Meet Our Judges

Iwan England
Head of Unscripted Programming
S4C International

https://www.s4c.cymru/en/ S4C is a PSB in Wales, UK and coproduces content in all genres with English and foreign language broadcasters and distributors globally. Looking for international content partnerships. https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/s4c-appoints-iwan-england-as-first-unscripted-chief/5175823.article

John Godfrey
Head of Commissioning
SBS

John Godfrey is Head of Commissioning at SBS, overseeing SBS’s distinctive commissioned content offering across original unscripted and scripted programming.

Prior to his appointment in this role in November 2022, John was Head of Unscripted for SBS, overseeing commissioned documentaries, factual entertainment, food and entertainment across SBS channels and platforms. This includes everything from the Eurovision Song Contest, Mastermind and The Cook Up with Adam Liaw, to the broad range of original SBS standalone documentaries and series like Alone Australia.

He joined SBS in 2008 and during his time with the network has been responsible for some of SBS’s highest rating and iconic programs, including Go Back to Where You Came From, First Contact, Struggle Street, and Filthy Rich and Homeless.

John has been in Australia since 2003, working in the UK prior to that for 10 years, series/exec producing for Channel 4 and BBC2.

Inga Leschek
Managing Director, Programming
RTL Television GmbH

Drew Tappon
Head of Unscripted, Oprah Winfrey Network
Warner Bros. Discovery

Drew Tappon is the Head of Unscripted Programming, Specials and Development for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a position he has held since June, 2021. He has oversight for all unscripted programming on the network, including the long-running LOVE AND MARRIAGE franchise, BELLE COLLECTIVE from Kingdom Reign Productions, FAMILY OR FIANCE from Bunim Murray Productions, and the returning relationship series and READY TO LOVE and PUT A RING ON IT, from Lighthearted Entertainment, in conjunction with Will Packer Productions. He has overseen such Spotlight Series for the network, as THE HAIR TALES and TIME OF ESSENCE as well as overseeing development for programming on the OWN button on the streaming app MAX.

TJ Tracy-Jean
Commissioning Executive
UKTV

In 2023 TJ joined UKTV’s factual commissioning team, bringing her decades of experience in all unscripted genres in roles spanning production, development and acquisitions.  In her most recent position, she spent a year as an International Format and Development Executive for Sony Pictures Entertainment in their LA gameshow division, where she acquired their first international unscripted format and played a key role in securing the commission of the newly launched US version of Raid the Cage. Prior to this, TJ worked in the Global Sony Entertainment team in London, where she contributed to the brand management of flagship formats Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Dragon's Den.  Projects she co-created and launched include property factual series Goodbye House for RTE, digital destination The Pet Collective that continues to be Fremantle’s most successful online original and factual series Triple Zero Heroes that resulted in a child saving his sister’s life when he replicated what he’d seen on the show.  She has worked for Discovery, Fremantle and BBC Worldwide, and unscripted formats she developed have aired in Argentina, India, Germany, France, Australia and the US and UK.

Tiffany Williams
EVP, Unscripted Programming & Development
BET Networks

Tiffany Lea Williams’ stellar career in television has spanned twenty years and has included development, production and current programming oversight. She has created and overseen multiple landmark series and specials in unscripted TV and developed domestic and international formats for the U.S. market.

She is currently EVP of Unscripted Programming at the Viacom-owned cable net BET, where she oversees the network’s entire unscripted programming, across digital and linear, including development, casting and production.

Williams, who launched her career at MTV as a production assistant, joins BET with nearly two decades of experience developing and managing primetime shows. Most recently, she served as SVP of unscripted programming and development at MTV, where she was instrumental in the development of such primetime series and spin-offs as Are You the One?, Ex on the Beach, Catfish: The TV Show, The Challenge, and the Teen Mom franchise. Williams held various leadership titles at MTV, including VP of unscripted series development. Prior to MTV, Williams rose through the production ranks at BET, VH1 and TV One.

She received her Bachelor in Media Arts degree from the University of South Carolina.

Roy Aalderink
Founder & CEO
Concept Street

Roy Aalderink is Founder/Producer and CEO of Concept Street – an independent, unscripted production company based in The Netherlands but creating, producing, and distributing (formatted) shows for audiences around the world.

During his career as Chief Creative and CEO of various Dutch production companies, Aalderink created dozens of formats for the Dutch and Flemish markets, of which many got international adaptations, including BBC in the UK (Save My Holiday), RTL Germany (Rehab), Cuatro Spain (Rehab), YLE Finland (My Last Words) and UPtv (Jo Frost: Nanny on Tour) in the USA. His music event show Gospel in Paradiso won the Rose d’Or for Best Music Program, and formatted docuseries My Last Words got a Special Mention in the Reality Category of the Rose d’Or. Roy also produced over 40 hours (4 different formats) of English-language shows for global (UHD/4K) streamer Insight TV.

