CMC Teams with China International Cartoon & Animation Festival

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SHEFFIELD/HANGZHOU: Next month, the Children’s Media Conference (CMC) is expanding into the Chinese kids’ media market through a partnership with the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival (CICAF).

CMC is organizing and producing two conference sessions at the CICAF market, which takes place every year in Hangzhou. CICAF is an official government-supported event attended by broadcasters, online platform operators and producers of animation in the Chinese market. CMC has assembled a team of professionals to represent the U.K. in the CMC@CICAF sessions being held from April 26 to 28.

Alice Webb, the director of BBC North and BBC Children’s, will be giving a keynote at the conference on how the pubcaster plans to overcome the digital challenges presented by young audiences. There will also be a panel featuring Olivier Dumont, the managing director of Entertainment One Family; Helen Howells, joint managing director of Hoho Entertainment; and Jean-Philippe Randisi, the CEO of Zodiak Kids. The execs will discuss their existing and planned relationships with Chinese partners as well as the potential for further developments between the U.K. animation industry and the Chinese market.

Sarah Baynes, CEO of the Creative Garden consultancy and deputy chair of the CMC Advisory Group, will promote the Sheffield Conference (July 5 to 6) and the potential for Chinese representation at the International Exchange (July 4). All U.K. delegation members will have a series of meetings at CICAF with key Chinese companies organized by CMC partner The Media Pioneers.

Greg Childs, CMC’s editorial director, said: “This creates more solid foundations for the bridge between the U.K. and China, which is important for both sides. With the arrival of the U.K.-China co-pro treaty, there couldn’t be a better time to build connections, which is what the CMC is always about. Taking our uniquely curated approach to conference content into the heart of the Chinese animation industry and attaching to that some high-level executives who are looking to do business or make creative partnerships are the perfect early steps.

We’ll bring U.K. expertise, talent and creative skills to the attention of the Chinese market not only in the conference content but in the networking and meetings which surround it. It’s a set-up we and our clients understand. We’ll also use our presence at the event to work with DIT to identify potential Chinese companies to attend the CMC and the International Exchange in Sheffield in July. We’re very excited about building this two-way bridge.”

Maggie Liang, the managing director of The Media Pioneers, added: “We’re pleased that the CMC@CICAF speakers will form the core of a larger group attending CICAF from the U.K. Speakers of this caliber will attract a significant audience at this huge event, and the resulting meetings could be extremely advantageous to both sides. Companies wishing to join the group on this pilot mission should contact us via our website to find out about the fee structure and travel arrangements.”