Your health comes first, and meaningful measures will be enforced to keep you safe. Learn more.

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
SHERATON NEW ORLEANS
Marriott Marquis | Washington, DC | Sunday, January 28 – Wednesday, January 31, 2022

Speakers

You are not currently viewing the most recent Realscreen Summit. Go to Realscreen Summit 2024.


Live Event Speakers


Chat

Cori Abraham

SVP, Development, Documentary & Crime

NBCUniversal Television & Streaming

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


Chat

Pamela Aguilar

SVP Head of Smithsonian Channel Content; MTV Entertainment Studios

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


Chat

Isaac Ahn

Sr. Director, Unscripted Development, Lifestyle, Documentary, & True Crime

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: 30 Minutes With: Isaac Ahn, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming


Chat

Shaan Akbar

Head of Development, MotorTrend

MotorTrend Network

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


Chat

Kalen Allen

Actor, Producer, Singer, Digital Media Star & Television Personality

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


Chat

Justin Anderson

Sr. Staff Writer

Realscreen

Justin Anderson is the Senior Staff Writer for Realscreen. He has a degree in Journalism from Ryerson University and his career has seen him cover everything from business and finance to the music and movie industries to politics, with plenty in between. 

Speaking on: Genre Jams - True Crime


Chat

Lauren Appelbaum

SVP, Entertainment & News Media

RespectAbility

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)


Chat

Mallory Arkin

Senior Manager, Unscripted Development

Paramount, Nickelodeon

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


Chat

Avi Armoza

CEO

Armoza Formats

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


Chat

Betsy Ayala

SVP Production & Development

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Lindsey Ayotte

Director

TVF International

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


Chat

Michelle Bagliebter

VP of Business Operations and Strategy

Love Nature

As VP of Business Operations and Strategy at Love Nature, Michelle Bagliebter manages all commercial deal negotiations and business operational matters for Love Nature. Additionally, she serves as a strategic partner to the commissioning, programming, acquisition, digital and affiliate sales teams to set policies, procedures and deal structures for the...show more

Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers


Chat

Fenton Bailey

Co-Founder & Executive Producer

World of Wonder

For three decades, World of Wonder has introduced audiences to new worlds, talent and ideas; reshaping international pop culture, while earning 24 Emmys and inspiring Oscar-winning performances. Programming highlights include: Emmy® Award winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1/Logo), “Million Dollar Listing” LA & NY (Bravo); award-winning films and documentaries including “Party Monster”,...show more

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


Chat

Alison Barrat

SVP, Production & Development

Love Nature

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: Coffee + Commissioners; Genre Jams - Natural History; 30 Minutes With: Alison Barrat, Love Nature


Chat

Loren Baxter

Head of Acquisitions

Off the Fence

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: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Chat

Kate Beal

Chief Executive Officer

Woodcut Media

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


Chat

Tracy Beckett

Commissioning Editor, Content

PBS International

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


Chat

Jean Bentley

Journalist

Jean Bentley is a Los Angeles-based entertainment reporter specializing in television, documentaries, and the filmography of Chris Hemsworth.

Speaking on: Keynote Conversation: Representing with Reality - Scout Productions, HBO Max and Dashaun Wesley


Chat

Mimi Blanchard

Senior Director, Current Programming

BET Networks

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


Chat

Anna Bloomfield

VP, Development & Production

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Alexandra Böhm

Head of International Coproduction

Autentic GmbH

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


Chat

Simone Boyce

Journalist & Host

Simone Boyce is a nationally recognized TV host and journalist whose work has been featured on MSNBC, Access Hollywood, MTV, the Today Show, Nightly News and more. As a correspondent for NBC News NOW, Simone reported on social unrest, presidential elections, immigration, criminal justice reform and climate change from the front lines. Simone led...show more

Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


Chat

Andrea Brakke

VP, Programming Strategy & Acquisitions, VICE TV

VICE Media

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


Chat

Christian Broadhurst

VP of US Development

Rare TV

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


Chat

Paul Buccieri

President & Chairman

A+E Networks

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


Chat

Adam Bullmore

Managing Director

October Films

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


Chat

Sebastian Burkhardt

Head of Partnerships and Commercial Strategy

Red Bull Studios

Sebastian is the Head of Partnerships and Commercial Strategy at new media entity, Red Bull Studios.  With its HQ based Salzburg, Austria, and offices in LA and London, Red Bull Studios is a commissioning, financing and distribution hub for premium filmmakers, broadcasters, and streamers. Sebastian is based in Red Bull...show more

Speaking on: Coproduction - Strength in Numbers


Chat

James Burstall

CEO

Argonon

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


Chat

Breonna Carrera

VP, Development

World of Wonder

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


Chat

Michael Cascio

CEO & President

M&C Media LLC

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


Chat

Jim Casey

President

Painless Productions

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


Chat

Meghan Cassin

VP Content

Magnolia Network

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: 30 Minutes With: Meghan Cassin, Magnolia


Chat

John Wesley Chisholm

Creative Director

Arcadia Entertainment

Bio Coming Soon...