On top of that, Roy’s portfolio includes local adaptations of many successful international formats, such as Survivor, (Celebrity) Wife Swap, Embarrassing Bodies, Say Yes To The Dress, The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes - and most recently the The Real Housewives franchise (The Real Housewives of Amsterdam).

Hollie Abbott
Development Executive
Boom Cymru

Hollie is the Director of Development at Cardiff-based Boom - part of the ITV Studios group. She oversees a broad slate of network and internationally focused factual and fact ent formats, that range from medical rig-shows to talent-led travelogues, bold new reality concepts to supersized competition formats.

She is a development specialist having worked at a wide range of companies including Zinc Media, Firecracker, Keshet and STV. 

Her credits include Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over (W), Big Zuu’s Big Eats (Dave), Hot Cakes (BBC Three/CBC Gem/TVNZ), Alan Carr’s Adventures with Agatha Christie (More4) Adults Only (5Star) and upcoming Our Little Farm on the Prairie (C5) and Who Will Love My Doggy? (Channel 5)

Valerie Abita
Producer

After a PhD in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Communication Science, Valérie became assistant director to renowned documentary filmmakers such as Jacques Malaterre (A Species Odyssey, 2003). In 2004, she began her career as a producer for Sombrero & Co where she initiated documentaries on science, discovery, history and geopolitics. The docudrama When the Egyptians Sailed on the Red Sea (2009) — co-produced with ARTE — is very representative of her work and ambitions, that is to follow and cover unprecedented scientific and human adventures for an international audience. Indeed, alongside ARTE, a dozen prestigious broadcasters participated in the production of this film.

Valérie joined ZED French independent company in 2011, where she continued to work on international co-productions such as the prime-time documentary series Eternal Monuments (3x90’) for ARTE and NOVA WGBH. Science still remains her favorite subject, as is clearly shown by her numerous co-productions with ARTE, including The End of Memory? (52’) and Brain Overload (52’).

Her expertise extends to the production of discovery documentary series such as A World of Scents (5x52’) co-produced with ARTE France, and The Secret Life of Lakes (10x52’), coproduced with ARTE and Radio Canada & TV5 Canada.

In 2020, she produced the series Genius Sea Hunters (4x52’ in 4K), directed by Jérôme Julienne and John Jackson, in co-production with Smithsonian Channel. This series is then adapted into a 100 % wildlife film (52’ in 4K) which won the prize for best marine film at the Green Screen International Wildlife Filmfestival.

Between 2019 and 2020, Valérie produced other films competing for various awards.

Among them, another film for ARTE — Zanskar, a winter of happiness (52’) by Caroline Riégel which won various awards including the “Film on Women” award at the GIFF (Gangtok International Film Festival) — and two films for France Televisions — Prehistoric Worlds (52' & 90' in 4K) coproduced with NHK and CuriosityStrean and The Weather: the race to forecast (52’ & 90’).

In 2021, she achieved the production of Rivers above the canopy (52’) a science doc
coproduced with NHK which won the “Best scientific documentary” at Silbersalz festival (2022) and a Silver Trophy at the Deauville Green Award Festival (2022)

In the course of her career, Valérie has also invested in the field of cultural documentaries: after Game Over (52’), she developed a few portraits of film icons such as Peter Falk versus Colombo (52’), Becoming Al Pacino (52’) and recently The Enigmatic Charlotte Rampling (52’).

Since May 2023, Valérie has been pursuing her career as a freelance producer for several French companies. She continues to initiate science and nature documentaries for French and international broadcasters and platforms.

In addition to her activities as a producer, she was also President of Pariscience International Scientific Film Festival from 2010 to 2015.

She also has been a jury member at several science, nature and history festivals, including the 2019 Silbersalz festival, and the 2020 Jackson Hole International Film Festival.

Harriet Allen
Commercial Executive, Non-Scripted
All3Media International

Harriet Allen has worked in TV distribution for over 6 years, specialising in non-scripted content distribution and investment. She is currently the Commercial Executive in the Non-Scripted Content team at All3Media International and leads on the commercial functions for their non-scripted slate. Harriet joined A3MI in 2021 from BBC Studios.

Koulla Anastasi
Commercial Director & MD, Woodcut International
Woodcut Media

Koulla Anastasi is Commercial Director at Woodcut Media and MD of Woodcut International, the company’s global content sales business.  Working alongside CEO, Kate Beal, she is responsible for expanding the company’s global activities focusing on the strategic development of Woodcut’s content slate, building global partnerships, and new project co-development.  She also Executive Produces a number of Woodcut Media's successful productions includingWorld's Most Evil Killers, Murdered At First Sight and The Killer In My Family.

