These networking sessions are designed for you to meet many unscripted and non-fiction executives in a short, speed-dating style. Speed Networking is open to all Realscreen Summit delegates and is NOT a pitch session.

Access to Speed Networking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is filled.

In this special interview, Rob Mills will offer valuable insights to Disney Entertainment Television’s multiplatform approach to alternative programming, and harnessing the power of unscripted television to cut through an increasingly crowded content landscape.

Speaking

Rob Mills

EVP, Unscripted & Alternative Entertainment

Walt Disney Television

Interviewer

Michael Schneider

TV Editor

Variety

It’s no secret that the unscripted business is facing huge challenges – some that are exacerbated by those hitting the entertainment industry at large, and some that are unique. But while those challenges have been difficult, and will perhaps remain so for the foreseeable future, all sectors of the unscripted content world are looking at ways to innovate, collaborate and explore new models that will change the business for the better. Here, top executives from across the industry will share their strategies for riding out the storm, and their insights on how new approaches to collaboration, ownership and distribution of content will shape the business going forward.

Speaking

Susie Jones

Head of Factual

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Brie Miranda Bryant

SVP, Original Programming

Lifetime

David Collins

Co-Founder & Executive Producer

Scout Productions

Jason Sarlanis

President, TBS, TNT, truTV, ID & HLN - Linear & Streaming

Warner Bros. Discovery

Ryan McNeily

Partner and Agent, Unscripted Television

WME

Advance sign-up was required.

We’ve assembled some of the top distributors in unscripted and non-fiction entertainment and made them available for you to meet with over lunch. Sign up to find out what these industry experts can offer you and your production.

Sign-ups opened Wednesday, December 6 at 11:00 am EST and closed Friday, January 26 at 5:00 pm EST.

Speaking

Table host

Philip Kalin-hajdu

Head of Content & Storytelling

GRB Media Ranch

Table host

Bo Stehmeier

CEO

Off the Fence

Table host

Natalie Vinet

SVP, Global Distribution

Boat Rocker Rights

Table host

Felicia Litovitz

VP, Acquisitions, North America

Cineflix Rights

Table host

Justina Wójtowicz

EVP, Acquisitions Co-Productions & Sales

Rive Gauche Television

Table host

Laetitia Giansily-Doyle

Development, Sales & Strategic Partnerships, North America

Terranoa US

Table host

Poppy McAlister

Division Head of TVF International

TVF International

Table host

Ben Barrett

Global Head, Content Financing & Partnerships

Blue Ant International

Table host

Paul Heaney

CEO

BossaNova Media

Table host

David Cornwall

Managing Director

Scorpion TV

Table host

Will Stapley

Head of Acquisitions

Abacus Media Rights

Table host

Rebecca Nicholls

Head of Sales & Acquisitions

Espresso Media International

Table host

Sean Wheatley

Head of Acquisitions

Passion Distribution

Table host

Liz Tang

Executive Director, Acquisitions

Fifth Season

The old model — you know, the one from 18 months ago — was all about getting the greenlight. Now, with the commissioning process compromised by myriad factors, it’s about getting the green… the money to get your project off the page and into production, with or without a commissioner on board. Rather than wait for the commissioning chill to thaw, producers that have built businesses through ‘work for hire’ are increasingly shifting to the ‘make it and sell it’ approach that has been the tried-and-true model for international content creators and distributors. Here, you’ll meet execs who will share the latest developments in international distribution, and experts who can help you navigate the many emerging avenues for funding factual and unscripted content.

Speaking

Polly Scates

Head of Acquisitions

Channel 4

David Cornwall

Managing Director

Scorpion TV

Paul Heaney

CEO

BossaNova Media

Kate Harrison

President

Cream Productions

J.C. Mills

President and Head of Content

Cineflix Productions

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Max Micallef

VP, Head of West Coast Development

History

Learn what's on the horizon for some of the hottest unscripted genres. Hear about future plans and priorities from a mini panel of production and network execs, followed by audience Q&A.

