TV Kids Festival Agenda Now Available

Running from February 1 to 4, the TV Kids Festival is a FREE event focused on the major trends in the children’s media business today.

Sign up for your free registration to attend here.

We have 32 fantastic speakers lined up for this event. You can see the full agenda below. The panels and keynotes will be available live and on-demand.

Don’t miss out on hearing insights from some of the kids’ content community’s leading producers, distributors, commissioners and creators.

Tuesday, February 1

• 9 a.m. EST 
  Hit Seekers 
  WarnerMedia’s Adina Pitt, KiKA’s Sebastian Debertin, M6’s Maud Branly and CBC’s Marie McCann share their strategies for finding the best properties the international market has to offer.
• 10:30 a.m. EST 
  Keynote: DreamWorks Animation’s Peter Gal
  As the chief creative officer for television at DreamWorks Animation, Peter Gal will discuss the studio’s approach to developing resonant, compelling content for Netflix, Apple TV+, Peacock, Prime Video, Hulu and other platforms worldwide. Stay tuned after Gal’s keynote for a sneak peek at a new show from NBCUniversal Global Distribution.
• 12 p.m. EST 
  Creative Keynote: Bluey’s Joe Brumm
  Originated in Australia, Bluey, created by Joe Brumm, has won the hearts of preschoolers across the globe.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  Keynote: WildBrain’s Josh Scherba
  The president of WildBrain, Josh Scherba will weigh in on how the kids and family giant is evolving amid changes in the market.
• 3 p.m. EST 
  Keynote: Common Sense Networks’ Eric Berger
  As CEO of Common Sense Media’s for-profit arm, Eric Berger architected the launch of Sensical, a new AVOD platform that arrived on the scene last year with a slew of high-end content partnerships in place.

Wednesday, February 2

• 9 a.m. EST 
  Little Learners
  Genevieve Dexter, founder and CEO of Serious Kids and Eye Present; Jetpack Distribution CEO Dominic Gardiner; Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin, partner and producer at Dandelooo; and Daniel Bays, VP of development at CAKE, on the keys to appealing to preschool audiences.
• 10:30 a.m. EST 
  Creative Keynote: Aardman’s Nick Park
  A co-director at Aardman and a four-time Academy Award winner, Nick Park will discuss his creative approach to megahit properties such as Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit.
• 12 p.m. EST 
  Keynote: Mattel’s Fred Soulie
  As senior VP and general manager of Mattel Television, Fred Soulie oversees a slate of content inspired by the toy giant’s treasure trove of IP. Immediately following Soulie’s keynote, TV Kids Festival participants will be treated to a full episode of the brand-new Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  Behind the Scenes of Alma’s Way
  Sonia Manzano, best known for her long run on Sesame Street, and Ellen Doherty, the chief creative officer at Fred Rogers Productions, on their new PBS KIDS preschool show Alma’s Way.
• 3 p.m. EST 
  Engaging Kids Today
  Deirdre Brennan, COO of WildBrain, and Frank Falcone, president and executive creative director at Guru Studio, participate in a candid conversation about navigating the complexities of the kids’ business today.

Thursday, February 3

• 9 a.m. EST 
  Panel & Premiere: The McFire Family
  Pierre Sissmann, chairman and CEO of Cyber Group Studios, and Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle, head of content for M6 Group’s kids’ channels in France, give a behind-the-scenes look at the animated series The McFire Family ahead of the premiere of the show.
• 10:30 a.m. EST 
  TV Kids Pioneer Award: M6’s Philippe Bony
  TV Kids is honoring Philippe Bony, general manager of thematic TV channels at M6 Group and president of Gulli, for his achievements in the kids’ business with this year’s Pioneer Award.
• 12 p.m. EST 
  Keynote: eOne’s Olivier Dumont
  Olivier Dumont, president of eOne Family Brands, leads the creation and production of an array of leading kids’ properties, including the megahit Peppa Pig.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  Creative Keynote: Alice’s Wonderland Bakery’s Chelsea Beyl
  Disney Junior’s Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, executive produced by Emmy-nominated writer and producer Chelsea Beyl, is inspired by the classic Alice in Wonderland.
• 3 p.m. EST 
  The Atomic Spirit
  As Thunderbird Entertainment’s Atomic Cartoons division steps up its activities in Canada and across the globe, Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO; Matt Berkowitz, president and chief creative officer; and Richard Goldsmith, president of global distribution and consumer products, share details on the company’s expansion strategies.

Friday, February 4

• 9 a.m. EST 
  French Flair 
  Raphaëlle Mathieu, senior VP of sales, acquisitions and new media at Cyber Group Studios; Corinne Kouper, senior VP of development and production, co-founder and executive producer at TeamTO; and David Sauerwein, producer and co-owner of Zephyr Animation, APC Kids’ production arm, discuss the latest developments in French animation.
• 10:30 a.m. EST 
  Keynote: Studio 100’s Hans Bourlon
  Studio 100, led by CEO and co-founder Hans Bourlon, operates across all segments of the kids’ business, from animation studios and a distribution arm to theme parks, TV channels and a successful L&M operation.
• 12 p.m. EST 
  Keynote: pocket.watch’s Chris M. Williams
  The founder and CEO of pocket.watch, Chris M. Williams will discuss how the company is mining YouTube to deliver a new generation of kids’ IP.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  The Kidoodle.TV Way
  The AVOD platform’s chief content officer, Brenda Bisner, will weigh in on her approach to securing the best properties for audiences.
• 3 p.m. EST 
  That’s a Wrap!
  Anna Carugati, our group editorial director, offers up a closing message and checks in with a pair of delightful young ones in the extended TV Kids family about what they’re watching!