Speaking on: Genre Jams - Travel


Chat

Donna Clark

Managing Director

DSP Productions

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


Chat

Sydney Clover

Senior Director, Development

National Geographic

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: 30 Minutes With: Sydney Clover, National Geographic


Chat

Ethan Cohan

Partner, Head of Non-Fiction/Unscripted Practice Area

Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang

Ethan Cohan’s practice focuses on entertainment transactional law with an emphasis on deal-making and production in the television and new media industries. He represents clients in all aspects of the entertainment business, including producers, showrunners, creators, IP holders, journalists, actors and other on-camera talent in addition to specializing in the...show more

Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


Chat

David Collins

Co-Founder & Executive Producer

Scout Productions

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


Chat

Camilla Cope

Commercial Director

Greenbird Media Ltd

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


Chat

Brandy Crawford-Uriu

Executive Producer

History

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


Chat

Laura Crowson

VP, Development

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


Chat

Braden Currier

Partner and Agent, Unscripted Television

WME

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, October Films and Academy Award winning...show more

Speaking on: Meet an Expert - Agents


Chat

Dominique Cutts

Head of Unscripted

Red Bull Studios GmbH

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


Chat

Jamal Dauda

VP, Creative Strategy

Blockchain Creative Labs

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 andshow more

Speaking on: Future Factual: Tech Trends


Chat

Nicola Davey

SVP, Acquisitions & Co-Productions

Beyond Rights

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


Chat

Ed de Rivaz

Production Executive

Great Pacific Media Inc.

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 BlacksmithCounting Cars and more. While at...show more

Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Chat

Rupert Dobson

EVP of Development

Bunim/Murray Productions

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


Chat

James DuBose

General Manager and Head of Programming

Fox Soul

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: 30 Minutes With: James DuBose, Fox Soul


Chat

Havva Eisenbaum

VP, Development, Unscripted

OWN Oprah Winfrey Network

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


Chat

Rob Eric

Chief Creative Officer

Scout Productions

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


Chat

Shane Ertter

Manager of Development, VICE TV

VICE Media

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


Chat

Eric Evangelista

Executive Producer

Hot Snakes Media

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)


Chat

Steve Ezell

SVP, Current Programming

Bunim Murray Productions

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


Chat

Jenny Falkoff

Sr. Unscripted Creative Executive

Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV)

Jenny Falkoff currently serves as Sr. Unscripted Creative Executive at Amazon Freevee. She oversees unscripted series and specials including Play-Doh Squished, Judy Justice, and Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis.

Falkoff has nearly 15 years of television and streaming experience spanning development and production. Prior to joining Freevee, she was an independent...show more

Speaking on: Streaming and Unscripted: Where to Grow from Here?


Chat

James Farr

VP, Development

Cream Productions Inc.

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


Chat

Toby Faulkner

SVP, Content discovery+

Warner Bros. Discovery

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?


Chat

Cynthia Fenneman

President Emeritus

American Public Television & Create.tv

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: Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Cynthia Fenneman, American Public Television & Create.tv


Chat

Jodi Flynn

President

The Content Group

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


Chat

Zara Frankel

Senior Director, Programming & Development

PBS

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: Speed Pitching One


Chat

Jorge Franzini

VP Content

Curiosity Stream

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: Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Jorge Franzini, Curiosity Stream


Chat

Lauren Frasca

SVP, Content

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Elaine Frontain Bryant

EVP, Head of Programming Genres for A&E, Lifetime and LMN

A+E Networks

Bio Coming Soon...

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


Chat

Michael Gara

Executive Producer

Warner Bros. Discovery

Michael Gara has been an Executive Producer at Discovery since 2017 overseeing key franchises including Naked and Afraid, where he has been executive producer for nearly 200 hours of the survival program, as well as Josh Gates’ adventure brand including Expedition Unknown, Expedition X, Josh Gates Tonight and the upcoming Tales from the Explorers Club.

