nourishment, we have you covered.

Enjoy the show!

The only video portal for the kids’ media industry.

Our Playground is Getting Bigger

9 a.m. EST The Decision-Makers

Sky Kids’ Lucy Murphy, TFO’s Marianne Lambert, Paramount UK & Ireland’s Louise Bucknole and Future Today’s David Di Lorenzo on their programming strategies.

10:30 a.m. EST Inside Gabby ’s Dollhouse

Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey take delegates behind the scenes of the hit DreamWorks Animation series Gabby ’s Dollhouse.

12 p.m. EST Keynote: Mattel’s Richard Dickson

Richard Dickson, the president and COO of the toy giant, will discuss the crucial role IP plays in the company’s overall brandbuilding strategies.

1:30 p.m. EST Making Sense of YouTube

Entertainment One’s Yannick Ferrero, pocket.watch’s David B. Williams, Cloudco’s Sean Gorman and Kartoon Channel!’s Paul Robinson will discuss how YouTube factors into their distribution strategies.

3 p.m. EST Creative Keynote: Chris Nee

Since her breakout hit Doc McStuffins , Chris Nee has gone on to create and produce several acclaimed shows and is currently working on a slate of Netflix projects, including Ada Twist, Scientist

Lucy Murphy Marianne Lambert Louise Bucknole David Di Lorenzo

Richard Dickson

Chris Nee

Traci Paige Johnson Jennifer Twomey

Yannick Ferrero David B. Williams Sean Gorman Paul Robinson

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

9 a.m. EST Spotlight: U.K. & Ireland

Jetpack Distribution’s Dominic Gardiner, Serious Kids’ Genevieve Dexter, Monster Entertainment’s Andrew Fitzpatrick, Magic Light Pictures’ Muriel Thomas and Sixteen South’s Colin Williams on British and Irish animation.

10:30 a.m. EST Keynote: 9 Story Media Group’s Vince Commisso

9 Story Media Group’s president and CEO, Vince Commisso, will share his strategy for building on the company’s successes and further expansion.

12 p.m. EST Keynote: The Jim Henson Company’s Halle Stanford

As the president of television at The Jim Henson Company, Halle Stanford over sees a slate that targets multiple age demographics across numerous genres and storytelling techniques.

1:30 p.m. EST Star Trek: Prodigy ’s New Frontiers

Kevin and Dan Hageman are behind the first animated series for kids set in the beloved Star Trek universe.

3 p.m. EST Getting Creative

Sesame Workshop’s Kay Wilson Stallings, Nelvana’s Athena Georgaklis, Cyber Group Studios’ Ira Singerman and Boat Rocker’s Shaleen Sangha talk crafting development slates.

Genevieve Dexter Andrew Fitzpatrick Muriel Thomas Colin Williams

Halle Stanford

Vince Commisso

Kay Wilson Stallings Athena Georgaklis Ira Singerman Shaleen Sangha

Dominic Gardiner

Kevin and Dan Hageman

9 a.m. EST Keynote: Banijay Kids & Family’s Benoît Di Sabatino

Benoît Di Sabatino, the CEO of Banijay Kids & Family, will articulate his growth strategy for the company, which includes a dedicated distribution and commercial arm and production labels across Europe.

10:30 a.m. EST Money Matters

As financing shows becomes more challenging, we’ll hear valuable insights from CAKE’s Ed Galton, Guru Studio’s Frank Falcone, DeAPlaneta Entertainment’s Carlos Biern and Big Bad Boo Studios’ Shabnam Rezaei.

12 p.m. EST Keynote: WildBrain’s Eric Ellenbogen

Eric Ellenbogen, vice chair and CEO of the leading kids’ and family content indie, will share how he is guiding the company through a fast-changing marketplace.

1:30 p.m. EST First Day ’s Firsts

Creator Julie Kalceff and producer Kirsty Stark will share how the Australian live-action series First Day is breaking barriers in its representation of transgender kids.

Julie Kalceff Kirsty Stark

Eric Ellenbogen

Benoît Di Sabatino

Ed Galton Frank Falcone

Carlos Biern Shabnam Rezaei

9 a.m. EST TV Kids Pioneer Award: POP Channels’ Francesca Newington

For her savvy programming decisions at the Narrative Entertainment-owned POP Channels, Francesca Newington will be honored with the TV Kids Pioneer Award after sharing her content strategy with festival delegates.

10:30 a.m. EST

Smarter Kids

Dandelooo’s Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin, Toonz Media Group’s Bruno Zarka and The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company’s Kenn Viselman will deliver valuable insights on successfully incorporating curricula and important social themes in kids’ content.

12

p.m. EST Kidoodle.TV’s Streaming Edge

The streaming platform’s chief content officer, Brenda Bisner, will reveal what’s driving its usage gains across multiple markets and platforms.