Prior to joining Woodcut, Anastasi was Channel Director for Crime + Investigation (CI) and Lifetime at A+E Networks® UK and responsible for developing and driving the brand and editorial strategy for CI and Lifetime across commissions and acquisitions in the UK & Ireland and EMEA.  She developed, commissioned and exec produced over 150 hours of programming, including some of the channels’ biggest hits, Britain’s Next Top Model and Crimes That Shook Britain.

Tom Anstiss
Executive Producer
Wonderhood Studios

Tom Anstiss is a multi-award-winning Executive Producer at Wonderhood Studios in London. He created the highly acclaimed specialist factual format My Grandparents’ War for Channel 4 collaborating with A-List Hollywood talent including Helena Bonham Carter, Kiera Knightley & Kit Harington. 2 seasons of the series have been sold across the globe to PBS, CBC, SBS, Netflix and dozens of other territories.

Tom oversees a diverse slate of premium box set series and films in history, arts, true crime, and observational documentary for all the major networks. From the recent Grierson shortlisted Dodi: Last Days of a Playboy for Paramount + to the award-winning observational film The Forgotten Children.

Tom has executive produced and directed films for BBC Documentaries, ITV Factual, Vice, BBC Panorama and Channel 4 Dispatches. With over 25 years’ experience, he has worked for the world’s leading independents and originated returnable new factual formats, long-running series and award-winning films.

Alison Baker
Director
EasyTrack Developments

Alison has held a number of positions in the industry on both the Sales and Acquisitions side of International Distribution in the UK and Australia. Most recently fulfilling roles with Foxtel over four years as Content Acquisitions Manager acquiring factual programming for Fox Docos, A&E,  Crime+Investigation, History & Real Life, and previously the Acquisitions Manager for Foxtel’s Lifestyle Channels. Alison is also Director at EasyTrack (a Rights and Sales Management company for distributors). 

Alison’s previous positions include Senior Acquisitions Manager at ABC Australia, acquiring content across all factual genres.  Prior to joining the ABC, she was Director of Sales at Southern Star International (now part of Banijay Rights) where she was Director of Sales managing the sales team based across the UK, Paris and Sydney,  alongside negotiating sales and pre-sales across multiple genres. Prior to this Alison held roles at Polygram Television International, Pavilion Distribution and Mayfair Television.   Alison began her career in distribution at Granada Television International.

Alison acted as Juror for the 2021 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase at Jackson Wild.

Ben Barrett
Global Head, Content Financing & Partnerships
Blue Ant International Limited

Jennifer Batty
Head of Content Acquisitions
Samsung TV Plus

Fanny Baudry
Managing Director, DNA
Wheelhouse

Lee Beckett
Sr. Vice President
ISH Entertainment

Lee Beckett is an Emmy award-winning executive producer and currently Sr. Vice President of Ish Entertainment, which has delivered projects to a wide variety of networks and platforms including HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Hulu, Starz, Comedy Central, Lifetime, VH1, WE, MTV, Logo, Sundance, Oxygen, Freeform and many more.  Lee began her career producing narrative feature films and eventually added numerous nonfiction formats to her production slate as Executive Producer and General Manager at XCon Productions, which developed and produced documentary content for Discovery, ABC, Netflix and others. Prior to joining Ish Entertainment, Lee served as Vice President of Original Production for ABC News Studios, where she oversaw the production of documentary content for the Disney family of networks and streamers. Fluent in French, Lee has produced in several countries, including France, Portugal, Spain and Morocco, and is Head of the NY Chapter of the nonprofit French in Motion, dedicated to bridging the divide between the US and French-speaking film and television industries. 

Austyn Biggers
SVP, Original Programming & Production
TV One

Austyn Biggers joined TV One in April 2022 as SVP, Programming and Production. In this role, he oversees scripted and unscripted programs and films at TV One and Cleo TV. In addition to the True Crime hits Fatal Attraction, For My Man, Sins of the City, and Payback on Monday nights, he also oversees the network’s Sunday night prestigious series Unsung and Uncensored. Joining the network, he helped launch the new campaign “Thursday Nights are for Lovers” with new shows The One with Kirk and Tammy Franklin and Asking for a Friend hosted by Lisa Raye McCoy. He also oversees TV One’s feature film lineup including Never Would Have Made it: The Marvin Sapp Story, A Mother’s Intuition, A Christmas Prayer, and more.