Before coming to

...show more

Speaking on: Genre Jams - Travel


Chat

Adriana Garcia

Director of Development

National Geographic

Adriana F. Garcia began her career in unscripted television in post-production, where she developed a strong sense of story. She continued to produce series for TLC, FYI, Facebook Watch, and other streaming platforms at Authentic Entertainment before shifting her focus as Director of Development and executing series for HGTV, Science...show more

Speaking on: Genre Jams - Travel


Chat

Mike Gelles

Unscripted Coordinator

VERVE Talent & Literary Agency

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


Chat

Rabih Gholam

Head, Alternative & Unscripted Department

Innovative Artists

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


Chat

Nancy Glass

CEO

Glass Entertainment Group

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 specializes in unscripted television, film production, new media content and podcasts. Since launching 20 years ago, the company has produced over 3,000 hours of programming. Currently,...show more

Speaking on: Reality Refresh


Chat

Dan Goldsack

EVP of Development

Magical Elves Productions

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


Chat

Alexis Gomez-Garcia

VP, Development

Lightbox

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


Chat

Sean Gottlieb

VP, Head of Development

A+E Networks

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: Genre Jams - True Crime; Summit Showdown: International Pitch Competition


Chat

Richard Gray

Managing Director

ACF Investment Bank

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


Chat

Spencer Griffin

Head Of TV Development

Just For Laughs

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


Chat

Carolyn Gross

Director, Programming & Development

Food Network

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


Chat

Kate Harrison

President

Cream Productions

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?


Chat

Paul Heaney

CEO

BossaNova Media

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


Chat

Karin Heijink

SVP Content, Marketing & Products

Viasat World

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


Chat

Mioshi Hill

President

Sirens Media

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


Chat

Naimah Holmes

President

Warner Bros. Discovery

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)


Chat

Nikolas Huelbusch

Director, Unscripted

ZDF Studios

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


Chat

Marcie Hume

VP, Programming

A&E

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


Chat

Amy Introcaso-Davis

EVP, Development & Production, Factual Programming

Warner Bros. Discovery

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?


Chat

Phil Irven

Partner

Vital Artists Agency, LLC

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


Chat

Andrew Jeffrey

News Editor

Realscreen

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


Chat

Rachel Job

SVP, Non-Scripted Content

All3Media International

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


Chat

Melanie Capacia Johnson

President

NEO Studios

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


Chat

Casey Kelly

VP of Development, Unscripted Content

Blue Ant Media

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


Chat

Raja Khanna

Founder

Dark Slope

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


Chat

Samuel Kissous

President

Pernel Media

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


Chat

Bert Klasey

Sr Director Development, Discovery Channel

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Richard Klein

Head of Documentaries

Plimsoll Productions Ltd

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


Chat

Rachel Koehler

Vice President, Original Content

Tubi

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: Streaming and Unscripted: Where to Grow from Here?; Speed Pitching One; 30 Minutes With: Rachel Koehler, Tubi


Chat

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


Chat

Robyn Lattaker-Johnson

Agent, Media Consultant

A3 Artists Agency

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


Chat

Derren Lawford

Founder

Dare Pictures

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


Chat

Lauren Lemieux

Senior Vice President and Head of Development

Pilgrim Media Group

LAUREN LEMIEUX serves as Vice President, Head of Development at Pilgrim Media Group, overseeing the day-to-day function of the department from ideation to series sales. In her three years with the Lionsgate-owned company, she has shepherded multiple series to air including, Ultimate Surfer, Dodgeball, Tyson vs. Jaws: Rumble on the Reef, and Hoffman Family GoldLauren hails from...show more

Speaking on: Pitching Partners


Chat

Andrew Lessner

Sr. Manager, Development and Production Tentpoles, Events and Live Discovery, TBS, TNT, SCI, APL, Tru

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Richard Life

SVP Acquisitions and Co-productions

Cineflix Rights

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: Meet an Expert - Distributors


Chat

Joe Livecchi

Chief Executive Officer

Noble Savages

Joe Livecchi is the founder of Noble Savages and a seasoned media professional with over 25 years experience in original content creation, programming and marketing. In 2022, Noble Savages is having its best year ever, selling a pair of cutting edge true crime series, a podcast series and five other...show more

Speaking on: Scoring a Hit with Sports Content


Chat

Wendy Llinas

Sr. Director, Programming & Development

PBS

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


Chat

Brian Lockhart

SVP, ESPN+ Original Content and ESPN Films

ESPN Films

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


Chat

Grant Mansfield

CEO & Founder

Plimsoll Productions Ltd

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


Chat

Ari Mark

Co-Founder

Ample Entertainment

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


Chat

Christina Martin

President

Sator.io Corp.