No sign-up required. We'll fill space on a first-come, first-seated basis until we reach room capacity. Inclusion in your personal agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Ralf Rückauer

Vice President Unscripted

ZDF Studios GmbH

Bo Stehmeier

CEO

Off the Fence

Shin Yasuda

Senior Producer

NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Michael McMahon

Founding Partner

Primitive Entertainment

Approaching the unscripted and non-fiction content business through a global lens, with these spotlights you’ll meet leading commissioners and content executives from various territories around the world, and learn more about their programming strategies, as well as coproduction and co-development opportunities.

Speaking

Iwan England

Head of Unscripted Programming

S4C International

Nicola Lloyd

Creative Director

ITV

Danny Fenton

CEO

Zig Zag Productions

Shaminder Nahal

Head of Specialist Factual

Channel 4

Hayley Reynolds

Commissioning Editor, Documentaries & Factual

Sky TV

Advance sign-up was required.

Programming execs, each at their own table, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST.  Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Jessica Schmiedchen

Director of Development, Unscripted Content

CBC

Table host

Nekia Seymore

Manager of Development, TBS, TNT & truTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Erica Diaz-Gant

VP, Development

Investigation Discovery

Table host

Sara Helman

VP, Production & Development, TLC

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Fatih Shuayb

Executive Producer & Global Head of Studios & Content Development

Tastemade

Table host

Roger Henry

VP, Programming

MotorTrend Network

Table host

Brad Holcman

Senior Director, Non-Fiction & Alternative Programming

A+E’s Home.Made.Nation

Table host

Katie Isaacson

Senior Director CNN Original Series

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Julie Chang

EVP, Business Strategy & Co-Productions

Blue Ant Media

Table host

Shane Ertter

Manager of Development, VICE TV

VICE

Table host

Joseph Schneier

SVP, Production & Development, Discovery Channel

Warner Bros. Discovery

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

David Stefanou

Head of Unscripted Programming

Hallmark Media

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Nicole Vogel

VP, Unscripted Programming & Development

Lifetime Television

In a time of austerity measures and audience engagement/retention challenges, conventional wisdom dictates that sticking with the tried-and-true that’s a known draw for your viewers is fiscally prudent. But taking the “big swing” can result in bigger home runs, and building buzz doesn’t always mean breaking the bank. This session brings together the producers, programmers and development execs who are managing to turn innovative new concepts into hits, to share how they overcame budgetary constraints to grow their audience in creative ways.

Speaking

Minerva Lopez

SVP, Alternative Development

Universal Television Alternative Studio

Leela Pon

SVP, Content

Fox Alternative Entertainment

Mike Beale

Managing Director, Global Creative & Production Support

ITV Studios

Matt Hornburg

Co-President

Blue Ant Studios

Ryann Lauckner

Chief Strategy & Operating Officer

Fulwell 73

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Angela Molloy

SVP, Development & Original Production AllBlk & WEtv, Unscripted

AllBlk/WEtv

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Sean Gottlieb

VP, Head of Development

A&E

Take a deep dive into Nat Geo and its ambitious plans for its unscripted and non-fiction slate via a special keynote conversation at the upcoming Realscreen Summit with Tom McDonald, Executive Vice President of Global Factual and Unscripted Content for National Geographic.

With his team overseeing more than 300 hours of programming a year, McDonald will share with the Summit audience details about the network’s commitment to ushering in fresh takes on natural history, science and adventure programming for Nat Geo’s multi-generational and global audiences, and how it looks to international producers to deliver on that commitment.

For this keynote session, Tom McDonald will preview several upcoming series, and will be interviewed by Wild State co-founder and producer Benjamin Grayson.

Speaking

Tom McDonald

EVP, Global Factual & Unscripted Content

National Geographic

Benjamin Grayson

Partner, Executive Producer

Wild State

Advance sign-up was required.

An informal networking opportunity for delegates to meet with commissioning and development execs over continental breakfast & coffee.  These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Sign-ups opened Wednesday, December 6 at 11:00 am EST and closed Friday, January 26 at 5:00 pm EST.