1:30

p.m. EST Creative Keynote: Emma Watkins

After coming to fame as a member of The Wiggles, Emma Watkins is now working on a new series, Emma Memma: Sing. Dance. Sign.

Brenda Bisner

Francesca Newington

Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin Bruno Zarka Kenn Viselman

Emma Watkins

OUR PLAYGROUND IS GETTING BIGGER!

Carlos Biern Director, Content & Distribution, Kids & Family DeAPlaneta Entertainment

Carl os Biern is an executive producer and creator of animation projects. He currently serves as director of content and distribution for kids and family at DeAPlaneta Entertainment, which is owned by Grupo Planeta and De Agostini. The group offers a wide range of quality entertain ment for all audiences, combining talent and technology. It is a multinational company with a presence in more than 30 countries and more than 20 years of experience acquiring, producing and distributing content and experiences, from movies, fiction and animation series and licensed product to live shows, video game competitions and, more recently, NFTs and a presence in the metaverse.

Biern was formerly president of productions and co-productions at Toonz Media Group. His first experience was as executive director in charge of creative development and the financing and marketing of animation series at BRB Internacional/Screen 21 and Apolo Films (Spain). His experience includes over 20 co-productions produced in studios in Spain and elsewhere in Europe, North America and Asia. For almost a decade, he was the president of DIBOOS (the Spanish federation of animation and visual effects producers). He worked at Telecinco and Antena 3 (marketing).

Thursday, February 9, 10:30 a.m. EST Money Matters

Brenda Bisner Chief Content Officer, Kidoodle.TV

AP a rent 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.

Louise Bucknole General Manager, Kids & Family, U.K. & Ireland

Paramount Global

Louise Bucknole has 25 years of creative leadership experience as a children’s content strategist, commissioner and channel head on freeto-air and pay services. As the kids lead in the U.K. and Ireland at Paramount Global, she is responsible for leading content strategy and all editorial, strategic, financial and operational aspects for the Nick Network, including Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. Too brands on all platforms and Milk shake! on Channel 5, including commissions, acquisitions, programming and VOD. She also serves as executive producer for production and development and sits on the Nickelodeon International Programming Council.

Previously, Bucknole worked in content leadership and production roles at Disney Channels, BBC Chil dren’s and Children’s ITV and sits on the BAFTA Children’s Committee, BFI Young Audiences Content Fund Strategic Advisory Group, Children’s Media Conference Advisory Committee and the ScreenSkills Children’s Council.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 9 a.m. EST The Decision-Makers

Vince Commisso President & CEO 9 Story Media Group

9 Story Media Group is a leading independent creator, producer and distributor of top-quality content for young audiences around the world. With facilities in Toronto, New York, Dublin and Bali, the 9 Story family of companies has produced thousands of episodes of best-in-class kids’ and family programming, including hit shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood , Blue’s Clues & You! , Doc McStuffins , The Magic School Bus Rides Again and more.

Vince Commisso began his career in 1992 at Nelvana, prior to co-founding 9 Story Entertainment in 2002. 9 Story has gone on to earn countless awards, including 18 Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations. Commisso serves on the boards of the Canadian Association of Content Exporters (CACE) and Earth Rangers and holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. In 2015, Commisso was awarded the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Entertainment and Media category (Ontario). In 2022, he received the prestigious Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Wednesday, February 8, 10:30 a.m. EST Keynote

Genevieve Dexter has worked in the kids’ IP sector for 30 years and is CEO of both Serious Kids, a children’s and family content distribution company, and Eye Present, a London-based 2D/CG animation studio. She is the executive producer of Best & Bester, Tee and Mo, Messy Goes to Okido , Horrible Science , Angelo Rules and many more. She was also the founder of CAKE.

Serious Kids, established in 2011, represents a portfolio of high-quality IP. Fresh titles include The Sound Collector from Eagle Vs Bat for CITV and Rai and Flix by Tomi Ungerer from Pictor Productions/Eye Pre sent for RTÉ and ABC. These join the Emmy Award-winning The New Legends of Monkey (SeeSaw Films); the BAFTA-winning, Emmy-nominated Operation Ouch! (Maverick); and the Emmy-winning Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter (Studio Ghibli/Astrid Lindgren Company), directed by Goro Miyazaki.

Eye Present, established in 2015, is a 50-seat animation studio with CG and 2D pipelines specializing in optioning or co-producing IP with a unique provenance. The studio is completing production on Best & Bester for Paramount and Yle in co-production with the originators, Gigglebug Entertainment and Nelvana. Serious Kids represents U.K. rights.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 9 a.m. EST Spotlight: U.K. & Ireland

Genevieve Dexter Founder & CEO

Serious Kids & Eye Present

Di Lorenzo Senior VP, Kids & Family

Da vid 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 top-rated 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 Stu dios 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

Future Today

Wit h a strong record in animation and youth programming, Benoît Di Sabatino joined Banijay in 2018 to lead the company’s dedicated children’s division. Di Sabatino was previously at Moonscoop Group, an independent content business he co-founded, specializing in the production and distribution of global kids’ programming.

