TV KIDS SUMMER FESTIVAL 2025

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Tuesday, June 3

• 9 a.m. EDT
  Paramount’s Louise Bucknole
  Kicking off a series of conversations with leading programmers, the TV Kids Summer Festival will open with Louise Bucknole, general manager and senior VP for kids and family at Paramount UK & Ireland, on evolving Milkshake! to meet the needs of British preschoolers across all platforms.
• 10 a.m. EDT
  CBC’s Marie McCann
  Putting a spotlight on the crucial role played by pubcasters, we’ll hear from Marie McCann, senior director of children’s content at Canada’s CBC.
• 11 a.m. EDT
  Nickelodeon’s Ashley Kaplan
  As executive VP of unscripted and digital franchise studio at Nickelodeon, Ashley Kaplan drove the rollout of the network’s first original series for YouTube: Kid Cowboy.
• 12 p.m. EDT
  pocket.watch’s Chris M. Williams
  Amid booming interest in the creator economy, we’ll hear from Chris M. Williams, founder and CEO of pocket.watch, about bringing YouTube content to broadcast and streaming platforms and building multiplatform franchises.

Wednesday, June 4

• 9 a.m. EDT
  Live-Action Appeal
  Spotlighting successful formulas for high-end live-action shows for teens, this panel will convene ZDF Studios’ Oliver Grundel, ZDF’s Nicole Keeb and Cottonwood Media and Federation Kids & Family’s David Michel to talk about the crucial role of collaboration in this space.
• 10 a.m. EDT
  Creative Spirit
  With Martin Pope, joint CEO of Magic Light Pictures, and Grainne McNamara, VP of development, live action and animation at BBC Studios Kids & Family, we’ll take an in-depth look at how two purveyors of high-quality fare in the U.K. are meeting the needs of a business in transition. 
• 11 a.m. EDT
  Sigma Girl Media’s Amy Takahara
  Formerly at Netflix, Amy Takahara, with her consultancy Sigma Girl Media, is helping kids’ content creators navigate the new realities of the business.
• 12 p.m. EDT
  Disney Branded Television’s Gino Guzzardo
  Gino Guzzardo, VP of multiplatform content, will share with TV Kids Summer Festival viewers how Disney Branded Television is serving its audiences across platforms with a wealth of short-form content.

Thursday, June 5

• 9 a.m. EDT
  Indie Gains
  Dandelooo’s Emmanuèle Pétry, Serious Kids’ Genevieve Dexter, MIAM! animation’s Hanna Mouchez and Tulipop Studios’ Helga Árnadóttir will share their insights on managing boutique independent producers and distributors.
• 10 a.m. EDT
  Going Digital-First
  Independent media consultant Emily Horgan will be back at the TV Kids Summer Festival to lead this conversation on different approaches to digital-first content, enlisting the insights of family programming powerhouse 9 Story Media Group’s Elianne Friend and digital-native outfit TheSoul Publishing’s Francesco Miceli.
• 11 a.m. EDT
  Trend-Watching with Dubit
  Dubit will bring its market intelligence to the TV Kids Summer Festival with this closing session as CEO Ian Douthwaite and team members Laura Dudley-Gough and Benjamin Sumner reveal new research on kids’ media habits and tips for how IP owners can explore opportunities in gaming.

Friday, June 6: Screenings Day

• ZDF Studios’ Theodosia
  It’s 1905. Theodosia Throckmorton is the daughter of two Egyptologists, excavating in the Valley of the Kings. When Theo and her younger brother stumble on a hidden tomb and a mysterious artifact, she unlocks the power to see and perform true magic.
• ZDF Studios’ Magic Moves
  Could learning magic tricks within an intensive rehab program help children with hemiparesis? Ten children spend two weeks at a magic camp with the Ehrlich Brothers and a team of 20 doctors, researchers and therapists. At the end of the camp, the kids demonstrate their newfound skills to their friends and family.
• ZDF Studios’ Gong! My spectRacular Life
  Gong! My spectRacular Life, a production by KiKA, has been honored with a nomination for a prestigious International Emmy Award, one of 56 nominees across 14 categories. This heartfelt dramedy dives into the unique experiences of Eileen, a 10-year-old girl with autism, and how she navigates life, offering a refreshing perspective on neurodivergence.
• Pocket.watch’s Love, Diana Musical Mysteries
  Diana and Roma are back again to keep boredom at bay. Whenever a new problem needs solving in the Land of Play, the dynamic sibling duo must use their imagination and critical-thinking skills to solve three puzzles that unlock the clues they need to save the day.
• Pocket.watch’s Toys and Colors Kaleidoscope City
  Starring global sensation Toys and Colors, a magical world where kids learn to see the world through new perspectives.
• Pocket.watch’s Ryan’s Mystery Playdate
  In the top-rated, Emmy-nominated series, kid video superstar Ryan Kaji and his parents and animated friends work together to identify a mystery guest.
• Magic Light Pictures’ The Gruffalo
  A mouse takes a stroll through the woods. Encountering three predators who want to eat him, the mouse must use his wits to survive.
• Magic Light Pictures’ Tiddler
  A little fish with a wild imagination gets lost in the sea and must rely on his stories to find his way home.
• HARI’s The Weasy Family
  Blending laugh-out-loud slapstick with heartwarming family moments, this chaotic yet sweet comedy provides fun for kids and parents alike.
• 9 Story Media Group’s Let’s Go Bananas
  Three sweet, silly, diverse families share each other’s lives, loves, triumphs and tantrums in relatable tales told by their five funny and fabulous kids.
• MIAM! distribution’s Highlight Reel
  MIAM! distribution holds exclusive worldwide media distribution rights for a diverse catalog of over 30 animated programs produced by more than 20 talented independent producers. These programs feature engaging and inclusive stories for preschoolers, kids, adults and families alike, reflecting MIAM! distribution’s commitment to meaningful storytelling and its impact for a better future.