Speaking

Table host

Ralf Rückauer

Vice President Unscripted

ZDF Studios GmbH

Table host

Hayley Reynolds

Commissioning Editor, Documentaries & Factual

Sky TV

Table host

Aisling O'Connor

Commissioning Editor, Unscripted

BBC

Table host

Shaminder Nahal

Head of Specialist Factual

Channel 4

Table host

Lauren Whitelaw

Head of Programming

OUTtv Network Inc

Table host

Fozia Khan

Head of Unscripted, UK

Amazon Studios

Table host

Natasha Negrea

Head of Programming

TVO

Table host

Susie Jones

Head of Factual

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Table host

Shin Yasuda

Senior Producer

NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Table host

Myriam Lopez-Otazu

GVP Content EMEA

Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA

These networking sessions are designed for you to meet many unscripted and non-fiction executives in a short, speed-dating style. Speed Networking is open to all Realscreen Summit delegates and is NOT a pitch session.

Access to Speed Networking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is filled.

Join Realscreen Hall of Fame 2024 inductees Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller for a keynote conversation where they will discuss the ingredients that make for captivating HBO docs, their approach to building noteworthy slates year upon year, and their thoughts on the current challenges and opportunities facing the documentary industry.

Speaking

Nancy Abraham

EVP, Documentary & Family Programming

HBO

Interviewer

Michael Schneider

TV Editor

Variety

Lisa Heller

EVP, Documentary & Family Programming

HBO

Approaching the unscripted and non-fiction content business through a global lens, with these spotlights you’ll meet leading commissioners and content executives from various territories around the world, and learn more about their programming strategies, as well as coproduction and co-development opportunities.

Speaking

Joseph Maxwell

Head of Unscripted

SBS

Mikiko Nishiyama

Executive Advisor, Global Strategy Headquarters

Nippon TV

Shin Yasuda

Senior Producer

NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Susie Jones

Head of Factual

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Advance sign-up was required.

Programming execs, each at their own table, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST.  Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Angela Polk

Vice President, Development

Hallmark Media

Table host

Lisa Marie Angelo

Director, Development & Original Production, Unscripted

ALLBLK/WEtv

Table host

Brittinee Royes

VP, Unscripted Lifestyle & Docuseries

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Table host

Adam Steinman

Production and Development

Walt Disney Television Alternative

Table host

Zara Frankel

Senior Director, Programming & Development

PBS

Table host

Duncan McIntosh

VP, Development, Alternative

FOX Entertainment

Table host

Jodi Scheer

Director, Production & Development, HGTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Hayley Reynolds

Commissioning Editor, Documentaries & Factual

Sky TV

Table host

Jeff Simpson

Managing Director

BYUtv

Table host

Angelina Rivero

Director of Programming

Telemundo

Table host

Adriana Garcia

Director of Development

National Geographic Channel

Table host

Dana Volkmer-Jones

Director, Programming & Development Food Network

Warner Bros. Discovery

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Drew Tappon

Head of Unscripted, Oprah Winfrey Network

Warner Bros. Discovery

Top social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are shaping how younger audiences consume and interact with content, and while many unscripted properties (and the talent that propels them) are part of that ecosystem, there is still a wealth of opportunity to be explored  – be it uncovering IP and partnering with talent that can potentially translate across platforms, or using social content as a development lab to create your own brands. This session brings together platform programmers, social content mavens and social-savvy producers to outline the steps towards greater, and possibly lucrative, social content consciousness.

Speaking

Tulani André

VP, Social Media

National Geographic

MIke Duffy

CEO

Ugly Brother Studios

Alex Piper

Head, Night Studios

Night, Inc

Danielle Howe

Director of Marketing

Smosh

Fanny Baudry

Managing Director, DNA

Wheelhouse

Learn what's on the horizon for some of the hottest unscripted genres. Hear about future plans and priorities from a mini panel of production and network execs, followed by audience Q&A.

No sign-up required. We'll fill space on a first-come, first-seated basis until we reach room capacity. Inclusion in your personal agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Richard Life

SVP Acquisitions and Co-Productions

Cineflix Rights

Julie Meldal-Johnsen

EVP, Global Content

ITV Studios

At ITV Studios we are actively looking for content in the specialist factual genre from history told in a new angle, natural history, engineering, science, space exploration as well as more populist factual entertainment. We are open to hear concepts from the very start, to look at different finance models with you and work on best solutions. We are excited about all content, and would love to tell your story with you.