As CEO of Banijay Kids & Family, Di Sabatino has a global remit, with central offices in Paris and London. He oversees the division’s dedicated distribution and commercial arm, Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution, and six production labels across the U.K., France and Italy: Zodiak Kids & Family France, Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK, Monello Productions, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, Movimenti Production and Kindle Entertainment.

Banijay Kids & Family is home to a catalog of successful programming across animation and liveaction series for kids and families worldwide. Notable titles include Aliens Love Underpants, Corpse Talk, Ivy & Bean, Lolirock, Mister Maker , Mr Bean: The Animated Series , Mumfie , Silverpoint , Street Football, Tear Along the Dotted Line, Ted’s Top Ten, The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti, Topo Gigio, Totally Spies! and When I Was Your Age.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 9 a.m. EST Keynote

Kids & Family

Benoît Di Sabatino CEO

Banijay

Richard Dickson President & COO Mattel

Rich ard Dickson leads Mattel’s portfolio of global brands, overseeing innovation strategy, design and development and brand marketing. Dick son also oversees franchise management, which includes licensing and merchandising, episodic content, live events and digital gaming.

During Dickson’s tenure, Mattel has grown some of the world’s most powerful and purpose-driven brands. Among these are Barbie, the most diverse line of fashion dolls and the brand that inspires the limitless potential in every girl, and Hot Wheels, an ever-changing line of vehicles that encourages the challenger spirit in every child.

Under Dickson’s leadership, the company developed and launched the Mattel Playbook, a brandbuilding approach that has been instrumental in driving the turnaround and growth of Mattel’s Power Brands. In 2021, Barbie was the number one toy property globally; Hot Wheels was the number one vehicle property globally; and Fisher-Price was the number one infant, toddler and preschool property globally, per The NPD Group.

Previously, Dickson was president and CEO of branded businesses for The Jones Group. Prior to Jones, Dickson spent ten years at Mattel in senior management positions.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 12 p.m. EST Keynote

Eric Ellenbogen has spent over 30 years managing some of the most enduring IP in media and entertainment. He has held senior executive roles as president of Broadway Video Enter tainment, president of Golden Books Family Entertainment and president and CEO of Marvel Enterprises before its acquisition by Disney. In 2000, with the backing of private equity, he cofounded Classic Media, which became one of the largest private owners of branded kids’ and family entertainment and was acquired by DreamWorks Animation (DWA) in 2012. At DWA, Ellenbogen became co-head of DreamWorks Classics and DreamWorks International Television and was key to the company’s entry into the television business. Following DWA’s sale to NBCUniversal, Ellenbogen became co-president of Classic Media, which was restarted as a business unit of NBCUniversal. Ellen bogen was a board director of Golden Books and Marvel, then both public companies.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 12 p.m. EST Keynote

Eric Ellenbogen CEO & Vice Chair WildBrain

Frank Falcone President & Executive Creative Director Guru Studio

Frank Falcone has been bringing film and tele vision projects to life as an animator, director and executive producer for over 25 years. Under his creative vision, Guru Studio has become a leader in character-driven storytelling and high-quality animated entertainment for kids and families around the world. Guru’s roster of hit shows includes the global phenomenon PAW Patrol, True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Big Blue, Justin Time , Ever After High and most recently Mecha Builders , the Sesame Street animated spin-off. Falcone also served as an executive producer on the Academy Award-nominated film The Breadwinner, where, under his watchful eye, Guru’s team contributed visual development that brought the rich “story world” sequences to life. Falcone recently co-created the preschool series Pikwik Pack, which launched on Disney Junior in the U.S. and Treehouse in Canada.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 10:30 a.m. EST Money Matters

Yannick Ferrero is a digital, commercial, business strategy and operations executive with a passion for data combined with significant management and business development experience within the tech/media industry. Ferrero has a strong track record in building successful teams, growing businesses and delivering targets.

At Entertainment One, Ferrero is in charge of digital distribution for one of the most popular kids’ brands’ portfolios worldwide—consisting of Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, PJ Masks, Transformers, Power Rangers, Baby Alive, Play-Doh and more— across online video, social and AVOD platforms, with 3 billion-plus views monthly in more than 40 languages.

Ferrero was previously group director of com mercial and digital at Endemol Shine Group and director of analytics and business operations at Yahoo!

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 1:30 p.m. EST Making Sense of YouTube

Yannick Ferrero

Fitzpatrick Chairman & Founder

Monster Entertainment

Among Monster Entertainment’s flagship TV series are The Day Henry Met, which the company has sold in 193 countries, with four seasons produced; and Earth to Luna!, in production of its seventh season and sold in 100 countries.

