Speakers
Live Event Speakers


As Senior Vice President, Entertainment Unscripted Development, Crime and Documentary Development, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, Cori Abraham oversees all unscripted crime and documentary development across NBCU’s broadcast, cable and streaming platforms: NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, USA and Peacock. She reports to Rachel Smith, Executive Vice President, Development, Entertainment Unscripted...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - True Crime


Pamela Aguilar
VP, Original Documentaries MTV Entertainment Studios: Smithsonian Channel, MTV, VH1
Paramount
Pamela A. Aguilar is Vice President of Original Documentaries at Paramount. In this role she’s responsible for strategy, development, and execution of new and innovative multi-platform unscripted content across the MTV Entertainment Group Studio, with a primary focus on the Smithsonian Channel, MTV, VH1, and Paramount+. She also establishes new partnerships for...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Pamela Aguilar, Smithsonian Channel


Isaac Ahn
Sr. Director, Entertainment Unscripted Development
NBCUniversal Television & Streaming (Documentary and Crime)
Isaac Ahn serves as Director, Entertainment Unscripted Development for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming where he creates, evaluates, and identifies upcoming programming across the company’s entertainment platforms, which include Bravo, E!, NBC, Oxygen, SYFY, USA, Universal Kids and Peacock. Ahn reports to Jenna Rosa, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Unscripted Development for...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - TLC, NBCUniversal, Corus; 30 Minutes With: Isaac Ahn, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming


Shaan Akbar is manager of development for MotorTrend Group, a Warner Bros. Discovery company, responsible for leading long form program development for MotorTrend+ and MotorTrend TV including guiding the process from pitch to production, and from creative to negotiations and finance.
Akbar first joined Discovery Channel in 2007 as a marketing...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two


At just 25 years old, award-nominated actor, producer, singer, and television personality Kalen Allen has catapulted into the mainstream media, reaching millions of people worldwide across his social media platforms and through his content online. Discovered in 2018 by renowned talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Allen first made a name...show more
Speaking on: Formagination


Speaking on: Genre Jams - True Crime


Lauren Appelbaum is the VP, Communications and Entertainment & News Media of the disability nonprofit RespectAbility. As an individual with an acquired nonvisible disability – Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – she regularly conducts trainings on the why and how to be more inclusive and accessible for entertainment executives throughout the industry.
Appelbaum...show more
Speaking on: CASE STUDY: DEAF U (presented by DIALOG); VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


As the Senior Manager of Unscripted Development, Mallory develops original unscripted formats for Nickelodeon linear, digital, and AwesomenessTV and leads creative efforts throughout production and post. In addition to her development work, she’s been a producer of Tooned In, Group Chat, and Unfiltered - all Nickelodeon series with multi-season orders....show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Virtual Speed Pitching - Nickelodeon, CBC, PBS


Avi has been working in the television and film business for more than 20 years. He began his tenure when he founded JCS Productions, which has grown to be Israel's largest independent production house. Prior to Armoza, Avi was the VP of Content and Business Development at Israel’s leading Media Company,...show more
Speaking on: Formagination


Betsy Ayala currently serves as Senior Vice President of Production & Development for HGTV and discovery+ Home where she oversees the development and production team. She is credited with the success of such hit series as Rock the Block, Home Town Takeover, Good Bones, Windy City Rehab, No Demo Reno,...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables; Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition


Lindsey Ayotte is Head of Strategic Development at TVF International, the world's leading independent distributor of unscripted and documentary programming. She oversees a team of twelve global sales and acquisitions executives and manages the company's pre-sale, co-production and digital strategies. Having emigrated from the U.S. to the U.K. at age 18,...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers


Speaking on: View From The Top: Chasing, or Chased by Change?


As SVP, Production & Development, Love Nature, Alison Barrat provides a leading role in finding, developing and commissioning new projects for Love Nature’s growing slate and is responsible for executing programming strategies for the brand’s international channels through development and production. She also oversees all production management and post production...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - Love Nature, CuriosityStream, WEtv; Coffee + Commissioners; Genre Jams - Natural History; 30 Minutes With: Alison Barrat, Love Nature


Loren started her career as a sales executive at Indigo Film & Television, selling to multiple territories across factual, fiction and kid’s content to international broadcasters around the world. After three years, Loren moved to Off the Fence as an Acquisitions Executive and is based in their London office.
Five years...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - ITV Studios Global Entertainment, Off the Fence, Lucky You; Meet an Expert - Distributors


With offices in London, Hampshire and Bristol, Woodcut Media, is one of the leading Indies in the UK, producing a broad range of factual programming. A leading true-crime producer (The Killer Within, Murdered at First Sight, Murder at My Door with Kym Marsh, The Beverley Allitt Tapes, The Killer in My Family, World’s...show more
Speaking on: Trendwatch: What’s Next in M&A


Tracy Beckett is the Commissioning Editor of Content Acquisitions for PBS Distribution and International. She is responsible for acquiring a wide array of factual content from independent producers from around the world for the PBSd catalogue. She looks for finished films as well as high-quality projects to raise financing...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Mimi Blanchard has been in the Viacom family for over 15 years, making the leap from Home Entertainment & Acquisitions to Original Programming in 2009. While under the Home Entertainment & Acquisitions umbrella, she was responsible for the successful release of all BET Music Programming DVD tentpole specials including Celebration...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Mimi Blanchard, BET Networks; Virtual Speed Pitching - NBCUniversal, BET, Smithsonian


Anna Bloomfield is Senior Director of Development for HGTV and is responsible for developing new talent, series, and specials for the top-performing cable network.
Prior to this role, Bloomfield worked in development and production at Momentum Content where she oversaw a slate of high-profile projects and sold content to History Channel,...show more
Speaking on: Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition


Alexandra Böhm is the Head of international Coproduction at the Munich based factual content house AUTENTIC. The company focuses on high-quality documentaries and factual series for the German and international market. Autentic covers the entire value chain of the factual genre, from development, production, co-financing and traditional distribution to operation...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Simone Boyce is a rare gem of a broadcast talent, who masterfully pivots between hard news and entertainment reporting. She's a nationally recognized correspondent and host, whose work has been featured on MTV, MSNBC, the Today Show, Access Hollywood and more. Simone led MSNBC's live coverage of the Harvey Weinstein...show more
Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


Andrea Brakke is the VP of Programming Strategy & Acquisitions for VICE TV. In this role she’s responsible for the strategic planning of the network across all platforms, including, linear, sites & apps, and VICE’s FAST channels. Additionally, she is responsible for all acquisitions made by the network across series,...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables; Cocktails with... VICE


Christian has led US development at Rare TV since 2016. During that time he has created, developed and won series commissions from the Smithsonian Channel, Discovery Science and National Geographic. These include 'Ice Airport Alaska' 8x60', now in SE3 (which he also executive produces) 'Inside Mighty Machines' 6x60' for the...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Paul Buccieri is President & Chairman of A+E Networks Group, home to some of the most powerful brands in media including A&E, Lifetime, The History Channel, LMN, FYI and Vice TV. A+E Networks’ content reaches more than 335 million households in over 200 territories in 41 languages. Buccieri oversees all aspects...show more
Speaking on: Realscreen Awards: Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony


Adam Bullmore is Managing Director of October Films, one of the UK’s fastest growing, truly independent production companies with offices in London and Los Angeles. Adam has overseen and executive produced recent award-winning, innovative content including The End of The Storm for Sky Films, Discovery and Altitude; This Is Football...show more
Speaking on: Keeping It Real: New Challenges for Doc-makers


James Burstall is the CEO of Argonon, the UK’s second-largest independent global production group
headquartered in London, Los Angeles, New York, Glasgow and Liverpool. Founded in 2011, the
group consists of eight production companies producing hundreds of hours of content across all
genres for broadcasters, streamers and brands every year,...show more
Speaking on: Trendwatch: What’s Next in M&A


Breonna Carrera is the Vice President of Unscripted Development at World of Wonder – the pop culture capital of the world and home to the Emmy® Award winning series, RuPaul’s Drag Race! In this role, she oversees a robust slate of projects and is responsible for the development of new talent, series, and...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


M&C Media President/CEO Michael Cascio has executive experience in successful television programming, production, journalism and communication. As SVP/EVP at A&E, Animal Planet, MSNBC and National Geographic, he created and supervised many award-winning and popular programs: Investigative Reports, Brain Games, Biography, American Justice, Dog Whisperer, Doomsday Preppers, and landmark specials Inside...show more
Speaking on: Keeping It Real: New Challenges for Doc-makers


Founded by Jim Casey, Painless Productions has a reputation as a bold, innovative provider of hands on and filmmaker led non-fiction programming.
Since launching over 25 years ago, the company has produced a long list of genre-busting series across a wide variety of genres, including over 200 episodes of The Dead Files (Travel), Fright Club (discovery+), Reasonable Doubt (ID), My Haunted House (LMN), Hot Properties: San...show more
Speaking on: Meet a Mentor: Jim Casey, Painless Productions