Erica Diaz-Gant

VP, Development

Investigation Discovery

Brittinee Royes

VP, Unscripted Lifestyle & Docuseries

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Koulla Anastasi

Commercial Director

Woodcut Media

At Woodcut Media, we are looking to partner with like-minded producers with unique stories to tell in our key areas of specialist factual, true crime and premium docs. We bring exceptional production expertise and co-funding opportunities through our distribution arm, Woodcut International.

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Isaac Ahn

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

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Jenna Rosa

SVP, Unscripted Development

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Advance sign-up was required.

An informal networking opportunity for delegates to meet with commissioning and development execs over lunch.  These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Rob Swartz

SVP, Development & Production

REELZ Channel

Table host

Roger Henry

VP, Programming

MotorTrend Network

Table host

Melanie Bowman

Development Director

Tastemade

Table host

Dane Joseph

VP, Unscripted Series

Hulu

Table host

Julie Chang

EVP, Business Strategy & Co-Productions

Blue Ant Media

Table host

Neil McDonald

VP, Nonfiction Development & Production

AMC Networks

Table host

Dana Volkmer-Jones

Director, Programming & Development Food Network

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Lyle Gamm

SVP, Original Series, CNN

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Alexandre Marionneau

Head Of International Co-Production, Society & Culture

ARTE France

Table host

Austyn Biggers-Roth

SVP, Original Programming & Production

TV One

As content consumption models continue to evolve, more and more eyes are fixating on FAST channels and the ability to create new revenue streams for library content. And it’s not just networks that are moving into the FAST lane – producers and distributors who have multiple seasons of popular series (and the rights to those hours) are also building channels of their own. This session will explore where the opportunities are now in the FAST market for legacy and original content, and where it’s headed next.

Speaking

Greg Diefenbach

Managing Director

MagellanTV

Carlyn Staudt

EVP Global Channels & Streaming

Blue Ant Media

Katrina Kowalski

Senior Vice President, International Content Programming & Acquisitions, Pluto TV

Paramount

Andrew Singer

President & Chief Executive Officer

Andy Singer Media

Advance sign-up was required.

Programming execs, each at their own table, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST.  Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Sean Collins

Channel Manager

Channel 4

Table host

Nicola Lloyd

Creative Director

ITV

Table host

Nekia Seymore

Manager of Development, TBS, TNT & truTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Duncan McIntosh

VP, Development, Alternative

FOX Entertainment

Table host

Ninder Billing

Vice President, Unscripted International Co-Productions

A+E Networks UK

Table host

Brad Holcman

Senior Director, Non-Fiction & Alternative Programming

A+E’s Home.Made.Nation

Table host

Neil McDonald

VP, Nonfiction Development & Production

AMC Networks

Table host

Max Einhorn

Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Innovations

FilmRise

Table host

Fatih Shuayb

Executive Producer & Global Head of Studios & Content Development

Tastemade

Table host

Erika Dilday

Executive Producer

American Documentary | POV

Table host

Andreas Lemos

Director, International Content

Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Leela Pon

SVP, Content

Fox Alternative Entertainment

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Sara Helman

VP, Production & Development, TLC

Warner Bros. Discovery

While the content climate is currently challenging for buyers and sellers alike, the demand for programming that cuts through the clutter continues unabated. And some of the most buzzworthy work is coming in the form of what some call “pop docs”, or the “docbuster” – limited docuseries events that have as their main aim the grabbing of eyeballs and not necessarily Oscars (although those are nice, too). Here, producers and programmers will share their thoughts on what's working where, and why -- from profiles of pop culture icons to "stranger than fiction" true stories -- and what subject matter might be next in line for the 'docbuster' treatment in the near future.

Speaking

Robyn Lattaker-Johnson

Agent, Media Consultant

Erica Diaz-Gant

VP, Development

Investigation Discovery

Zane Friedkin

VP, Development

Story Syndicate

Fozia Khan

Head of Unscripted, UK

Amazon Studios

Justin Lacob

Head of Development

XTR

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Betsy Slenzak

VP, Unscripted Programming

The CW Television Network

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Joseph Schneier

SVP, Production & Development, Discovery Channel

Warner Bros. Discovery

Hosted by Emmy® Award-nominated entertainment journalist Scott Evans, the Realscreen Awards will pay tribute to outstanding content from around the world at the industry’s global celebration of excellence in non-fiction and unscripted entertainment.