Monster is also a producer, with credits that include the successful TV series I’m a Monster, I’m a Fish and I’m a Creepy Crawly . Monster copro duced The Travels of a Young Marco Polo and Rocka-Bye Island. It has developed two new animated feature films and is working on raising the funding. At Cartoon Forum 2013, Monster won the European Distributor of the Year award.

Monster’s catalog also includes animation such as the Oscar-winning Harvie Krumpet and the Oscarnominated The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello.

Before Monster, Fitzpatrick ran the Don Bluth companies, which included Europe’s largest animation studio, employing over 420 people, for over ten years, holding various positions, including that of chairman before the company’s takeover by News Corp. Prior to Don Bluth’s closure in Ireland, Fitz patrick put together a consortium that made a fully financed bid to acquire the studio and its library.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 9 a.m. EST Spotlight: U.K. & Ireland

Andrew

CAKE is a leading independent entertainment company specializing in the production, distribution, development, financing and brand development of kids’ and family properties. With over 25 years of experience, Ed Galton has worked all over the world for leading producers and distributors, including in Paris as VP of international sales at Gaumont and subsequently as VP of business development for French animation house Xilam; in London and Hamburg as COO for Igel Media; and in New York at Fox Lorber Associates as director of international sales.

Galton is an executive producer on several kids’ shows, including the Emmy-nominated Angelo Rules ; Mush-Mush & the Mushables ; CBeebies’ pioneering animated series Pablo, created, written and voiced by autistic talent; and Angry Birds: Summer Madness on Netflix. Galton is also a board member of Animation UK.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 10:30 a.m. EST Money Matters

Ed Galton CEO

CAKE

Dominic Gardiner CEO

Dominic Gardiner founded Jetpack Distribu tion in 2014 with studio production partner Samka Productions. It has become a leading distributor of global kids’ shows, including Alice’s Diary , Critters TV , Mechamato , Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed, Moley, Clangers, Wolf , Talking Tom and Friends and Kitty is Not a Cat .

The company prides itself on working in partnership with kids’ content producers. As well as finding the best homes for their shows, it consults on a range of areas, from financing to marketing, helping producers build the profile of their work. Jetpack offers a bespoke and flexible service tailored to the individual needs of each producer.

Gardiner previously held various senior-level roles in London and Tokyo at global TV and enter tainment companies, including The Walt Disney Company as director of acquisitions, and Turner, where he was the channel manager of Cartoon Network.

Gardiner’s areas of expertise within the media industry include acquisitions, programming, scheduling, creative, production, operations, marketing, digital and business development.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 9 a.m. EST Spotlight: U.K. & Ireland

Jetpack Distribution

Ahighly respected animation executive, Athena Georgaklis leads the acquisition of rights and the development of all original content for Nelvana. Georgaklis is committed to developing creator-driven content that will resonate with kids of all ages and find a home in all markets, working with the studio’s producers, creators and talent around the world. She helmed the creation of Nelvana’s The Most Magnificent Thing, DNAce, Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel , The Hardy Boys liveaction series and many more to come.

Georgaklis has worked in Canadian broadcast and production for more than 22 years. Before Nelvana, she oversaw all original animation production for Corus Entertainment’s kids’ networks, supervising the development and production of Canadian content in both English and French. During her time, she led the production and development of hit shows like Johnny Test, Camp Lakebottom , Mysticons , 6TEEN , Cupcake and Dinosaur, Rocket Monkeys and the Total Drama Island franchise.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 3 p.m. EST Getting Creative

Athena Georgaklis Head, Development Nelvana

Sean Gorman President Cloudco Entertainment

Cloudco Entertainment is the IP-ownership, brand-management and entertainment company spun out of American Greetings (AG) in 2018.

Before becoming president of Cloudco, Sean Gorman served as AG’s head of development and production, helping develop, produce and secure the financing of several TV series around companyowned heritage brands such as Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake , as well as newer IP like Packages from Planet X for Disney and Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese, now in season three production for CBBC in the U.K. and France’s Gulli.

Gorman began his entertainment career at CBS Television and has held management, development and production positions at The Hatchery, Radar Entertainment and Harvey Entertainment.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 1:30 p.m. EST Making Sense of YouTube

Kevin and Dan Hageman are brothers and sworn blood enemies who have momentarily brokered peace to write and produce some of the most beloved animated franchises in film and television.

They’re executive producers and showrunners of the Star Trek: Prodigy animated TV series for Para mount+ and Nickelodeon. On the feature side, the brothers are writing the sequel to their 2019 Guillermo del Toro horror hit Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and a live-action feature adaptation to the arcade classic Dragon’s Lair for Netflix.