Meghan Cassin is Vice President of Content for Magnolia Network, the media joint venture between Chip and Joanna Gaines’ home and lifestyle brand Magnolia and Discovery Inc. In this role, she oversees production and development of original series and specials in the lifestyle space.
Previously, she was responsible for animal specials...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Meghan Cassin, Magnolia Network; 30 Minutes With: Meghan Cassin, Magnolia


Kimberly Chessler is Vice President, Unscripted Programming, of Lifetime. Based in New York, she is responsible for developing and overseeing the production of non-fiction projects for the network.
Chessler, who joined Lifetime in 2010, has been responsible for overseeing some of Lifetime’s biggest unscripted hits including all seasons of Dance Moms and its...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables; Cocktails with... Lifetime


Donna is the Managing Director of DSP where she oversees development and production. Formats she’s created at DSP include Interior Design Masters (BBC/Netflix) and The Fitting Room (RTE).
Prior to DSP Donna was Head of Commissioning, Formats and Features at the BBC. Whilst at the BBC her commissions included Full...show more
Speaking on: Reality Refresh


Based in New York, Sydney Clover is the Senior Director of Development for National Geographic. In this role, she works alongside the global production community to develop original premium content for the brand.
Prior to National Geographic, Clover served as the Director of Development at Discovery Channel in New York where...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - Game Show Network, OutTV, National Geographic; 30 Minutes With: Sydney Clover, National Geographic


Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


David Collins is a six-time Emmy award-winning producer of hundreds of hours of groundbreaking content over the last 25 years. He is the co-creator and Executive Producer of critically acclaimed series like the voguing competition show Legendary (HBO Max), pop culture phenomenon Queer Eye (Netflix), and its predecessor, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Bravo). In...show more
Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: Representing with Reality - Scout Productions, HBO Max and Dashaun Wesley


Camilla is the Commercial Director at Greenbird Media, a UK TV production company incubator, investor and business accelerator working across all genres of content including entertainment, factual entertainment, factual, drama and comedy.
With a background as a producer and developer of global formats Camilla focusses on production finance, IP exploitation and...show more
Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers


Brandy Crawford-Uriu is a director of development and programming at The HISTORY Channel and is responsible for developing new talent, series, and specials at the network. After a previous seven-year stint at History on the programming and development team, she left to spread her wings in development on the production...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables; Speed Pitching One


Laura Crowson
VP of Development, Factual Brands (Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel)
Warner Bros. Discovery
Laura is based in Los Angeles and works alongside domestic and international producers to develop prime-time series for the US networks and across multiple platforms, while helping to steer strategy for new projects.
During her time with the Discovery Factual team across Discovery, Science, Animal Planet, and discovery+, Crowson has been...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Coffee + Commissioners


Braden Currier is an agent in the Non-Scripted Department at WME. He started his career at WME 10 years ago, working for Lance Klein, Rick Rosen, Lee White and Scott Henderson. He represents clients such as Elan Gale, Marshawn Lynch, Renegade 83, Cream Productions, and Academy Award winning production company,...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Agents


As Commissioning Executive for Red Bull Studios, Dominique oversees a broad mix of programmes from premium sports and character-led documentaries to global music, dance and adventure formats. Based out of the UK, she co-commissions with other UK broadcasters as well as fully financing a slate of international shows.
Prior to joining...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


As Vice President, Creative Strategy, Blockchain Creative Labs, Jamal Dauda oversees creative development and strategy for FOX Entertainment’s Web3 studio, which provides content creators, IP owners and brands end-to-end Web3 solutions to build, launch, manage and sell Non-Fungible Token (NFT) and fungible token content experiences directly to their fanbase and
Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends


As SVP, Acquisitions and & Co-Productions at Beyond Rights, Nicola is responsible for identifying and securing great content for Beyond to distribute internationally. As such, she works closely with producers at every stage of the development process. Working across all of Beyond’s acquisition and pre-sale projects and strategies she is...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Ed has over a decade of broad experience developing and producing factual content in Canada and the United States. As an executive producer at History Channel US he developed original series and oversaw legacy shows including Ax Men, Doomsday: 10 Ways The World Will End, Milwaukee Blacksmith, Counting Cars and more. While at...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Wes Dening is a multiple award-winning producer and Executive Vice President of Eureka Productions, overseeing series including Holey Moley (ABC), Dating Around (Netflix) Finding Magic Mike (HBO Max), Twentysomethings: Austin (Netflix), Full Bloom (HBO Max) and Crikey! It’s The Irwin’s (Animal Planet). Wes has developed, sold and produced original content...show more


Originally from the UK, Rupert Dobson is a BAFTA-Nominated veteran producer and development executive who has worked across multiple genres and platforms.
As Executive Vice President of Development, Bunim/Murray Productions, he oversees all of the studio's development efforts, including entertainment formats for broadcast, cable and premium streaming platforms, and most recently...show more
Speaking on: Reality Refresh


James DuBose is an innovative visionary and thought-leader known for producing culture-shaping content and sharing the voice and lived experiences of Black people around the globe. DuBose built his career anchored in four fundamental pillars: inspire, educate, uplift, and entertain black audiences.
DuBose is a North Carolina native, and he attributes...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: James DuBose, Fox Soul; 30 Minutes With: James DuBose, Fox Soul


Havva Eisenbaum is OWN’s Vice President, Development for Unscripted Programming, and reports to Drew Tappon, Head of OWN Unscripted Development, Programming & Specials. Eisenbaum oversees the development of the network’s unscripted slate of African American female focused programming, including series, special programming, and TV movies.
Prior to OWN, Eisenbaum was Head...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching One; Cocktails with... OWN


Rob Eric is an award-winning television, film, and music producer of over two decades of critically-acclaimed projects, including the voguing competition series Legendary (HBO Max), and the Emmy-winning cultural phenomenon Queer Eye (Netflix). Eric executive produced the streetwear competition show The Hype (HBO Max), a reboot of The Quest (Disney+),...show more
Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: Representing with Reality - Scout Productions, HBO Max and Dashaun Wesley


Shane Ertter serves as the Manager of Content Development for VICE TV, the joint venture with A+E Networks, formerly known as VICELAND. Shane joined VICE in 2019, working as Network Production Coordinator for all internal projects, liaising with 3rd party production companies on series and one-offs. In his current role,...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Cocktails with... VICE


Eric Evangelista is the founder of Hot Snakes Media and runs the production company alongside his wife, Shannon Evangelista. Since starting Hot Snakes Media in 2011, the husband-and-wife team have produced thousands of hours of popular programming, including the two highest-rated freshman seasons of any series in the history of...show more
Speaking on: CASE STUDY: DEAF U (presented by DIALOG)


Having initially joined BMP as an intern on The Real World in 2003, Steve spent the first half of his career serving as the Director of Photography for over 30 different projects across a variety of networks. In 2014, Steve transitioned to producing, eventually taking over the Showrunner role on...show more
Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends


A part of the Cream Productions team since 2010, James has been dedicated to finding and developing unique television projects that connect and resonate with audiences hungry for original content. In his time at Cream, James has led a development department that crafts specials and series in a broad variety...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Toby Faulkner is Senior Vice President of Content for discovery+. Formerly Head of Unscripted at Facebook Watch where he oversaw hit series including RED TABLE TALK, CARDI TRIES ____ and PEACE OF MIND WITH TARAJI. Faulkner began his career as a journalist with BBC Radio, working at ITV in the...show more
Speaking on: Streaming and Unscripted: Where to Grow from Here?


Cynthia Fenneman is President and CEO of American Public Television (APT), the leading syndicator of high quality programs to U.S. public television's 356 stations. APT Worldwide, a division of American Public Television, is a major provider of quality, non-fiction content to the worldwide market. With more than 30 years of...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CBC, Smithsonian, American Public Television & Create TV; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Cynthia Fenneman, American Public Television & Create.tv


Jodi Flynn is the President of The Content Group, an Asylum Entertainment Group company.
In her role, Flynn oversees a diverse slate of both scripted and unscripted programming for broadcast channels, cable networks and OTTs.
Since joining the company in 2019, TCG has developed and produced the original...show more
Speaking on: Meet a Mentor: Jodi Flynn, The Content Group


Zara Frankel works in PBS Programming as the Director of Programming and Development. She collaborates extensively with filmmakers, production companies, and new talent to develop interesting and innovative content across genres for PBS. Prior to her current role, Zara served as the Development Manager for PBS Programming, evaluating submissions and...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - Nickelodeon, CBC, PBS; Speed Pitching One; VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - National Geographic Channel, PBS, Food Network


Jorge Franzini serves as the VP of Original Content, Development and Programming for Curiosity’s original programming slate. His main duties are identifying potential series and one-offs for the service and its global pay-tv channels. As a member of the programming team, he acts as a liaison with outside production companies...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - Love Nature, CuriosityStream, WEtv; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Jorge Franzini, Curiosity Stream


Lauren Frasca is SVP, Strategy and Content at Magnolia Network, Warner Bros. Discovery's joint-venture with Chip and Joanna Gaines. She came to the role from Facebook’s Creative Shop Studio team, where she worked with networks, studios and other IP owners such as Conde Nast, Disney, Group 9, and Refinery29 to...show more
Speaking on: Reality Refresh


