Keynotes, pan­els & case studies

Please find below the first conferences confirmed.

More keynotes, panels, and case studies will be announced soon.

Cartoon Business 2025: A time for pragmatism and resilience to:

  • Deconstruct and reinvent!
  • Explore new opportunities and ways of working!
  • Embrace a spirit of collaboration and, above all, a sense of optimism!

From Traditional to Digital: The ever-evolving Face of Distribution.

About the panel

Speakers: Charles Courcier, Founder of Soupir (France) and Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger, Managing Director & Project Manager of the Animation Hub (Slovakia)
Moderator: TBC

Cartoon Business explores the latest distribution models being employed today and the increasing importance of digital, complimenting traditional methods, as part of a company’s tool kit. We talk to Charles Courcier, co-founder and commercial director of Soupir Distribution, about their strategies and the software / the technological tools they’ve developed to showcase IP owner’s content on YouTube and across other platforms, grow audiences and maximise revenues. And we hear how an innovative and ambitious Animation HUB, with new business tools to service content, distribution, and sales, is being launched in CEE, with the support of Creative Media Europe.

How BBC Studios Kids & Family is growing the next generation of global animated hits?

About the keynote

Speakers: Cecilia Persson, Managing Director at BBC Studios Kids & Family (United Kingdom)
Moderator: TBC

A behind-the-scenes look at how content powerhouse, BBC Studios, is blending creative innovation with commercial strategy to grow the next generation of global animated hits. Whether you're a creator with a fresh idea or an IP owner seeking to scale, this keynote from Cecilia Persson, MD of BBC Studios Kids & Family, will unpack what BBC Studios has to offer.

The Creator Economy Means Business!

About the keynote

Speakers: David Kleeman, SVP Global Trends at Dubit (US)
Moderator: TBC

User-generated content (UGC) on gaming platforms like Roblox has evolved from kids’ games to powerful business tools. With a diverse, growing user base and wide-ranging new and known IP, these universes now support brand activations, fandom-building, and real-world commerce. This Cartoon Business session will use Dubit research and game-building case studies to explore how animation studios, producers and creators can test or launch IP, expand storytelling, invite fans to interact with content, host in-game events, and sell “verchandise.” There are untapped opportunities on platforms many still underestimate!

In the Footsteps of the talented Women Shaping Animation!

About the panel

Speakers: Kristine Knudsen, CEO and co-founder of Knudsen Pictures (Germany) and Den siste skilling (Norway), Marta Alonso Lisbona, Co-founder and Producer at Teidees Audiovisuals (Spain) & Perrine Gauthier, Producer and Founder at La Cabane (France) / Thuristar (Belgium)
Moderator: TBC

Cartoon Business celebrates the female founders and female entrepreneurs, who are shaping our animation industry. We hear how they started out, how they finance their companies, the challenges and the opportunities, with their advice for those looking to follow in their inspiring footsteps.

Partnering with the creator economy to build the next generation of kid’s franchises: how Mediawan is transforming digital first content into dynamic cross-media IP’s.

About the case study

Speakers: Nicolas Fisch, Producer Digital First at Mediawan (France)
Moderator: TBC

Cartoon Business celebrates the female founders and female entrepreneurs, who are shaping our animation industry. We hear how they started out, how they finance their companies, the challenges and the opportunities, with their advice for those looking to follow in their inspiring footsteps.

Cartoon Business explores why edutainment programming is so important for children & parents in our world today.

About the panel

Speakers: Joe McCulloch, Producer at BBC (United-Kingdom) & Telidja Klaï, Content Manager at VRT-Ketnet (Belgium)
Moderator: TBC

Learn how key broadcasters are serving their needs and why there’s a growth in successful content to address this critical market. Joe McCulloch, Producer at the BBC will take us on a journey through their innovative Edutainment offerings, starting with CBeebies for pre-schoolers and their CBeebies Parenting initiative, helping little ones learn and grow through play; to CBBC and Bitesize, for school children up until their late teens, entertaining and supporting both children and their parents through each stage of their development. Meanwhile Telidja Klaï, Content Manager & Developmental Pyschologist at VRT-Ketnet, will inspire with their strategy to”Stimulate & To Inspire the Dreams of the Do-ers of tomorrow.” Supporting & nourishing the development of children from pre-school to teens, with entertaining shows that add value & include implicit educational benefits. Find out what kind of content works & what opportunities might exist.

How the business of animation is developing and growing in the CEE, even attracting private investment, bucking some of the trends elsewhere in Europe. And why navigating the commercial & "real world" challenges in the region requires resilience & fresh thinking.

About the keynote

Speakers: Jiri Mika, Partner & Producer at PFX (Czech Republic), Jakub Karwowski, CEO of Letko (Poland) & Olga Cherepanova (Ukraine)
Moderator: TBC

Cartoon Business talks to some of the inspiring Founders and CEO’s as they forge ahead with new strategies, new approaches to financing, and tangible examples of success. We ask what can be learned from their experience. Jiri Mika from PFX in the Czech Republic, talks about his business expansion via acquisition of complimentary companies, across Europe and further afield. Jakub Karwowski of Letko, Poland, shares his company vision, resulting in an award-winning pre-school IP & successful co-production, followed by a new show, fully financed out of Poland. And Olga Cherepanova explains how she is launching a new business venture from the Ukraine, building on her experience in animation, publishing, and advertising, with a focus on growing new-generation multi-media projects for children, both B2C and B2B, with innovative approaches to formats, monetisation and distribution.

The great YouTube debate.

About the panel

Speakers: Alfonso de Ascanio, Operations Director at Amuse Studios (Spain), Jiella Esmat, CEO of 8 Lions Entertainment (United Kingdom) & Charles Courcier, Founder of Soupir (France)
Moderator: TBC

Many producers today see YouTube as the “Holy Grail”. More companies than ever before are talking about pivoting to shortform and digital first, YouTube content. But are they too late to the party and, importantly, do they have the wherewithal, the resources, the skills and the flexibility to adapt to this new production and distribution model? YouTube has grown exponentially and some of the original paradigms are under examination. We debate the business of YouTube with leading exponents and specialists in the digital and YouTube space, with valuable takeaways for producers and others, looking to move onto the platform.