Most recently, they co-wrote the Golden Globenominated film The Croods: A New Age for Dream Works Animation. They were co-executive producers and showrunners of the Netflix series Trollhunters for del Toro and DreamWorks

Anima tion. In its second season, the Hagemans won an Emmy for best outstanding writing in an animated program. They wrote and executive produced the film finale, Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans.

Before that, the Hagemans co-created The LEGO Movie and worked closely with the Danish toy company to write and executive produce LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu for Cartoon Network.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 1:30 p.m. EST Star Trek: Prodigy ’s New Frontiers

Showrunners

Star Trek: Prodigy

Kevin & Dan Hageman Executive Producers &

Julie Kalceff Creator, Writer & Director

First Day

Jul ie Kalceff is an Emmy Award-winning writer and director. Her credits include First Day (seasons one and two), which she created, wrote, directed and co-produced. Season one won an International Emmy Award, a Rose d’Or and a GLAAD Media Award and was nominated for two AACTA Awards (Australian Academy Awards). Season two was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding young teen series, an AACTA Award, the MIPCOM Cannes Diversify TV Award and an ADG Award (Australian Directors Guild).

Kalceff was a director on the feature film anthology Here Out West, which opened the Sydney Film Festival in 2021, and pilot director on The PM’s Daughter season two. Kalceff created, wrote, directed and produced Starting from Now , the global hit digital drama series that amassed over 190 million views.

Kalceff is in development on a slate of projects and working as a director on episodic television.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 1:30 p.m. EST First Day’s Firsts

With many years of experience in televi sion production and content creation, Marianne Lambert is an expert at cre ating content for kids that is fun and inviting. Ful bilingual, she has worked in many areas of kids’ TV: first as a host, then writer, director, producer, executive producer and broadcaster.

In her role at TVO, she managed the TVOkids YouTube channels and was an executive producer for many TVOkids co-productions. Now at TFO, Lambert is responsible for overseeing develop ment and production for Canadian co-productions as well as acquiring content for TFO’s programming schedule (kids, films and documentaries).

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 9 a.m. EST The Decision-Makers

Director, Acquisitions & Co-Productions

Lucy Murphy Director, Kids’ Content, U.K. & Ireland

Lucy Murphy is responsible for Sky’s kids’ content across all platforms, which includes eight live partner channels, a library of over 10,000 on-demand episodes and the forthcoming Sky Kids channel, which will launch in 2023, housing brand-new originals and franchise favorites.

Murphy’s role includes acquisitions and commissions of original content for kids aged 1 to 12 in all genres, including games and interactive.

Recent commissions have included awardwin ning shows such as the preschool animation Pip and Posy ; the BAFTA-winning news show FYI ; a spin-off from the iconic Morph series, The Very Small Creatures ; the animated series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates; and a drama series for older children, Jacqueline Wilson’s Little Darlings.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 9 a.m. EST The Decision-Makers

Sky

Peabody , Humanitas, NAACP and Emmy Award-winner Chris Nee is the creator and executive producer of Doc McStuffins, an imaginative animated series about a 6-year-old girl who is a doctor to her stuffed animals and toys. She also developed for television and executive produced the hit animated series Vampirina.

In 2018, Nee began her overall multiyear deal at Netflix, where she now writes and executive produces across animation, kids, teens and adults. Nee’s first project announcements at Netflix include Ridley Jones ; Ada Twist, Scientist ; and We the People—which she is producing with Higher Ground Productions, with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama serving as executive produc ers—and Spirit Rangers, which is created and executive produced by Native American Karissa Valencia and has an entirely Native writing staff.

Nee has received 20 Emmy Award nominations and won an Emmy in 2002 for her work on Little Bill. Doc McStuffins won the Peabody Award in 2014. Nee began her career as an associate producer at Sesame Street International and spent time in Mexico, Fin land, Israel and Jordan, working on the local productions of the award-winning show before transitioning over to writing for Sesame Workshop.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 3 p.m. EST Creative Keynote

Chris Nee Creator & Executive Producer

Francesca Newington Director,

POP Channels

Francesca Newington oversees content acquisitions, programming and development strategy across the linear over-the-air channels POP, Tiny Pop and POP Max, the digital AVOD service POP Player and the newly launched POP Kids FAST channel.

Newington sources and negotiates content acquisition while identifying new growth opportunities within the portfolio, including in-house content creation, brand development strategies and co-production/commissioning.

Having joined the POP channels in 2006, New ington saw them through their sale to Sony Pictures Television in 2014. After becoming head of kids’ networks, she steadily grew the portfolio, resulting in POP becoming the number one commercial kids’ broadcaster in the U.K. Newington returned to the channel group in 2021 after it was acquired by Narrative Entertainment. Before joining the POP channels, Newington spent four years working in children’s TV production on series including Art Attack.