Mike Gelles grew up in Los Angeles and got his first taste of the film and TV space at the age of 12, he was instantly hooked. After graduating from California State University, Northridge, Mike first moved into the Unscripted space working for Bill Thompson (Head of Unscripted, Verve Talent...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Agents


Based in Los Angeles, Rabih Gholam has been heading the Alternative Department at Innovative Artists since late 2020. Before joining Innovative, he was most recently Executive Vice President of Development at Evolution Media, the force behind The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules and Botched franchises. As President of...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Agents


A six-time Emmy award winning journalist and television host, Nancy Glass is CEO and Executive Producer of Glass Entertainment Group (GEG).
Headquartered in Philadelphia, GEG is a full-service production company specializing in unscripted television, film production, new media content and podcasts. Since launching 20 years ago, the company has produced over...show more
Speaking on: Reality Refresh


Dan Goldsack, executive vice president of development at the award-winning unscripted production company Magical Elves, is a BAFTA-nominated development executive and showrunner with a prolific track record of developing global formats and premium unscripted series of scale.
An industry veteran, Goldsack has produced A-list talent and nurtured new stars, has run...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - Food


Alexis Gomez-Garcia joined leading US-UK producer Lightbox in April 2021 as VP, Development.
Based in Los Angeles, Alexis is responsible for growing the company’s slate of premium returning series, limited series and feature documentaries for streamers and broadcasters, building on recent successes such as Hip Hop Uncovered for FX, Supervillain for...show more
Speaking on: Keeping It Real: New Challenges for Doc-makers


Sean Gottlieb is Vice President, Development and Programming for A&E, where he oversees development and production of non-fiction programming for the network. He joined A&E in April 2014.
An Emmy® Award-winning producer with over 20 years’ experience, Gottlieb developed and is Executive Producer of I Survived A Serial Killer, Taking the...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CNBC, A&E, VICE TV; Genre Jams - True Crime; Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition


Richard Gray is a Managing Director at ACF Investment Bank. We specialize in selling, buying, fundraising, and pre and post deal services for businesses in intellectual property, content creation, international distribution, and we work at the intersection of talent and brands.
He is a co-founder and co-owner of the business with over...show more
Speaking on: Trendwatch: What’s Next in M&A


Spencer Griffin, Just For Laugh’s Head of TV Development, has sold and developed scripted and unscripted projects for HBO, Amazon, Hulu, Starz, CW, SyFy, NBCU, Sony Pictures Animation, Freeform, TruTV, E!, CBC, Comedy Central, Audible & more. And has been an Executive Producer for shows Adam Ruins Everything (TruTV), Comedy...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


As Director of Alternative Programming at Lionsgate, Cara Groom oversees the development and production of Lionsgate’s unscripted slate across all platforms. Cara begins her fifth year at Lionsgate, where she has helped champion many series, including HBO Max’s upcoming House of Ho and Netflix’s Selling Sunset. She is responsible for...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Carolyn Gross is Director of Programming & Development, charged with developing new formats and talent, and overseeing the production of series, pilots and specials for Food Network, Cooking Channel and D+. Throughout her tenure at Food Network, Carolyn has led hit series and holiday tentpoles including Chopped, Holiday Baking Championship,...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables


Kate Harrison Karman is President of Cream Productions.
Based in Toronto, Cream develops, finances and produces distinctive and award-winning content across a wide range of TV and digital platforms in North America and internationally.
Among the company’s many credits include Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (Netflix), The Story of Late Night (CNN), Fear Thy Neighbor (ID), BTK: A Killer Among Us (ID), Wild Things with...show more
Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


Paul Heaney is co-founder and CEO of BossaNova, a company that brings together the producers and buyers of TV entertainment in an integrated hub, creating a community that enables all of the stake-holders in the content chain to meet, create and do business. Heaney has a strong track record in...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Karin Heijink is Senior Vice President of Content, Marketing and Products at leading international broadcaster Viasat World. Her key focus is channel management across the company’s full portfolio of factual, drama and entertainment brands. Karin leads teams which define and roll out the content acquisition and aggregation strategy, harnessing the...show more
Speaking on: Coffee + Commissioners


Mioshi Hill is president of Sirens Media, the award-winning ITV America company behind unscripted hits including Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Snapchat favorite Nikita Unfiltered, among many others. Hill leads all creative development and production for the Los Angeles-based label, overseeing a roster of content that encompasses a variety of...show more
Speaking on: Formagination


Naimah Holmes has served as Vice President of Factual Content for Discovery Network during the transformational launch of discovery+ and through the merger with Warner Bros. She has excelled as a lead content developer with more than five freshman series in less than one year, including PIG ROYALTY, LOVE OF THE...show more
Speaking on: CASE STUDY: DEAF U (presented by DIALOG)


Nikolas Hülbusch studied Film history and Slavic languages at Bochum (Germany) and Katowice (Poland) Universities. He published several articles and two books (including his PhD thesis) on documentary and feature film history.
He joined ZDF Enterprises in 1997. In 2001, he took over a new position as project manager for documentary...show more
Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers; Coffee + Commissioners


Marcie Hume is Senior Executive Producer for A&E, responsible for creating and developing new series for the network. She joined A&E in August 2017.
Hume began her documentary career at the BBC in London, and has created and produced a range of series for the BBC and Channel 4...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables; Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition; 30 Minutes With: Marcie Hume, A&E


Amy Introcaso-Davis is Executive Vice President, Development and Production, Factual Programming, Discovery. In this capacity, Introcaso-Davis oversees all aspects of Discovery factual development, including discovery +, and development and production for Animal Planet, which includes strategy across all formats and platforms. She also works closely with the creative community to deliver the highest...show more
Speaking on: View From The Top: Chasing, or Chased by Change?


Phil Irven is a Partner and Co-owner for non-scripted programming at Vital Artists Agency. He represents production companies, executive producers, and directors for talk, game, and reality television shows. In addition to servicing Vitals’ clients, Phil also packages shows for networks, cable, digital platforms, and syndicated television. His producer and...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Agents


Andrew Jeffrey is Realscreen’s news editor, and has worked with the magazine since April 2021. He joined the publication after working as a reporter and associate producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) office in his hometown of Edmonton. Prior to that, Jeffrey worked as a reporter for the StarMetro...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - Natural History


Rachel Job is SVP Non-Scripted Content at All3Media International and works with both All3Media group companies and third party independent producers to identify and acquire content for international distribution and co-production.
Previously, Rachel was Director of Programming at A+E Networks for HISTORY and H2 channels in the UK and EMEA. She...show more
Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers; Meet an Expert - Distributors


Emmy Award-winning producer, Melanie Capacia Johnson is the president of NEO Studios U.S., where she leads all IP development and production services for the company. NEO Studios, part of Aser Venture’s ELEVEN Group, is a full-service global production studio dedicated to premium, original sports-centric content. Leveraging the power and reach of ELEVEN...show more
Speaking on: Scoring a Hit with Sports Content


Casey Kelly, Vice President of Unscripted Development for Blue Ant Studios, oversees all aspects of Blue Ant’s unscripted development pipeline. Prior to joining Blue Ant officially, Kelly already worked with the company as a consulting development producer, focusing on premium documentary series for the U.S. and Canadian markets. Kelly has...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Raja Khanna is the Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Dark Slope, a metaverse company developing new forms of entertainment for television and games using motion capture, virtual production, game-engines and immersive technologies. Dark Slope produces prime time “hyper reality” TV productions and near real-time animation for streaming and broadcast networks...show more
Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends; VIRTUAL: Say Goodbye, Say Hello


Samuel Kissous is the founder and president of Pernel Media, a creative and diverse independent TV production company listed as a “Realscreen Global 100” company in 2019 and 2020. Headquartered in Paris and with offices in London, the company produces a wide range of original factual programs as well as adaptations...show more
Speaking on: Trendwatch: What’s Next in M&A


Bert Klasey is the Senior Director of Development for Discovery Channel, overseeing the creation and development of unscripted series. Over the course of his career, Klasey has developed and produced a number of hit shows including Diesel Brothers for Discovery and The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch for History Channel. Previously,...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Bert Klasey, Discovery Channel


In his role, Klein oversees documentary programming for the UK and international broadcasters. Most recently, the company produced documentaries including The Women of 9/11 for ABC News, The 80s - Music’s Greatest Decade? For BBC Two, Oti’s South African Odyssey for BBC One, among many more.
Throughout his long and illustrious career,...show more
Speaking on: Keeping It Real: New Challenges for Doc-makers


As Vice President, Original Content, Rachel Koehler brings a holistic and creative approach to Tubi’s content strategy, leveraging a wide range of industry experience and expertise across programming development, content acquisitions and digital sales. With a keen eye for splashy and breakthrough content, Koehler most recently helped lead Tubi’s debut...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Rachel Koehler, Tubi


Carson Kressley
TV personality, style expert, fashion designer and New York Times best-selling author
Emmy-Award winning TV personality, style expert, fashion designer and New York Times best-selling author are some of the credits of the multi- talented and unforgettable Carson Kressley. He can currently be seen as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. Carson can currently be seen reunited with his Queer Eye cast-mate...show more
Speaking on: Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition


Robyn Lattaker-Johnson is an alternative programming agent at A3 Artists Agency. With more than 20 years as a senior network executive, content creator, producer and team leader, Lattaker-Johnson is harnessing her abilities to navigate network operations, identify top talent, close the trickiest of deals, and give her signature care to...show more
Speaking on: View From The Top: Chasing, or Chased by Change?; Meet an Expert - Agents


Derren Lawford, former Creative Director of Woodcut Media has launched DARE Pictures, a cutting-edge production company with a focus on creating a broad range of premium content with diversity and inclusivity at its core for the UK and international market.
Headquartered in London, DARE Pictures covers documentaries, drama, film and podcasts,...show more
Speaking on: Meet a Mentor: Derren Lawford, Dare Pictures


Andrew Lessner serves as Sr. Manager of Development and Production Factual Brands for Warner Bros. Discovery, with a focus on Science content. In this role, he is based in New York and works with production companies to develop and produce prime-time series and specials for the Discovery Factual team.
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two


Richard Life spearheads acquisitions for Cineflix Rights and the expansion of the company’s catalogue of factual and scripted programming through producer partnerships, development and first-look deals, and co-productions.
Richard is one of the UK’s most experienced TV distribution executives, and previously held the roles of Head of Acquisitions and Co-productions...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - Endeavor Content, Cineflix Rights, GRB Entertainment; Meet an Expert - Distributors


Sam brings over 30 years of production expertise to the media company’s specialty television channels including Cottage Life, T+E, Makeful, Smithsonian Canada and BBC Earth Canada. In her role, Sam oversees commissioning and production of original series such as Blown Away, Hotel Paranormal, Life Below Zero Canada, Hope For Wildlife...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Sam Linton, Blue Ant Media


Joe Livecchi is the founder of Noble Savages and a seasoned media professional with over 25 years experience in content creation, programming and marketing. In its first three years, Noble Savages has produced just under 100 hours of programming, including the recently renewed A&E hit series, Alaska PD, an investigative...show more
Speaking on: Scoring a Hit with Sports Content


Wendy Llinás is an Emmy-nominated Producer and Documentary Film Maker. As Director of Programming and Development at PBS, she provides editorial and strategic guidance, manages the daily production process and resources for new limited series and existing programs such as INDEPENDENT LENS, VOCES, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and POV. Llinás is an...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Wendy Llinas, PBS


Brian Lockhart currently serves as senior vice president of Original Content and ESPN Films. He is responsible for overseeing strategy and development of all original programming initiatives under the ESPN Films umbrella, as well as original series and studio shows on ESPN+, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. He previously served as...show more
Speaking on: Scoring a Hit with Sports Content


Grant Mansfield is the CEO and Founder of Plimsoll Productions.
Plimsoll is one of the largest independent television production companies in the UK. Its BAFTA, Academy and Emmy Award-winning team specialize in wildlife, documentary, live and factual entertainment shows and it is a global leader in natural-history programs. Since the business was...show more
Speaking on: Trendwatch: What’s Next in M&A


Ari Mark is Co-Founder of AMPLE Entertainment, a production company dedicated to hands-on, handcrafted and filmmaker led premium content.
Among the company’s many credits include The Invisible Pilot (HBO) with Adam McKay, Queen of Versailles Reigns Again (discovery+), Murder in the Heartland (discovery+), 9 Months with Courteney Cox (Facebook), The Lost Women of NXIVM (ID), Cooper’s Treasure with Amblin Entertainment (Discovery), Cold Case Files with Blumhouse Television (A&E), The Night...show more
Speaking on: Reality Refresh


Chris Martin has 20 years of experience in finance, research and media. Spanning Consultant to CEO, Martin has served in roles at blockchain platforms, music festivals, hedge funds, broker dealers and entertainment companies. Prior to founding Sator, Martin contributed Investor Relations for Pantera Capital. Before that, Martin transacted high volumes...show more
Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends


Bernadette McDaid is the Global Head of new media entity, Red Bull Studios. Based in Salzburg, Austria, with offices in LA and London, Red Bull Studios is a commissioning, financing and distribution hub for premium filmmakers, broadcasters, and streamers.
A multi award-winning filmmaker and Commissioning Executive, most recently, McDaid was Acting...show more
Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers


Sierra London McDonald is WE tv’s Manager of Development and Original Programming, based in New York. In this role, she helps create and develop fresh new unscripted programming for the network. Prior to joining WE tv, Sierra worked across development, programming and production for Discovery (Science Channel), NBCUniversal (Wilshire Studios)...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - Love Nature, CuriosityStream, WEtv; Speed Pitching Two


Emmy-award winning producer and director Patrick McMahill is Vice President of Production and Development for Intuitive Content.
In his role, he is tasked with generating new character driven docuseries and creating original formats as well as helping to oversee a robust production slate that includes Family Dinner and Zoe Bakes for discovery+, among more.
Previously, McMahill served as director...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - Food


Winona Meringolo is the Senior Vice President of Development for Discovery’s true crime originals as well as the preeminent true crime television destination, Investigation Discovery. Meringolo oversees the curation of mystery and suspense programming for both the linear channel at ID and the company’s direct-to-consumer offering, discovery+. Focused on a...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Winona Meringolo, Investigation Discovery; Genre Jams - True Crime


Max Micallef is Vice President, Nonfiction Programming for HISTORY. In this role, Micallef spearheads the development and production of some of HISTORY’s main nonfiction programming. He joined the network in December 2018, and is based in Los Angeles.
Among the HISTORY series he is Executive Producing is Great Escapes with Morgan...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - History, AMC Network, Reelzchannel; 30 Minutes With: Max Micallef, History


Laura Michalchyshyn
Chief Creative Officer, Blue Ant Media, Co-President Content, Blue Ant Studios
Blue Ant Studios
Laura Michalchyshyn is Chief Creative Officer & Co-President at award-winning production company Blue Ant Studios. Based in New York City, Michalchyshyn oversees content creation and development across multiple businesses within Blue Ant Media. She co-manages Blue Ant Studios, which operates production companies in Canada, Singapore, Japan, and the United States,...show more
Speaking on: Keeping It Real: New Challenges for Doc-makers


Isabelle is the Program Development Manager for the Smithsonian Channel. In this role, she manages acquisitions and program development across all genres. Before her current role, she worked in production for Smithsonian Channel where she focused on projects related to the Smithsonian Institution. She is a graduate of American University...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Virtual Speed Pitching - NBCUniversal, BET, Smithsonian


Kyle Moffatt is the Senior Director of Development for Nickelodeon and Awesomeness TV, responsible for developing new talent, series and specials across both digital and linear platforms and leading creative efforts through production and post. In addition to his development work, Kyle is a producer of NFL Slimetime, Tooned In,...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Kyle Moffatt, Nickelodeon


Angela Molloy is WE tv’s vice president of development, based in the network’s Los Angeles office. She works closely with west coast based production partners and agencies to find fresh new unscripted programming for the network. She is currently an Executive Producer on the Marriage Boot Camp franchise, Bridezillas, and Mama June:...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Angela Molloy, WEtv


Ben Nemtin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? and a star of MTV’s highest rated show on iTunes and Amazon called The Buried Life. As the co-founder of The Buried Life movement, Ben’s message of radical possibility has been...show more
Speaking on: Keynote Presentation: Ben Nemtin


Jennifer O’Connell is Executive Vice President, Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals for HBO Max. Responsible for leading unscripted and alternative programming, O’Connell has developed a unique slate across a broad range of formats for an award-winning offering that’s bold, inclusive and unfiltered.
Working with prestige creators and brands as well as...show more
Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: Representing with Reality - Scout Productions, HBO Max and Dashaun Wesley


Sean Olsen joined the GSN team as Vice President of Development in December 2017. Olsen hails from Conveyor Media where he served as Vice President of Production directly responsible for generating and managing the creative vision on series and pilots.
Previously, Olsen made his name as a freelance Executive Producer & showrunner for...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Virtual Speed Pitching - Game Show Network, OutTV, National Geographic; Cocktails with... Game Show Network


With 20 years of production experience, Jonathan (JP) Partridge joined A&E as Senior Executive Producer in 2019. He is responsible for overseeing current programming and developing original unscripted content for the network. Prior to joining A&E, JP served as Vice President of Development at MTV and VH1, where he managed the...show more
Speaking on: Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition; Speed Pitching Two


Jacqui Pitman
CEO, Casting Director & Executive Producer
Pitman Casting Inc/ Partypit Productions Inc.
Pitman is Owner of Pitman Casting Inc., a full service, reality television casting company in Los Angeles. As a Casting Director, Pitman is currently casting; ABC’s Kids Say the Darndest Things hosted and executive produced by Tiffany Haddish, CBS’s Let’s Make a Deal hosted by Wayne Brady, Price is Right...show more
Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