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


Chat

Bernadette McDaid

Global Head of Red Bull Studios

Red Bull Studios GmbH

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


Chat

Sierra London McDonald

Manager of Development and Original Programming

WEtv

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: Speed Pitching Two


Chat

Patrick McMahill

VP of Production and Programming

Intuitive Content

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


Chat

Winona Meringolo

SVP, Development

Investigation Discovery

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: Genre Jams - True Crime


Chat

Max Micallef

VP, Head of West Coast Development

History

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: 30 Minutes With: Max Micallef, History


Chat

Laura Michalchyshyn

Chief Creative Officer Blue Ant Media

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


Chat

Isabelle Mills

Manager, Program Development

Paramount, Smithsonian Channel

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


Chat

Kyle Moffatt

Senior Director of Development

Paramount, Nickelodeon

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


Chat

Angela Molloy

SVP, Development & Original Production AllBlk & WEtv, Unscripted

WE TV

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


Chat

Ben Nemtin

#1 NY Times Bestselling Author & Speaker

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


Chat

Jennifer O'Connell

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

HBO Max

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


Chat

Sean Olsen

VP, Development

Game Show Network

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; Cocktails with... Game Show Network


Chat

Jonathan Partridge

Senior Executive Producer

A&E

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


Chat

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?


Chat

Hillary Povar Levinsohn

Executive Vice President

Smithhouse Strategy

Bio Coming Soon...

Speaking on: Cancel Culture or Course Correction?


Chat

D'Angela Proctor

Owner/Founder

Undaunted Content

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


Chat

Diane Rankin

EVP Commercial Strategy + Content Financing

Distribution360

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


Chat

Yasmin Rawji

EVP, Unscripted - Network

FOX Entertainment

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


Chat

Ia Ayame Robinson

Senior Director, Unscripted Programming & Development

BET Networks

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


Chat

Zoe Rogovin

Head, Non-Fiction

Showtime Networks Inc

Zoe Rogovin serves as VP of Non-Fiction Programming for SHOWTIME. An Emmy-nominated, Peabody and DuPont Award-winning executive, she oversees the development and production of the network’s original non-fiction storytelling, including episodic, serialized and film formats. 

Traversing the non-fiction genre, Zoe has spearheaded the network’s most recent limited-series successes including WE NEED...show more

Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables


Chat

Jane Root

Founder & CEO

Nutopia

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


Chat

Loren Ruch

Head of Content HGTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Polly Scates

Head of Acquisitions

Channel 4

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


Chat

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


Chat

Laurie Sharpe

Executive Producer, Development and Production

CNBC

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: Luncheon Roundtables; Speed Pitching Two


Chat

Todd Shill

VP Business and Legal Affairs

Hot Snakes Media

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)


Chat

FredAnthony Smith

VP, Non-Scripted Development

SMAC Entertainment

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


Chat

Justin Sprague

Development Executive

Critical 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


Chat

Adam Steinman

Production and Development

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


Chat

Andrew Strauser

VP, Content

Magnolia Network

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


Chat

Patty Suh

VP, Programming & Development - Food Network & Cooking Channel

Food Network

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


Chat

Igal Svet

VP, Documentaries, Discovery+

Warner Bros. Discovery

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+


Chat

Howard Swartz

EVP Development

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Rob Swartz

SVP, Development & Production

REELZ Channel

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: Speed Pitching One; CANCELLED - 30 Minutes With: Rob Swartz, Reelzchannel


Chat

Liz Tang

Executive Director, Acquisitions

Endeavor Content

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: Pitching Partners


Chat

Brian Tannenbaum

Head, Roku Originals

Roku

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


Chat

Bryan Terry

VP, Development

VICE Media


Chat

Mike Tollin

Co-Chairman

Mandalay Sports Media

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


Chat

Jonathan Towers

VP, Fox Nation & Development

Fox News Media

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


Chat

Andrew Tracy

Associate Editor

Realscreen

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


Chat

Gabriel VanHuss

VP, Development & Programming

MotorTrend Network

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


Chat

Natalie Vinet

SVP, Global Distribution

Boat Rocker Media

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


Chat

Dana Volkmer-Jones

Director, Programming & Development Food Network

Food Network

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


Chat

Barry Walsh

Editor-in-Chief & Content Director

Realscreen


Chat

Kitty Walshe

CEO

Remarkable Factual and RDF

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


Chat

Rachel Watson-Pass

VP, Program Development

Paramount, Smithsonian Channel

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


Chat

Dashaun Wesley

Host, Legendary

Dashaun Wesley is an actor, choreographer, dancer and HOST of LegendaryHBO 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


Chat

Lauren Whitelaw

Head of Programming

OUTtv Network Inc

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: Coffee + Commissioners


Chat

Jessica Winchell

VP, Content & Development - Magnolia Network

Magnolia Network

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


Chat

Michael Winter

SVP, Programming & Development

Chicken Soup for the Soul Studios

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)


Chat

Maggie Zeltner

Director Programming and Development, HGTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

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


Chat

Siobhan Sinnerton

Creative , Unscripted

HiddenLight Productions

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.


Chat

Will Stapley

Head of Acquisitions

TVF International

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

Event Menu

Brand Menu