SESSION

Friday, February 10, 9 a.m. EST TV Kids Pioneer Award

Narrative Entertainment

Traci Paige Johnson is the Emmy-nominated executive producer and showrunner of the incredibly popular preschool series Gabby’s Dollhouse from DreamWorks Animation, now streaming on Netflix.

Paige Johnson has been a leader in children’s television for over 25 years, previously serving as co-creator and director on Nickelodeon’s breakthrough Emmy-nominated series Blue’s Clues, in which she also voiced the show’s star, Blue. She continues in these roles on the Nick Jr. reboot Blue’s Clues & You! and the recently released feature film Blue’s Big City Adventure.

She served as co-creator and creative director on PBS KIDS’ hit show Super Why! and Prime Video’s Creative Galaxy , where she invented all the original crafts showcased. Paige Johnson also acts as creative director for PBS KIDS’ Emmywinning series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

A multiple Emmy Award nominee and Parents Choice Award winner, Paige Johnson is now thrilled to be playing in DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse, which was born out of her love for cats and all things miniature.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 10:30 a.m. EST Inside Gabby ’s Dollhouse

Traci Paige Johnson Creator & Executive Producer

Gabby ’s Dollhouse

Sirvin

Producer & Head, International Dandelooo

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

Friday, February 10, 10:30 a.m. EST Smarter Kids

Shabnam Rezaei founded Big Bad Boo Stu dios to produce and distribute quality family programming. Rezaei produced and directed the Hulu original series The Bravest Knight , winner of 2020 GLAAD Award. She also created and directed original shows such as 16 Hudson (Prime Video/TVOkids), the miniseries

Lili & Lola (Oznoz/ICI TV) and ABC with Kenny G.

Rezaei started her career producing the series Mixed Nutz and her first creation was 1001 Nights.

Based in Vancouver and New York, the compa ny’s own streaming channel Oznoz provides cartoons in ten-plus languages, including Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder, Babar and more.

Rezaei spent ten years in the financial software industry in New York and London at Fortune 500s such as Deloitte & Touche and Misys. She has been featured on CBC, CNN, Forbes, BBC, FOX, the New York Times and NPR.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 10:30 a.m. EST Money Matters

Shabnam Rezaei

Co-Founder

Big Bad Boo Studios

Paul Robinson Managing Director, Kartoon Channel!

Paul Robinson is an accomplished and seasoned media executive with significant experience developing media brands around the globe. Robinson previously served as managing director of Disney Channels Worldwide, where he was responsible for global programming and production strategy. He also founded the Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney televis ion channels internationally. Before his tenure at The Walt Disney Company, Robinson was head of strategy for BBC Network Radio, overseeing the strategy development for BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Live. Additionally, he has served as managing director of talkSPORT; co-founder and CEO of KidsCo, NBCU niversal’s international children’s channel; and executive VP of Your Family Entertainment, in which Genius Brands acquired a controlling stake.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 1:30 p.m. EST Making Sense of YouTube

Worldwide Genius Brands International

Shaleen Sangha has been a part of the Boat Rocker team since 2017. As a VP of Boat Rocker Studios’ kids and family unit, Sangha oversees the day-to-day operations of its Toronto division with a focus on creative devel opment and production. Sangha has a passion for content and focuses on building meaningful, heartfelt stories that resonate with today’s youth.

Sangha was executive producer of The Next Step season seven and a CSA nominee as super vising producer of The Next Step season six. Sangha has served as a creative executive on series such as A Tale Dark and Grimm , The Strange Chores , Polly Pocket , Chip and Potato , Chuck’s Choice , Doozers , Looped and many more. Sangha was instrumental in building online content for many of the series on her slate, including Chuck’s Choice: Choose Your Own Pet Adventure and the Addison: The Invention Detective app. In addition to her roles in development and production, Sangha has been a writer, director and producer of awardwinning short films, including Nayan and the Evil Eye, which garnered 15 awards worldwide. Sangha also has experience in sales and contracts administration in her prior roles at Cinemavault Releasing and Microsoft Canada.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 3 p.m. EST Getting Creative

Shaleen Sangha VP, Content Boat Rocker

Studios, Kids and Family

Ira Singerman VP, Development

Cyber Groups Studios

USA

Ira Singerman has had the privilege of working on or helping create some of the most successful and culturally impactful kids’ and family brands in the world.

Singerman started his career in the feature film business as a creative executive at Warner Bros. Pictures and Miramax Films. He followed that with a nine-year run at Mattel. After Mattel, Singerman was VP of development and production at Universal Kids & Family Productions, leading the group’s preschool slate. Singerman led development for Spin Master Entertainment.

As VP of development for Cyber Groups Studios USA since May 2018, Singerman is charged with building and leading a slate of animated projects across all age targets and genres. He collaborates closely with the development and production teams in the Paris, France, studio to ensure all projects have universal appeal, quality storytelling and world-class production values. He is supervising the production of Press Start!, an animated series launching on Peacock based on the best-selling Scholastic book series.