D’Angela Proctor is a rare executive capable of easily transitioning between the creative and business sides of media as well as between the board room and production sets. Her carefully crafted career spans from being an attorney, entrepreneur, and content creator to a network and studio executive. Through her production...show more
Speaking on: Meet a Mentor: D'Angela Proctor


At Distribution360, Diane oversees commercial activity for global distribution, including sales, acquisitions, partnerships and operations to bring great content to buyers around the World. Alongside marblemedia's in-house development team and third-party content partners, Diane works on projects from development through to delivery, setting up strategic partnerships, raising finance and executive...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Yasmin Rawji is Senior Vice President, Alternative Entertainment, of FOX Entertainment. Based in Los Angeles, she oversees the unit’s development slate, as well as all launches and debut seasons of unscripted series that air on FOX Broadcast. Additionally, and in conjunction with the FOX Alternative Entertainment team, Rawji works on...show more
Speaking on: Formagination


Ia A. Robinson is Senior Director of Unscripted Development for BET Networks. In this role, her focus is on developing new programming for both linear and streaming platforms.
Previously, Robinson was Director of Programming & Development at Discovery Networks developing her original concepts from pilots through to series franchises such as Cutthroat Kitchen, Holiday...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... BET


Alejandro Rojas serves as Director of Applied Analytics at Parrot Analytics based in New York . In his current role, he oversees initiatives that transform data into insights at every step of the content lifecycle. Alejandro is a former McKinsey consultant who went on to become an executive producer on...show more


In 2008, Jane Root founded Nutopia. Known for award-winning documentary series on a global scale, Nutopia has created a new genre of television, the “mega-doc,” combining epic cinematography, action-driven drama, and A-list talent. Prior to founding Nutopia, she ran networks on both sides of the Atlantic as President of Discovery...show more
Speaking on: Realscreen Awards: Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony; VIRTUAL: Say Goodbye, Say Hello


Loren Ruch is the Group Senior Vice President of Development and Production for HGTV where he oversees the programming and development team responsible for all of their hit programs including Celebrity IOU, A Very Brady Renovation, Property Brothers: Forever Home, My Lottery Dream Home, Flip or Flop and hundreds more. ...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Loren Ruch, HGTV


Polly Scates is Acquisitions Manager at Channel 4. Based in London, Polly is responsible for sourcing and evaluating acquisition, co-production and presale opportunities for the Channel 4 portfolio. With a focus on non-scripted, Polly sources programming for five channels: C4, E4, M4, ALL4 and most recently 4Music.
Channel 4 is a...show more
Speaking on: Coffee + Commissioners


Jessica Schmiedchen
Director of Development, Unscripted Content
CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Jessica Schmiedchen is an innovative media executive with close to 20 years experience in content development.
Jessica oversees development of original content and formats in the genres of factual entertainment and doc series at CBC - on both linear television and on the broadcaster's streaming service, CBC Gem. She...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching One; Cocktails with... CBC


Laurie Sharpe is Executive Producer of Development and Production for CNBC, responsible for developing talent and original programming for CNBC Prime. Prior to this role, she worked at ViacomCBS creating content across its MTV, VH1, CMT and Paramount brands. Over the course of her career, Sharpe has developed and produced...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CNBC, A&E, VICE TV; Luncheon Roundtables; Speed Pitching Two


Todd J. Shill, Esq. has decades of experience representing clients in the entertainment and sports fields. He regularly acts as counsel for film and television production companies, including Hot Snakes Media, where he serves as the head of business affairs and as production counsel on all scripted and unscripted projects. ...show more
Speaking on: CASE STUDY: DEAF U (presented by DIALOG)


Siobhan Sinnerton has spent the last 20 years at the cutting edge of Documentary, current affairs and popular factual television, both in the Uk and the US, where she has nurtured many world-renowned directors. Her films have won numerous international awards including BAFTAs, Emmys and Peabodys.


FredAnthony Smith is an Emmy and NAACP Image Award-winning director and producer. He is currently vice president and head of non-scripted developed at SMAC Productions, a division of SMAC Entertainment, the content creator, cultural connector, and business incubator founded by Constance Schwartz-Morini and Michael Strahan. In his role, FredAnthony is currently...show more
Speaking on: Scoring a Hit with Sports Content


Justin Sprague is an Emmy Award winning Development Executive at Critical Content, an unscripted television production company. He reigns from small town Texas and started working in Television for Texas Crew Productions while in college at Texas State University. While at Texas Crew Justin produced and developed: Esquire’s Friday Night...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Jessie Springer is a Manager of Development for Team Nature. In this role, she is responsible for idea generation for all three platforms (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD and Disney +) with an emphasis on Sharkfest and character-led series.
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Jessie Springer, NatGeo WILD; Genre Jams - Natural History


Will is responsible for managing and developing the acquisitions strategy and content partnerships at TVF International, the UK's leading and longest standing independent distributor of documentary and unscripted programming. Will has worked in international distribution for twelve years on both the sales and acquisitions side in all territories worldwide. He...show more


Adam Steinman
VP, Creative, Format, Development & Sales
Warner Bros. International Television Production
Adam Steinman served as Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales from October 2010 until October 2016 and in November 2016 was promoted to Vice President, Creative, Format, Development & Sales at Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP), where scripted formats have been added to his remit.
In this position, Steinman...show more
Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Andrew Strauser is creative content executive with extensive experience in both digital and linear programming, on the buying side, as a network executive, and the selling side, as an award-winning producer and studio department head. His work’s been recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, The Webby...show more
Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables


Patty Suh is VP, Programming & Development for Food Network, with a focus on developing new programming and talent, and working closely with the west coast production community. Previously, Suh held the title of Vice President of Development at Steve Harvey's East 112th Street Productions, where she oversaw the casting...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - Food; 30 Minutes With: Patty Suh, Food Network & Cooking Channel


Igal Svet serves as Vice President of Documentaries at discovery+ where he spearheads original documentaries for the streamer. He is responsible for the ideation and creation of a wide range of projects and oversees the documentary content acquisition from filmmakers around the globe. In his tenure so far, Svet worked...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Igal Svet, discovery+


Howard Swartz
Senior Vice President Docs and Specials, Factual Networks & Streaming
Discovery Channel
Howard Swartz is Senior Vice President Docs and Specials, Factual Networks & Streaming, Discovery. In his current role, Swartz is responsible for developing and executing production strategies for documentaries, specials and event programming for both Discovery Channel and discovery+.
During his current tenure at Discovery, Swartz has overseen 80+ hours of...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - Natural History


Rob Swartz is Sr. Vice President of Development and Production at REELZ, a leading independent cable and satellite general entertainment network focused on celebrity culture with poignant stories about Hollywood in revealing documentaries and character profiles of the famous and infamous. Swartz leads creative execution of the network’s development and...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - History, AMC Network, Reelzchannel; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Rob Swartz, Reelzchannel


Liz Tang has over a decade of experience in acquisitions and co-productions at leading international broadcasters, including the BBC, ViacomCBS and Discovery. As Director, Content, she is responsible for building Endeavor Content’s scripted and non-scripted premium content offering, working closely with producer partners, and leading the content team. Prior to...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - Endeavor Content, Cineflix Rights, GRB Entertainment; Pitching Partners


Brian Tannenbaum is Head of Alternative Originals for Roku, where he leads all aspects of original, alternative content for The Roku Channel. A key member of the team behind the launch of Roku Originals, he manages Roku’s alternative content strategy across all series commissions and development, including unscripted, format, and...show more
Speaking on: Streaming and Unscripted: Where to Grow from Here?; 30 Minutes With: Brian Tannenbaum, Roku


Mike Tollin is co-chairman of MSM, which he co-founded with Peter Guber in 2012. He has produced and/or directed more than a dozen feature films, several award-winning documentaries, and hundreds of hours of television. His TV series include Smallville, One Tree Hill, Arli$$, I'm With Her, Inconceivable, All That, Kenan &...show more
Speaking on: Scoring a Hit with Sports Content


Jonathan Towers is Vice President, Development at Fox News Media in New York.
Prior to Fox, Towers ran Towers Productions, Inc., a Chicago-based production company he founded in 1989 that created series including American Justice (A&E), Gangland (History), Storm Stories (Weather), as well as Inside 9/11 (Nat Geo).
Before that, Towers served for three years as an...show more
Speaking on: Coffee + Commissioners; Speed Pitching One


Andrew Tracy joined Realscreen as associate editor in 2021, following 17 years as managing editor of the award-winning international film magazine Cinema Scope. From 2010 to 2020 he also held the position of senior editor at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he oversaw the flagship publication for the organization’s year-round Cinematheque programming...show more
Speaking on: Genre Jams - Food


Gabriel VanHuss is Vice President of Originals Development for MotorTrend Group, a Discovery company, where he is responsible for working across the company and Discovery to develop, produce and acquire automotive focused TV series, documentaries, movies and limited series for subscription video on demand, ad supported video on demand and...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Gabriel VanHuss, Motor Trend Network