Speaking

Host

Scott Evans

Entertainment Journalist, Host

Access Hollywood

Advance sign-up was required.

An informal networking opportunity for delegates to meet with commissioning and development execs over continental breakfast & coffee.  These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Sign-ups opened Wednesday, December 6 at 11:00 am EST and closed Friday, January 26 at 5:00 pm EST.

Speaking

Table host

Connie Hodson

Director of Content Acquisitions & Partnerships

Little Dot Studios

Table host

Sean Collins

Channel Manager

Channel 4

Table host

Tracy Beckett

Commissioning Editor, Co-Productions & Acquisitions

PBS Distribution

Table host

Peter Andrews

Head of Network Programming, TV & Online Content

SBS

Table host

Angelina Rivero

Director of Programming

Telemundo

Table host

Iwan England

Head of Unscripted Programming

S4C International

Table host

Mikiko Nishiyama

Executive Advisor, Global Strategy Headquarters

Nippon TV

Table host

Nicola Lloyd

Creative Director

ITV

Table host

Ninder Billing

Vice President, Unscripted International Co-Productions

A+E Networks UK

Table host

Fabrizio Zappi

Head of Documentaries

RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana

Julia Alexander, Director of Strategy at Parrot Analytics and Analyst at Puck News, joins Realscreen Summit to provide her Big Projections for the Future of Unscripted Media. The talk will include exclusive data pertaining to topics including fluctuating demand and supply trends for unscripted programming both domestically and internationally, a state of the union look at key players in a consolidating market, white space opportunities for different types of subgenres within unscripted programming across film and television, the question of whether sports docuseries are a long play or a short term bubble, and more.

Speaking

Julia Alexander

Director of Strategy

Parrot Analytics

Founded by John de Mol, creator of such world-beating formats as The Voice and Big Brother, Netherlands-headquartered Talpa Studios is a major force in global unscripted entertainment, with creativity and innovation woven through its DNA, and guided by the motto: “Dream big and move fast.” Here, you’ll get a special glimpse behind the curtain to find out more about the company’s creative processes, ranging from the inner workings of its Format Lab and “Content Wheel” to its approaches to creative partnerships and global distribution.

Speaking

Sebastian van Barneveld

Director, Global Distribution

Talpa

Maarten Meijs

Chief Executive Officer

Talpa Studios

Advance sign-up was required.

Production company execs, each at their own tables, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches from potential production partners. 

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST.  Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Eliya Arman

Executive Producer

WAG Entertainment

Wag is a factual and specialist factual producer working for broadcasters in the uk, US and internationally. We are looking for mind blowing true crime ltd series with great archive or access, access based male skewing factual, blue light access ideas and anything that looks at rehabilitation of ex-convicts, re-entering society.

Table host

Koulla Anastasi

Commercial Director

Woodcut Media

At Woodcut Media, we are looking to partner with like-minded producers with unique stories to tell in our key areas of specialist factual, true crime and premium docs. We bring exceptional production expertise and co-funding opportunities through our distribution arm, Woodcut International.

Table host

Roy Aalderink

Founder & CEO

Concept Street

Concept Street is looking for loud ideas in the reality and factual entertainment space. We’re looking for formatted concepts in the dating space, social experiments, competition reality and ideas that are or can be turned into a high-volume stripped daily.

Table host

Tom Miyauchi

Head of Formats

Nippon TV

Table host

Andrew Farrell

Head of Factual

CJZ

One of Australia's largest indies, CJZ has eclectic tastes. If a project inspires us creatively and we think it can find a path to audience somewhere in the world we will give it a go. From True Crime to Sports Access to Specialist Factual. We are open to producing partnerships with smaller players & individuals who have big ideas that may work in Australia and/or The World.

Table host

Andrea Gabourie

President & Executive Producer

FORTE Entertainment

FORTÉ Entertainment is an Emmy Award-winning prodco active across multiple genres. In the unscripted space we are looking for high quality, premium factual series with access to IP, lifestyle concepts with fresh talent and new spins on the competition reality model.

