TV Kids Summer Festival Agenda

Running from June 7 to 10, TV Kids Summer Festival is a FREE event focused on the major challenges and opportunities at play in the children’s media business today.

Sign up for your free registration to attend here.

We have 35 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.

Need to convert the times below for where you are? Click on the times above the name of each session to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Monday, June 7

• 9 a.m. EST
  In the Public Interest
  Covid-19 emphasized the importance of a strong educational core for kids’ television, and pubcasters are leading the way. This session will spotlight the strategies of PBS KIDS’ Linda Simensky, Rai’s Luca Milano, BBC’s Sarah Muller and DR’s Niels Lindberg.
• 10 a.m. EST
  Keynote: Mattel’s Ynon Kreiz
  Under Ynon Kreiz’s leadership as chairman and CEO, Mattel has stepped up its efforts to capture the full value of the company’s iconic IP portfolio, creating global franchises that extend beyond the toy aisle. Stay tuned for a sneak peek at Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday immediately following the keynote.
• 11:30 a.m. EST
  Keynote: YouTube’s Nadine Zylstra
  The head of family, learning and impact at YouTube Originals, Nadine Zylstra will share how she is partnering with top YouTube creators and producers to develop hit original series for the platform.
• 12:30 p.m. EST
  Keynote: ViacomCBS’s Maria Kyriacou
  As president of ViacomCBS Networks UK and Australia, Maria Kyriacou will share her insights on the company’s thriving kids’ businesses in those markets—including Milkshake!, Nick UK and 10 Shake—and discuss its landmark “no diversity, no commission” policy.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  Changing the Face of Kids’ TV
  Lion Forge’s David Steward II, Big Bad Boo’s Shabnam Rezaei and Safi Ideas’ Wa’qaar Mirza on how they are ensuring that kids’ television reflects the lives of all kids around the world.
• 3 p.m. EST
  The Magic of Sesame Street
  Sesame Workshop has been enriching the lives of children across the globe for more than five decades. In this fun session, we’ll hear from the iconic Cookie Monster, followed by a Q&A with Ed Wells, EVP and head of global media and education.

Tuesday, June 8

• 9 a.m. EST
  Keynote: WarnerMedia’s Tom Ascheim
  The president of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, Tom Ascheim will provide an update on the latest developments at Cartoon Network and Boomerang, highlight the kids’ slate at HBO Max and discuss collaboration between Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation.
• 10:30 a.m. EST
  Oh Canada!
  WildBrain’s Josh Scherba, Guru Studio’s Frank Falcone, marblemedia’s Mark Bishop, Portfolio’s Joy Rosen and Atomic Cartoons’ Richard Goldsmith weigh in on consumption trends, financing challenges and global expansion.
• 12 p.m. EST
  Keynote: Disney’s Ayo Davis
  As executive VP of creative development and strategy at Disney Branded Television, Ayo Davis will discuss the live-action slate she oversees for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  Panel & Premiere: ZDF Enterprises’ Space Nova
  SLR’s Suzanne Ryan, Super RTL’s Lisa Albers and ABC Australia’s Michael Drake will discuss how the new animated co-pro came together ahead of the premiere of the show.
• 3 p.m. EST
  Anatomy of a Hit
  The Total Drama franchise has charmed kids across the globe. In this session, we’ll hear from Fresh TV’s Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch and CAKE’s Ed Galton on how the brand is still going strong.

Wednesday, June 9

• 9 a.m. EST
  Keynote: M6’s Philippe Bony
  The head of thematic and youth channels at M6 Group, Philippe Bony will outline the strategies the company has put in place to keep its market-leading portfolio at the forefront of the French kids’ sector.
• 10:30 a.m. EST
  Keynote: Aardman’s Sean Clarke
  The managing director of the acclaimed British animation studio, Sean Clarke will discuss its commitment to innovation, nurturing talent, philanthropic initiatives and opportunities for growth.
• 12 p.m. EST
  In the AVOD Stream
  This super-session will look at the massive kids’ AVOD opportunity from both the platform and distribution perspectives. In the first half, we’ll hear from WildBrain Spark’s Jon Gisby and Roku’s Ashley Hovey on working with content and ad partners, while in the second part, Jetpack Distribution’s Dominic Gardiner and Xilam Animation’s Charles Courcier will discuss the complexities and rewards of AVOD licensing deals.
• 1:30 p.m. EST
  Keynote: 9 Story’s Vince Commisso
  Vince Commisso, the president and CEO of 9 Story Media Group, will weigh in on the strategy for building brands, the company’s focus on diversity and representation and managing a business amid the pandemic.
• 3 p.m. EST
  TV Kids Pioneer Award: ZDF’s Nicole Keeb
  The head of international co-productions, development and acquisitions for children and youth at ZDF will be honored for her contributions to the children’s programming industry with a TV Kids Pioneer Award.

Thursday, June 10: Screenings Day

• 9 a.m. EST
  Premiere: Mondo TV & Toon2Tango’s The Wee Littles
  The Wee Littles is about a tiny family of four, living in the forest, handling their compact size with their own unique and inventive flair. Ahead of the premiere, Mondo TV’s Luana Perrero and Toon2Tango’s Jo Daris give a behind-the-scenes look at how the series came together.
• 11 a.m. EST
  Premiere: Dandelooo’s The Upside Down River
  The Upside Down River is an adventure story based on the cult youth novel by Jean-Claude Mourlevat featuring a breathtaking quest for the one magical drop of water from the River Qjar that allows for eternity.
• 12 p.m. EST
  Premiere: ACTF’s Hardball Season 2 & The Inbestigators
  In season two of Hardball, Mikey and the gang go on a huge adventure to win against the best players in the state in the prestigious handball tournament—Staties! The Inbestigators is a mystery detective comedy series. When 10-year-old Maudie, a freakishly gifted observer of human behavior, forms a detective agency with her classmates Ezra, Ava and Kyle, no school or neighborhood crime is left unsolved.