As VP Global Factual Sales at Boat Rocker Studios, Natalie oversees non-scripted/factual content distribution and leads strategy on international programme sales, acquisitions and pre-sales, whilst also managing television and digital media rights sales in the Americas, UK, Spain, Italy, and France.
Prior to joining the Boat Rocker team Natalie was VP...show more
Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Nicole Vogel is Vice President of Unscripted Programming & Development at Lifetime, part of the A&E Networks group. She is based in NYC where she works with production companies, agencies, and potential talent to find, develop, and produce new unscripted formats, docuseries, and specials. Projects she has executive produced for...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Nicole Vogel, Lifetime


Dana Volkmer-Jones is Director of Programming and Development for Food Network based in Los Angeles, charged with developing new programming and talent, and working closely with the west coast production community. Prior to joining the Food Network team in January of 2020, he served as Senior Director of Development, West Coast...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching One; VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - National Geographic Channel, PBS, Food Network


Kitty Walshe is CEO of leading UK based production companies Remarkable Factual and RDF. With a combined output of over 400 hours per year, production spans factual entertainment, specialist factual, documentaries and daytime.
Recent successes include innovative formats such as Your Home Made Perfect (BBC Two), Your Body Uncovered (BBC Two) and Virtually History (YouTube),...show more
Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends


Rachel is the Senior Director of Program Development for the Smithsonian Channel. In this role, she oversees development of series and specials across all genres of the factual landscape. While working in DC, Los Angeles and Philadelphia Rachel has produced for National Geographic, Discovery, Lifetime and Tastemade. Some favorites include...show more
Speaking on: Coffee + Commissioners


Dashaun Wesley is an actor, choreographer, dancer and HOST of Legendary, HBO MAX original series. He is a prominent member of the ballroom community and is known for his unique "Dramatics" style of vogue. He has also appeared on the FX series "Pose" as an actor,...show more
Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: Representing with Reality - Scout Productions, HBO Max and Dashaun Wesley


Lauren is the Head of Programming for OUTtv, currently with services in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. With servicing multiple territories, she has successfully negotiated contracts with companies worldwide. Lauren recently joined the development team at the network and continues to work closely with Producers...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - Game Show Network, OutTV, National Geographic; Coffee + Commissioners


Jessica Winchell is an executive producer, developer and showrunner with experience in factual entertainment on all platforms. Prior to joining Magnolia Network as a Director, Development and Content, Jessica was VP of Development for acclaimed producers Lucky 8. At Lucky 8 Jessica oversaw a deep slate of development (and a...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching One


Michael Winteris SVP of programming and development for Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Studios which he launched with a slate of original programming including Vacation Rental Potential (A&E), Being Dad (Netflix), Going For Broke (Crackle) and the Emmy-nominatedHidden Heroes (CBS). As Chicken Soup has become majority owner of Crackle, one of the leading...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Michael Winter, Chicken Soup for the Soul Studios (Crackle)


Maggie Zeltner currently serves as Director of Development and Programming for HGTV. In her role, Maggie identifies and develops new projects and talent, as well as oversees existing series.
Since joining the company in 2015, Maggie has developed and overseen hits for HGTV and DIY including The Nate and Jeremiah Home...show more
Speaking on: Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition; Speed Pitching One
Virtual Event Speakers


Yasmine Abbasakoor
Executive in Charge of Development, Unscripted
CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Prior to joining the CBC this past fall Yasmine Abbasakoor worked within Canada’s independent production sector for 20 years, including work on projects with Blue Ant Media, Saloon Media, Magee TV and 4East and a lead development role with factual prodco Cream Productions. She also served as a content producer...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CBC, Smithsonian, American Public Television & Create TV; Virtual Speed Pitching - Nickelodeon, CBC, PBS


Isaac Ahn
Sr. Director, Entertainment Unscripted Development
NBCUniversal Television & Streaming (Documentary and Crime)
Isaac Ahn serves as Director, Entertainment Unscripted Development for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming where he creates, evaluates, and identifies upcoming programming across the company’s entertainment platforms, which include Bravo, E!, NBC, Oxygen, SYFY, USA, Universal Kids and Peacock. Ahn reports to Jenna Rosa, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Unscripted Development for...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - TLC, NBCUniversal, Corus; 30 Minutes With: Isaac Ahn, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming


Lauren Appelbaum is the VP, Communications and Entertainment & News Media of the disability nonprofit RespectAbility. As an individual with an acquired nonvisible disability – Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – she regularly conducts trainings on the why and how to be more inclusive and accessible for entertainment executives throughout the industry.
Appelbaum...show more
Speaking on: CASE STUDY: DEAF U (presented by DIALOG); VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


As the Senior Manager of Unscripted Development, Mallory develops original unscripted formats for Nickelodeon linear, digital, and AwesomenessTV and leads creative efforts throughout production and post. In addition to her development work, she’s been a producer of Tooned In, Group Chat, and Unfiltered - all Nickelodeon series with multi-season orders....show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Virtual Speed Pitching - Nickelodeon, CBC, PBS


As SVP, Production & Development, Love Nature, Alison Barrat provides a leading role in finding, developing and commissioning new projects for Love Nature’s growing slate and is responsible for executing programming strategies for the brand’s international channels through development and production. She also oversees all production management and post production...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - Love Nature, CuriosityStream, WEtv; Coffee + Commissioners; Genre Jams - Natural History; 30 Minutes With: Alison Barrat, Love Nature


Loren started her career as a sales executive at Indigo Film & Television, selling to multiple territories across factual, fiction and kid’s content to international broadcasters around the world. After three years, Loren moved to Off the Fence as an Acquisitions Executive and is based in their London office.
Five years...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - ITV Studios Global Entertainment, Off the Fence, Lucky You; Meet an Expert - Distributors


Mimi Blanchard has been in the Viacom family for over 15 years, making the leap from Home Entertainment & Acquisitions to Original Programming in 2009. While under the Home Entertainment & Acquisitions umbrella, she was responsible for the successful release of all BET Music Programming DVD tentpole specials including Celebration...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Mimi Blanchard, BET Networks; Virtual Speed Pitching - NBCUniversal, BET, Smithsonian


Gavin Bridge is a senior media analyst at Variety's VIP+. He is an industry expert in free streaming services across AVOD and FAST, CTV, cord-cutting, sports on TV, the state of the TV and streaming landscape, and how NFTs are being integrated into entertainment, and frequently consults with executives at...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: FAST Forward


Sahara Bushue joined Westbrook Studios as Senior Vice President and Head of Unscripted in November 2020. Westbrook Studios is a subsidiary of Westbrook Inc., the media company launched in 2019 by founders Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, to empower artists to tell stories that connect with a global audience....show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Propelling the Format Business


Meghan Cassin is Vice President of Content for Magnolia Network, the media joint venture between Chip and Joanna Gaines’ home and lifestyle brand Magnolia and Discovery Inc. In this role, she oversees production and development of original series and specials in the lifestyle space.
Previously, she was responsible for animal specials...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Meghan Cassin, Magnolia Network; 30 Minutes With: Meghan Cassin, Magnolia


Jill Chapman is currently Vice President, Alternative Series & Content Planning at Walt Disney Television’s newly launched Unscripted production unit. Prior to her current role, Jill oversaw Unscripted and Anime licensed acquisition and strategy for Hulu, while serving as a creative executive on series including The D’Amelio Show and Taste...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - AMC/SundanceTV/BBC America, Walt Disney Television, VICE TV


Based in New York, Sydney Clover is the Senior Director of Development for National Geographic. In this role, she works alongside the global production community to develop original premium content for the brand.
Prior to National Geographic, Clover served as the Director of Development at Discovery Channel in New York where...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - Game Show Network, OutTV, National Geographic; 30 Minutes With: Sydney Clover, National Geographic


As Head of Digital for Latino-owned entertainment company Fuse Media, Patrick Courtney oversees operations of the company’s streaming division with CEO Mike Roggero. In this role, he leads strategy for the company’s digital distribution, social media, website and streaming apps, as well as newly launched free ad-supported streaming television (FAST)...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: FAST Forward


Liz Cowie is the Senior Manager of Development & Alternative Programming at Vice TV. In this role, she has developed and overseen a variety of original series for the network, such as The Devil You Know, Betraying the Badge, Fringe Nation, and many more.
Prior to her role in development, Ms....show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - AMC/SundanceTV/BBC America, Walt Disney Television, VICE TV; VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CNBC, A&E, VICE TV


Nivedita Das is a South Asian independent documentary film producer and social impact advisor with over 20 years of experience across sectors. She currently serves as Director of Advocacy and Impact at Brown Girls Doc Mafia, a community and an initiative advocating for over 5,000 women and non-binary creatives and...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


Subrata De is EVP for VICE News and the senior executive producer for the series, VICE on Showtime. The Emmy-nominated series delivers immersive reporting from the world's conflict zones and regions in transition. The onset of the pandemic, ongoing racial reckoning and civil unrest have found the series adapting its...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Town Hall: Creating Change - Producing Content That Can Make A Difference


Eric Deggans is NPR’s first full-time TV critic, crafting stories and commentaries for the network’s shows, including Morning Edition, Here & Now and All Things Considered, along with writing material for NPR.org and appearing on podcasts such as Code Switch and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He also serves as a...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Keynote Conversation & Legacy Award Presentation: Stanley Nelson