Table host

Harry Gamsu

VP, Creative, Format, Development and Sales

Warner Bros. Discovery Television Group

Table host

Julie Meldal-Johnsen

EVP, Global Content

ITV Studios

At ITV Studios we are actively looking for content in the specialist factual genre from history told in a new angle, natural history, engineering, science, space exploration as well as more populist factual entertainment. We are open to hear concepts from the very start, to look at different finance models with you and work on best solutions. We are excited about all content, and would love to tell your story with you.

Table host

Joe Rivadeneira

SVP, Development & Production

Beyond Productions

Beyond Productions has a major expertise in true crime, lifestyle (especially renovation and food), dating, social experiments, popular science, automotive programming and the team has produced popular series such as Emmy Award-nominated MythBusters for Discovery, My Lottery Dream Home for HGTV, Back in the Groove for Hulu and Deadly Women for ID. We are looking for more of what we are known for in the spaces above.

Table host

Renata Lombardo

SVP, Development & Current Non-Scripted Programming

Scout Productions

Table host

Anouk van Dijk

Head of Sales & Co-Productions

Quintus Media

The main areas Quintus Media is looking to commission into are Prisons, Tough Jobs, Dangerous Journey, Mysterious Locations, Subcultures and Survival. Check out their top performing videos at https://www.youtube.com/@FreeDocumentary for more on what works for Quintus.

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Kristina Edwards

VP, Current Series and Development, Unscripted Formats

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Shelby Shaftel

SVP, Unscripted Series & Development

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Approaching the unscripted and non-fiction content business through a global lens, with these spotlights you’ll meet leading commissioners and content executives from various territories around the world, and learn more about their programming strategies, as well as coproduction and co-development opportunities.

Speaking

Myriam Lopez-Otazu

GVP Content EMEA

Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA

Ralf Rückauer

Vice President Unscripted

ZDF Studios GmbH

Alexandre Marionneau

Head Of International Co-Production, Society & Culture

ARTE France

Fabrizio Zappi

Head of Documentaries

RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana

Céline Payot-Lehmann

International Executive Producer

Pernel Media

Learn what's on the horizon for some of the hottest unscripted genres. Hear about future plans and priorities from a mini panel of production and network execs, followed by audience Q&A.

No sign-up required. We'll fill space on a first-come, first-seated basis until we reach room capacity. Inclusion in your personal agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Pamela Gimenez

VP, Unscripted Current Production

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Teri Kennedy

Head, Lifestyle Programming & Daytime Originals

A+E’s Home.Made.Nation

Jenna Keane

CCO & Partner

RTR Media Inc

Sean Wheatley

Head of Acquisitions

Passion Distribution

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Lyle Gamm

SVP, Original Series, CNN

Warner Bros. Discovery

Advance sign-up was required.

An informal networking opportunity for delegates to meet with commissioning and development execs over lunch.  These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Noella Charles

VP Development & Original Production, Unscripted

AllBlk/WEtv

Table host

Brooke Townsend

Sr. Director, Non-Fiction Programming & Development

History

Table host

Pamela Gimenez

VP, Unscripted Current Production

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Table host

Adam Steinman

Production and Development

Walt Disney Television Alternative

Table host

Zara Frankel

Senior Director, Programming & Development

PBS

Table host

Jodi Scheer

Director, Production & Development, HGTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

Table host

Marcie Hume

VP, Programming

A&E

Table host

Aneka Hylton-Donelson

Director of Development

National Geographic Channel

Table host

Jack Oliver

Head of Co-Productions

Sky

Table host

Shane Ertter

Manager of Development, VICE TV

VICE

Table host

Nekia Seymore

Manager of Development, TBS, TNT & truTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Angela Aguilera

SVP, Unscripted Programming & Development

BET Networks

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Sydney Clover

Senior Director, Development

National Geographic

While some of the headlines concerning AI and its potential uses in television production might err on the side of sensational, the truth is that AI can be, and indeed has been, used in myriad ways to both simplify and augment the production process. From camera work to archive colorization, and from voice cloning and dubbing to algorithmic editing, AI tools can ramp up productivity and creativity. Here, you’ll meet unscripted executives and AI developers who will show you how – and why – you should be working with the tech now, as well as the policies and guidelines being developed to shape its usage. 

Speaking

Raja Khanna

Founder

Dark Slope

Benjamin Field

Founder & Executive Producer

Deep Fusion Films

Wesley Block

Co-Founder & CEO

Kino AI

Irad Eyal

CEO

Haymaker West/Quickture

Oz Krakowski

Chief Business Development Officer

Deepdub.ai

Advance sign-up was required.