Abrand-builder, creator, executive producer and Primetime Emmy Award-winning television producer, Halle Stanford leads the development and production of all television, home entertainment and digital media in animated and live-action formats at The Jim Henson Company.

Stanford recently executive produced the Emmy Award-winning series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, the short-form series Fraggle Rock: Rock On!, Slumberkins and Harriet the Spy, all for Apple TV+. She also exec produced the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, for which she won an Emmy Award. Her recent children’s programming executive producer credits include Duff Goldman’s Happy Fun Bake Time for discovery+/Food Network; Dinosaur Train: Adventure Island for Universal Entertainment and PBS KIDS; the Emmynominated series Dinosaur Train on PBS KIDS; the award-win ning Netflix original Word Party and spin-off series Word Party Presents: Math!; Splash and Bubbles for PBS KIDS; the NBCUniversal Kids/CBC animated series Dot. , based on Randi Zuckerberg’s popular book; and the NBCUniversal/ Hulu original preschool show Doozers, inspired by the wildly popular characters from the classic series Fraggle Rock.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 12 p.m. EST Keynote

Halle Stanford President, Television

The Jim Henson Company

First Day

Kirsty Stark is an Emmy Award-winning television producer whose screen credits include children’s series First Day (winner of an International Emmy, Rose d’Or, Prix Jeunesse, GLAAD Award and Kidscreen Award); the 13-time AACTA award-winning drama series Stateless (co-producer for Matchbox Pictures); the feature film A Month of Sundays (Madman Pro duction Company) and the ABC iview series Goober, Unboxed and Wastelander Panda.

Through her production company, Epic Films, Stark has a track record of breaking new ground with her work. She has served on the board of the Mercury CX and the ACS SA committee and presented multiple industry workshops and keynotes, including at SXSW and TEDxAdelaide. Stark loves working within the overlap between creative practice, strategic thinking and personalized support and is currently building CrewHQ, a nationwide crewing platform for the Australian screen industry.

SESSION

Thursday, February 9, 1:30 p.m. EST First Day’s Firsts

An internationally respected media execu tive with over 20 years of experience, Muriel Thomas is the international distri bution director for Magic Light Pictures. Thomas has headed up Magic Light’s international distribu tion business since 2011, overseeing the internation sales activities from presale to the management and exploitation of existing and future content across all platforms. Magic Light is renowned for its BBC One Christmas animated specials based on the best- selling The Gruffalo series of books by Julia Donald son and Axel Scheffler. In addition, the company directly manages production, licensing, global distribution and marketing and runs an international merchandising program for The Gruffalo series. Recent Magic Light productions include BBC One Christmas animated specials The Smeds and the Smoos; Superworm; Zog and the Flying Doctors; the BAFTA-winning The Snail and the Whale; the Emmy-winning Zog; Oscar-nominated and BAFTAwinning Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes; Stick Man; and the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning Room on the Broom. Also launched is Magic Light’s first animated preschool series, Pip and Posy. A slate of live-action dramas is also in development.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 9 a.m. EST Spotlight: U.K. & Ireland

Magic Light Pictures

International Distribution Director

Jen nifer Twomey is the Emmy-nominated executive producer and showrunner of the incredibly popular preschool series Gabby’s Dollhouse from DreamWorks Animation, now streaming on Netflix.

Twomey has been a leader in preschool television for over 25 years, serving as creator, showrunner, writer and development executive on numerous top-rated shows, including Nickelodeon’s breakthrough series Blue’s Clues; Team Umizoomi; the Emmy Award-winning series The Upside Down Show; Super Why; and Amazon’s preschool show Creative Galaxy. Twomey also worked as a senior production and development executive for Nick elodeon Preschool Television, overseeing current series and developing new content. While there, she launched Jack’s Big Music Show and created over 50 live-action music videos, helping to establish Nickelodeon’s preschool music brand. She is a Peabody Award winner, a multiple Emmy Award nominee and a recipient of the Gold and Silver Parents Choice Awards. Gabby’s Dollhouse is the result of inspiration from her childhood love of dollhouses as well as the grit and determination of her real-life daughter Gabby and a dream project for Twomey.

Jennifer Twomey Creator & Executive Producer

Gabby ’s Dollhouse

As the founder of an independent produc tion company, Kenn Viselman believes it’s necess ary to be agile and strategic about every choice that the venture makes. Its team is rec ognized worldwide for discovering emerging talent, helping them think out of the box to find their way into the spotlight and giving them the direction they need to stay there for as long as possible.

Kenn Viselman Presents... is a full-service company that is actively soliciting new international partnerships to exploit some of its original works and taking the opportunity to search for the next great idea from would-be creators around the globe.