David launched Proper Content in 2017 producing entertaining programmes with social purpose. Highlights include Grierson award-winning Suicidal: In Our Own Words for Channel 5, the Bafta, Rose d'or and Grierson winning series The School that tried the End Racism for Channel 4 and the British Journalism award winning Black maternity Scandal.
Prior to...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Town Hall: Creating Change - Producing Content That Can Make A Difference


Ashleigh Di Tonto is Senior Vice President of Development for Trailblazer Studios.
In her role, Di Tonto is responsible for the company’s talented team of creatives and producers, developing original blue-chip, natural-history and premium documentaries, including the groundbreaking documentary Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer, which premiered on National Geographic...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Say Goodbye, Say Hello


James DuBose is an innovative visionary and thought-leader known for producing culture-shaping content and sharing the voice and lived experiences of Black people around the globe. DuBose built his career anchored in four fundamental pillars: inspire, educate, uplift, and entertain black audiences.
DuBose is a North Carolina native, and he attributes...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: James DuBose, Fox Soul; 30 Minutes With: James DuBose, Fox Soul


Kristina Edwards serves as Vice President of Unscripted Series and Specials for WarnerMedia’s TBS and TNT, and truTV. In this role, Edwards is responsible for the creative and strategic development of content and immersive, multiplatform experiences that are tailor-made to foster and engage authentic, 24/7 relationships with audiences. Edwards is overseeing a...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Kristina Edwards, TBS/TNT/truTV


Cynthia Fenneman is President and CEO of American Public Television (APT), the leading syndicator of high quality programs to U.S. public television's 356 stations. APT Worldwide, a division of American Public Television, is a major provider of quality, non-fiction content to the worldwide market. With more than 30 years of...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CBC, Smithsonian, American Public Television & Create TV; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Cynthia Fenneman, American Public Television & Create.tv


As an accomplished Television Executive, and advocate for people of color in media, Bree is passionate about creating opportunities for professionals of all backgrounds.
With over 20 years of professional production experience, she has produced nearly 300 hours of unscripted television, including MTV's Room Raiders, TLC's A Makeover Story, and the award-winning television format Wife...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Say Goodbye, Say Hello


Zara Frankel works in PBS Programming as the Director of Programming and Development. She collaborates extensively with filmmakers, production companies, and new talent to develop interesting and innovative content across genres for PBS. Prior to her current role, Zara served as the Development Manager for PBS Programming, evaluating submissions and...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - Nickelodeon, CBC, PBS; Speed Pitching One; VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - National Geographic Channel, PBS, Food Network


Jorge Franzini serves as the VP of Original Content, Development and Programming for Curiosity’s original programming slate. His main duties are identifying potential series and one-offs for the service and its global pay-tv channels. As a member of the programming team, he acts as a liaison with outside production companies...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - Love Nature, CuriosityStream, WEtv; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Jorge Franzini, Curiosity Stream


Mark Garner
Executive Vice President, Content Licensing and Business Development, A&E Television Networks
A+E Networks
Mark Garner is Executive Vice President, Global Content Sales and Business Development at A+E Networks. Garner’s remit is primarily focused on the development of strategy to monetize A+E Networks vast library of owned and original content through partnerships with traditional and emerging content distribution platforms. Garner is also charged with...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: FAST Forward


Jennifer Gordon joined TLC in October 2014. As Vice President of Development, she creates and conceptualizes series, specials and programming initiatives for the linear network as well as love and relationship, family and lifestyle content for discovery+. Since joining TLC, Jennifer has developed a variety of new series, such as...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - TLC, NBCUniversal, Corus


Sean Gottlieb is Vice President, Development and Programming for A&E, where he oversees development and production of non-fiction programming for the network. He joined A&E in April 2014.
An Emmy® Award-winning producer with over 20 years’ experience, Gottlieb developed and is Executive Producer of I Survived A Serial Killer, Taking the...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CNBC, A&E, VICE TV; Genre Jams - True Crime; Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition


Abby Greensfelder is the founder and CEO of Everywoman Studios, a full-service media company with a mission to tell female-focused, female-driven stories creating positive cultural impact.
A former network executive and production company head, Greensfelder launched Everywoman after seeing the massive gender gap in the entertainment ecosystem. She founded Everywoman Studios...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Propelling the Format Business


Sara Helman joined TLC in October 2015 as the Vice President of Program Development. She helps to oversee development strategy and programming initiatives for the linear network as well as love and relationship, family and lifestyle content for discovery+. Helman has worked on a wide variety of shows, including the...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Sara Helman, TLC


Ashley Hovey, Head of The Roku Channel, AVOD
Ashley Hovey leads The Roku Channel’s AVOD business. She is responsible for the Kids & Family business, the Linear business, and driving overall partner strategy, monetization and audience engagement with AVOD partners on Roku.
Ashley comes from Comcast, where she was a senior director...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: FAST Forward


Aneka Hylton-Donelson serves as a Director of Development for National Geographic Channel, where she does internal and external development of talent, authentic adventure-driven stories, concepts and formats for National Geographic Channel and Disney+. Most recently she served as the Executive Producer of The March on Washington: Keepers of the Dream...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - National Geographic Channel, PBS, Food Network


CEO of CORE Innovation Group (www.core-ig.com) Patrick Jager is an award-winning, multi-discipline media executive - having held leadership and creative positions in broadcast, cable and digital media outlets. A dynamic leader for an ever-changing business climate, Jager is dedicated to the role content plays in every business and every interaction,...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Town Hall: Creating Change - Producing Content That Can Make A Difference


Raja Khanna is the Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Dark Slope, a metaverse company developing new forms of entertainment for television and games using motion capture, virtual production, game-engines and immersive technologies. Dark Slope produces prime time “hyper reality” TV productions and near real-time animation for streaming and broadcast networks...show more
Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends; VIRTUAL: Say Goodbye, Say Hello


Carolyn Lehman is Manager of Nonfiction & Alternative Programming for AMC Networks, responsible for overseeing current and in-development unscripted projects for three linear networks — AMC, SundanceTV, BBCAmerica — and streaming service, AMC+.
Lehman has been with AMC for over 5 years where she has worked on scripted drama companion content,...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - AMC/SundanceTV/BBC America, Walt Disney Television, VICE TV


Blake Levin serves as Vice President, Entertainment Unscripted Development, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming where he is responsible for discovering and supervising the development of documentary, true crime, lifestyle and docuseries programming for the Entertainment portfolio which includes Bravo, E!, NBC, Oxygen, SYFY, USA, Universal Kids and Peacock. He reports to...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Blake Levin, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming (Documentary)


Sharon Levy was named Chief Content Officer, Endemol Shine North America, in February, 2021.
Levy oversees all of Endemol Shine North America’s unscripted and scripted programming efforts from the company’s North Hollywood, Ca., headquarters.
Since joining Banijay-owned Endemol Shine North America in October 2017, Levy has successfully transformed the studio’s programming...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Propelling the Format Business


Richard Life spearheads acquisitions for Cineflix Rights and the expansion of the company’s catalogue of factual and scripted programming through producer partnerships, development and first-look deals, and co-productions.
Richard is one of the UK’s most experienced TV distribution executives, and previously held the roles of Head of Acquisitions and Co-productions...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - Endeavor Content, Cineflix Rights, GRB Entertainment; Meet an Expert - Distributors


Sam brings over 30 years of production expertise to the media company’s specialty television channels including Cottage Life, T+E, Makeful, Smithsonian Canada and BBC Earth Canada. In her role, Sam oversees commissioning and production of original series such as Blown Away, Hotel Paranormal, Life Below Zero Canada, Hope For Wildlife...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Sam Linton, Blue Ant Media


Sierra London McDonald is WE tv’s Manager of Development and Original Programming, based in New York. In this role, she helps create and develop fresh new unscripted programming for the network. Prior to joining WE tv, Sierra worked across development, programming and production for Discovery (Science Channel), NBCUniversal (Wilshire Studios)...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - Love Nature, CuriosityStream, WEtv; Speed Pitching Two


As the vice president of production and development for Travel Channel and discovery+, Julie Meisner Eagle is responsible for cultivating and creating original content for the network and streaming service. This role includes scouting new content offerings, overseeing the production of a well-rounded slate of new and returning series and...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Julie Meisner-Eagle, Travel Channel


Winona Meringolo is the Senior Vice President of Development for Discovery’s true crime originals as well as the preeminent true crime television destination, Investigation Discovery. Meringolo oversees the curation of mystery and suspense programming for both the linear channel at ID and the company’s direct-to-consumer offering, discovery+. Focused on a...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Winona Meringolo, Investigation Discovery; Genre Jams - True Crime


Max Micallef is Vice President, Nonfiction Programming for HISTORY. In this role, Micallef spearheads the development and production of some of HISTORY’s main nonfiction programming. He joined the network in December 2018, and is based in Los Angeles.
Among the HISTORY series he is Executive Producing is Great Escapes with Morgan...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - History, AMC Network, Reelzchannel; 30 Minutes With: Max Micallef, History