Let’s slow things down and get a little more time to connect. In this session, programming execs will take one-on-one, eight-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opened on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 AM EST, and closed on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 PM EST.  Lottery results were emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 10 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups opened Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 PM EST, and closed on Friday, January 26 at 5:00 PM EST.

Speaking

Table host

Fozia Khan

Head of Unscripted, UK

Amazon Studios

Table host

Shaminder Nahal

Head of Specialist Factual

Channel 4

Table host

Ralf Rückauer

Vice President Unscripted

ZDF Studios GmbH

Table host

Joseph Maxwell

Head of Unscripted

SBS

Table host

Iwan England

Head of Unscripted Programming

S4C International

Table host

Natasha Negrea

Head of Programming

TVO

Table host

Alexandre Marionneau

Head Of International Co-Production, Society & Culture

ARTE France

Table host

Jack Oliver

Head of Co-Productions

Sky

Table host

Susie Jones

Head of Factual

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Table host

Fabrizio Zappi

Head of Documentaries

RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana

Table host

Shin Yasuda

Senior Producer

NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Table host

Philip Webb

COO

OUTtv Network Inc

Realscreen Summit's annual international pitch competition is back. Watch this year’s six finalists battle it out on stage for the chance to walk away with development deals from either NBCUniversal or Food Network.

Speaking

Judge

Cori Abraham

SVP, Development, Documentary & Crime

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Judge

Jodi Scheer

Director, Production & Development, HGTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

Host

David Rocco

Celebrity Chef | Television Host | Bestselling Author

Rockhead Entertainment

Judge

Brittinee Royes

VP, Unscripted Lifestyle & Docuseries

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Judge

Dana Volkmer-Jones

Director, Programming & Development Food Network

Warner Bros. Discovery

Chat over drinks with leading unscripted and non-fiction execs in a setting that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Space is limited to 25 delegates.  No sign-up required, spots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis until we reach room capacity.

Adding this session to your personal agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Host

Jodi Scheer

Director, Production & Development, HGTV

Warner Bros. Discovery

Host

Dana Volkmer-Jones

Director, Programming & Development Food Network

Warner Bros. Discovery

Chat over drinks with leading unscripted and non-fiction execs in a setting that aims to loosen up the networking vibe and help you make deeper connections. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Space is limited to 25 delegates.  No sign-up required, spots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis until we reach room capacity.

Adding this session to your personal agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

Speaking

Host

Brittinee Royes

VP, Unscripted Lifestyle & Docuseries

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Host

Pamela Gimenez

VP, Unscripted Current Production

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Labor strife, changing viewership habits and consolidation and contraction within the entertainment industry are all set to reshape the dealmaking process. From series orders to rights to residuals, and many points between, dealmaking is evolving, and knowing the changes underway is smart business. Here, a crack team of legal experts, producers and network execs will explore what dealmaking will look like in the very near future, and offer guidance on how you should be structuring projects as streaming rewrites the deal memo.

Speaking

Anne Kennedy McGuire

Partner

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Theresa Patiri

Senior Vice President, Original Production, Operations & Business Affairs

WE tv & AllBlk, AMC Networks

Marco Bresaz

Founder & CEO

Pronounced Media

Rina Yano

SVP, Business & Legal Affairs

Westbrook Inc.

Marc Kamler

Head of Unscripted Packaging

Innovative Artists

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, and when it comes to uncovering the content trends that will shape schedules for the year ahead, the more you know, the better. Join our panelists from multiple territories and across the unscripted content spectrum as they share their thoughts on what subjects and sub-genres will be ripe for exploration, and what cultural and societal trends and touchpoints in the zeitgeist are informing their development slates.

Speaking

Julie Chang

EVP, Business Strategy & Co-Productions

Blue Ant Media

Angela Neillis

SVP Non Scripted Content Commercial & International

Fremantle

Bridgette Theriault

SVP, Programming & Development, Warner Horizon / Development, Telepictures

Warner Bros. Discovery

Naimah Holmes

President

Hot Snakes Media

Marcie Hume

VP, Programming

A&E