The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company (TibECo) was formed to bring smiles to children of all ages in as many mediums as possible. The initial focus was television and the exploitation of the ancillary categories. Whether the brand was created in-house or was a service deal for third-party creators, it worked with some of the most talented people in the industry. North American distribution and marketing for both MeteoHeroes and the recently launched video game MeteoHeroes: Saving Planet Earth! are managed by TibECo in partnership with the show’s co-producers, Mondo TV and leading weather forecasting center Meteo Operations Italia (MOPI).

SESSION

Friday, February 10, 10:30 a.m. EST Smarter Kids

Founder

The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company & Kenn Viselman Presents...

Da ncer and filmmaker Emma Watkins began her performance career at the age of 3, nurturing her love of dance and movement, performing ballet, Irish, hip-hop, tap and contemporary dance. After dancing in productions around Australia, France, India, Canada, China and New Zealand, Watkins joined the Australian children’s entertainment group The Wiggles.

Watkins’ passion for movement and body expression expanded to an interest in sign language and raising awareness of Australia’s deaf community, having grown up with a best friend with two deaf brothers. Watkins has pursued studying sign language, completing her diploma of Auslan (Australian sign language) and currently studying for a diploma in interpreting at Deaf Connect and a Ph.D. at Macquarie University in Sydney, focusing on the affective, artistic integrations of sign language, dance and film editing.

SESSION

Friday, February 10, 1:30 p.m. EST Creative Keynote

Emma Watkins Creator & Star

Emma Memma: Sing. Dance. Sign.

Co lin Williams is a BAFTA-winning children’s television creator, showrunner and writer. He founded Belfast-based Sixteen South in 2007 to create, produce and distribute quality televi sion, and his work can be seen on all major networks across the globe.

Williams has created and produced 600 episodes of award-winning children’s television, which have picked up over 50 international awards, including the coveted Prix Jeunesse, two Emmy nominations, a British Animation Award and a BAFTA.

Williams created and produced the hit mixedmedia animated series Lily’s Driftwood Bay, sold to Nick Jr., KiKA and 120 other countries; created and produced WildWoods, a live-action puppet sitcom for Hulu; devised Claude, based on the popular books for Disney Junior EMEA; co-created Sesame Tree, a co-production with Sesame Workshop; created Big City Park on CBeebies; and executive produced Pinkalicious & Peterrific for PBS KIDS, Pajanimals for Universal Kids and Big and Small for CBeebies.

Williams leads original development with two of his new shows, Odo and The Coop Troop , in production and a busy slate of others in development with networks.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 9 a.m. EST Spotlight: U.K. & Ireland

Founder & Creative Director

Sixteen South

David B. Williams Senior VP & General Manager, Channels pocket.watch

At pocket.watch, David B. Williams is charged with winning fans and growing franchises on streaming video platforms. With 25 years at the frontiers 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.

SESSION

Tuesday, February 7, 1:30 p.m. EST Making Sense of YouTube

Kay Wilson Stallings oversees Sesame Street and all Sesame Workshop shows, as well as the development of new programs and content across existing and emerging platforms. She also leads creative for domestic production and partners with global teams to enrich and expand Sesame Workshop’s presence worldwide.

Wilson Stallings greatly expanded the Workshop’s impact through animation, with specials including The Monster at the End of This Story and Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy, as well as new shows such as Mecha Builders—the first CGI-animated spin-off of Sesame Street—and the preschool comedy series Bea’s Block. New animated literature-based miniseries are in development, beginning with the E.B. White classic Charlotte’s Web.

She was most recently the senior VP of creative development at Sesame Workshop, where she developed the first new Sesame Workshop shows in nearly a decade: Esme & Roy, Helpsters and Ghostwriter. Wilson Stallings created Sesame Studios, a YouTube channel hosting a broad mix of original stories, songs and other Sesame-quality kids’ content.

Before joining Sesame Workshop, Wilson Stallings was senior VP of production and development at Nick Jr.

SESSION

Wednesday, February 8, 3 p.m. EST Getting Creative

Kay Wilson Stallings Executive VP, Chief

Production & Creative Development Officer Sesame Workshop

Bruno Zarka President, Distribution, Syndication & Live Action

Toonz Media Group

Awell -known figure in the media and entertainment industry, Bruno Zarka heads the content distribution arm of Toonz Media Group. With over 20 years of experience in the industry at the senior management level, Zarka has expertise in entertainment production and broadcast. His portfolio includes some impressive credits, including international hits like Masha and the Bear, Zafari and Naruto. Before joining Toonz, Zarka held the position of CEO at London-based Nucleus Media Rights. Before that, he held senior positions such as senior VP of media at Ink Group and senior manager of distribution, acquisitions and co-productions at Panini Media.

SESSION

Friday, February 10, 10:30 a.m. EST Smarter Kids