Isabelle is the Program Development Manager for the Smithsonian Channel. In this role, she manages acquisitions and program development across all genres. Before her current role, she worked in production for Smithsonian Channel where she focused on projects related to the Smithsonian Institution. She is a graduate of American University...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Virtual Speed Pitching - NBCUniversal, BET, Smithsonian


Colin Mochrie is an alumnus of Toronto's famous Second City comedy troupe. After fourteen years as a regular on the British and American versions of the improvisation series ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'', Colin is now in the 6th season of the CW network reboot.
Colin was a cast member of...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 2022 Realscreen Awards Virtual Presentation


Stanley Nelson is today’s leading documentarian of the African-American experience. His films combine compelling narratives with rich historical detail to illuminate the under-explored American past. A MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, Nelson has received nearly every award in broadcasting, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, and lifetime achievement awards from the Emmys, the...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Keynote Conversation & Legacy Award Presentation: Stanley Nelson


As the SVP of Global Content, Non-Scripted at ITV Studios, Cecilie Olsen heads up the non-scripted acquisitions team, actively seeking out new third-party co-production partners as well as overseeing ITV Studios’ internal labels' non-scripted programming output for international distribution. Olsen looks for shows that are bold, brave, noisy returnable franchises...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - ITV Studios Global Entertainment, Off the Fence, Lucky You


Sean Olsen joined the GSN team as Vice President of Development in December 2017. Olsen hails from Conveyor Media where he served as Vice President of Production directly responsible for generating and managing the creative vision on series and pilots.
Previously, Olsen made his name as a freelance Executive Producer & showrunner for...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching Two; Virtual Speed Pitching - Game Show Network, OutTV, National Geographic; Cocktails with... Game Show Network


Karla Pita Loor was named Executive Vice President, Enterprise Inclusion & Social Responsibility at Endemol Shine North America in May 2021.
Pita Loor leads all social responsibility efforts for Endemol Shine North America and its studio labels, including Bunim/Murray Productions, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment, Authentic Entertainment, Stephen David Entertainment and...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


Julie Pizzi serves as President of Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP) and is responsible for the continued growth of the 30+ year-old company as both a production studio and on the international stage.
Pizzi has more than 25 years of experience producing hundreds of hours of television. Most recently, she developed and served...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Propelling the Format Business


Award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter has emerged in the entertainment industry as a leader in the art of storytelling; directing and producing critically acclaimed projects that have impacted generations of people from all walks of life.
In 2021, Porter directed and executive produced the Apple TV+ mental health documentary series The Me...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Town Hall: Creating Change - Producing Content That Can Make A Difference


Chris Powers is Manager of Nonfiction & Alternative Programming for AMC Networks, responsible for overseeing current and development unscripted projects for three linear networks — AMC, SundanceTV, BBCAmerica — and streaming service, AMC+.
Powers has been with AMC for over 8 years where he has worked on scripted drama companion content,...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - History, AMC Network, Reelzchannel


Salena Rochester is a writer, producer and network executive. As Vice President of Production and Development for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming; Salena has produced and oversees some of Bravo’s biggest series including The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Emmy-nominated Million Dollar Listing New York, Emmy-winning & critically acclaimed Inside The Actor's...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: 30 Minutes With: Salena Rochester, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming (Lifestyle)


In 2008, Jane Root founded Nutopia. Known for award-winning documentary series on a global scale, Nutopia has created a new genre of television, the “mega-doc,” combining epic cinematography, action-driven drama, and A-list talent. Prior to founding Nutopia, she ran networks on both sides of the Atlantic as President of Discovery...show more
Speaking on: Realscreen Awards: Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony; VIRTUAL: Say Goodbye, Say Hello


Jennifer Salke is the Head of Amazon Studios, overseeing all aspects of television and film development as well as production for Amazon’s global entertainment division.
Over the past two decades, Salke has established herself as one of the most prolific executives in the industry, being a major force behind some...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Keynote Conversation: Jennifer Salke, Amazon Studios


Robert Salvestrin is the CEO of LUCKY YOU, an international documentary distribution company based in Paris, which was awarded the prize of BEST FRENCH DISTRIBUTOR 2019 within the documentary genre.
Through Lucky You, Robert’s main goal it to advise producers on international content and trends, and to fill in the financing...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - ITV Studios Global Entertainment, Off the Fence, Lucky You


Jamie Schouela serves as President, Global Channels and Media at Blue Ant Media. He is charged with leading the strategic direction and operations of the company’s streaming and linear television networks, digital, print and consumer event properties around the world. The company’s linear and streaming networks include Love Nature, BBC...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: FAST Forward


Laurie Sharpe is Executive Producer of Development and Production for CNBC, responsible for developing talent and original programming for CNBC Prime. Prior to this role, she worked at ViacomCBS creating content across its MTV, VH1, CMT and Paramount brands. Over the course of her career, Sharpe has developed and produced...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CNBC, A&E, VICE TV; Luncheon Roundtables; Speed Pitching Two


Rob Swartz is Sr. Vice President of Development and Production at REELZ, a leading independent cable and satellite general entertainment network focused on celebrity culture with poignant stories about Hollywood in revealing documentaries and character profiles of the famous and infamous. Swartz leads creative execution of the network’s development and...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - History, AMC Network, Reelzchannel; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Rob Swartz, Reelzchannel


Liz Tang has over a decade of experience in acquisitions and co-productions at leading international broadcasters, including the BBC, ViacomCBS and Discovery. As Director, Content, she is responsible for building Endeavor Content’s scripted and non-scripted premium content offering, working closely with producer partners, and leading the content team. Prior to...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - Endeavor Content, Cineflix Rights, GRB Entertainment; Pitching Partners


Carri Twigg is a founding partner at Culture.House. Carri is deeply engaged with content that takes on the urgent cultural questions confronting America and the world. Carri spent over 12 years at every level of politics and government. From 2006 to 2011 she was Political Director for the Ohio Democratic...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Town Hall: Creating Change - Producing Content That Can Make A Difference


Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated producer. A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the non-profit media advocacy organization Define American, named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. In 2020, Fortune named him one of its...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


Dana Volkmer-Jones is Director of Programming and Development for Food Network based in Los Angeles, charged with developing new programming and talent, and working closely with the west coast production community. Prior to joining the Food Network team in January of 2020, he served as Senior Director of Development, West Coast...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching One; VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - National Geographic Channel, PBS, Food Network


Allison Wallach was named Executive Vice President, Head of FOX Entertainment’s in-house unscripted studio, FOX Alternative Entertainment (FAE), in February 2019. In her role, she is responsible for identifying, developing and producing unscripted programming both for FOX Network and third-party platforms.
Among the series Wallach oversees are the culture-piercing singing competition, The...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Propelling the Format Business


Johnny is CEO of HiddenLight, the global studio launched in December 2020. Founded by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sam Branson and Chelsea Clinton, the company creates premium documentary, unscripted, and scripted entertainment for TV, film, and digital. HiddenLight celebrates the best of the human spirit and helps audiences see the world...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


Lauren is the Head of Programming for OUTtv, currently with services in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. With servicing multiple territories, she has successfully negotiated contracts with companies worldwide. Lauren recently joined the development team at the network and continues to work closely with Producers...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - Game Show Network, OutTV, National Geographic; Coffee + Commissioners


Tenaja Williams
Director, Unscripted Development, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming
NBCUniversal Television & Streaming (Lifestyle Programming)
Tenaja Williams serves as Director, Entertainment Unscripted Development at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where she is responsible for working with production partners and agencies to find new unscripted programming and fresh talent for the company’s entertainment portfolio, which includes Bravo, E!, NBC, Oxygen, SYFY, USA, Universal Kids and Peacock.
Williams has...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching - NBCUniversal, BET, Smithsonian


Amy Winter is Executive Vice President, Head of Programming, Lifetime. In this role, Winter oversees the development, creation and execution of all programming (movies, scripted and unscripted) for both Lifetime and LMN® networks. A multiplatform brand and content strategist, Winter has experience guiding cable networks to new heights: lifting ratings, reenergizing...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: DIALOG/Putting authenticity first


Dan J. Wolf is an Executive Producer with Smithsonian Channel in Washington D.C. His 30+ year television career spans networks, nations, and a wide spectrum of content. With Smithsonian Channel, Dan has helped produce landmark series such as THE PACIFIC WAR IN COLOR and APOLLO'S MOON SHOT. He helped develop...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Big Ticket Pitch Day - CBC, Smithsonian, American Public Television & Create TV


A prolific global entertainment executive, Hud Woodle was brought on to GRB Studios in early 2020 to head up the company’s international distribution and production division. In his role, Woodle oversees all sales, co-productions, marketing, acquisitions, servicing, and operations; as well as manages the global sales team.
Prior to his current...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Meet the Distributors - Endeavor Content, Cineflix Rights, GRB Entertainment


An Emmy and James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, author, teacher, and social activist, Andrew Zimmern is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable personalities in the food world. As the creator, Executive Producer and Host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food and the Emmy...show more
Speaking on: VIRTUAL: Keynote Conversation: Jennifer Salke, Amazon Studios