He has Executive Produced several scripted and unscripted projects including Reality Series, Award Shows, Talk Shows, Event Specials, Feature Docs, and Live Events. At Get Lifted Film Co., Austyn’s projects included the HBO docu-series Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (HBO), John Legend and Family: A Bigger Love Father's Day Special, Tommy Oliver’s documentary 40 Years A Prisoner (HBO), Giving Voice (Netflix), A Crime on the Bayou (Starz), Legend of the Underground (HBO MAX), Citizen Ashe (HBO MAX) and Loudmouth, which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Get Lifted Film Co. is led by Emmy® and Tony® Award-winning producer Mike Jackson, EGOT recipient and award-winning producer John Legend, and CEO of Friends at Work, Ty Stiklorius. Biggers also previously developed and produced a variety of series for Viacom (Racing Wives, 90s House), and has served in various original-series development and production roles for BET Networks.

Before joining Get Lifted Film Co. in May of 2019, he was a consulting producer on the hit E! series Very Cavallari and Supervising Producer on CMT’s Racing Wives. He served as an In-house Executive Producer at MTV, LOGO, & VH1 from 2008 to 2016 and was the Sr. Director of Development for BET Networks, where he was involved in all facets of original series development and production. Austyn’s BET credits include Baldwin Hills, College Hill, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, First In, Being Terry Kennedy, Born to Dance: Laurieann Gibson, Tiny & Toya, Let’s Stay Together, Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, House of Bodies, Party the Wright Way, The Sheards, and The Xperiment.

Over the last 22 years, Austyn has worked in virtually every aspect of television production, from development to field to post. He has developed over 200 pilots, presentations, scripts, and formats for TV, Streamers, shorts, film, and digital apps.
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Austyn has called Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles home before moving to the DMV in 2022. He is currently a board member of Comic Relief US, the organization behind Red Nose Day. Austyn volunteers with several organizations including those related to HIV/AIDS and safe living spaces for LGBTQ+ people. He is also a strong advocate for animal rights and encourages everyone he knows to adopt their next pet.

Susan Boshcoff
CEO/CCO
MOXYPLANET Media Inc

Susan Boshcoff is a writer, executive and creative producer with 20+years experience in international television production, marketing and distribution of original content for broadcast networks worldwide.

A strong creative with a passion for content that connects and speaks to a global
audience, Susan has produced and filmed projects on locations across North, Central and South America, Europe and North Africa. She has co-created and written multi-season factual series, doc programs and competition formats, and collaborated on numerous scripted and factual projects in development.

With extensive specialist experience in international broadcast distribution, business
affairs, contract negotiations and the licensing of thousands of hours of content, Susan knows the value of rights across global territories and broadcast platforms including emerging online and AVOD.

Susan began her career in production in 1998, and co-founded boutique
producer/distributor re:think Entertainment in 2003 where she oversaw development, co-production and licensing original youth, doc and factual programs. She worked with LGI Media as VP of Acquisitions and Co-Productions from 2014-16, and in 2017 co-founded Moxyplanet Media. In 2018 Susan joined Animiki See Distribution (ASD) as Consultant General Manager, helping to facilitate the launch of the niche Indigenous distributor in 2019. Susan continues to consult with ASD part-time on international distribution and business development.

Dylan Casella
Head of Acquisitions & Co-Productions
Off the Fence

At Off The Fence Dylan works closely with producers to secure the best content for OTF's international portfolio of broadcast and digital clients, whilst providing the best route possible to the international market for producers and filmmakers. Also sitting within the OTF Studios team, Dylan works editorially across OTF's third party co-productions slate to shape content for the international market. With a degree in Biology and a Master's in Science Communication, Dylan's passion is bringing unique factual stories to life and sharing them with global audiences.

Meghan Cassin
VP Content
Warner Bros. Discovery

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 and series across Wild, National Geographic and National Geographic’s Disney+ tile. Cassin has developed audience favorites such as Heartland Docs, Alaska Animal Rescue, Critter Fixers, Dog Impossible and Dead by Dawn. She executive produced the award-winning multiplatform series Untamed with Filipe DeAndrade and the highest-rating SharkFest special to date, World’s Biggest Great White? She is also a co-creator of Field Ready, National Geographic’s early career mentorship program.

Cassin has worked in development, strategy and production roles at Digitas, Siskel/Jacobs, Intersport and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. She is a graduate of The George Washington University and holds a Master of Science in integrated marketing and communications from Northwestern University.

Arianna Castoldi
Head of Doc Sales
Mediawan Rights

Arianna has a ten year experience in Documentary sales having previously served as sales executive at Wide House and Upside Distribution. In 2016 she joins Mediawan Rights where she spearheads the documentary division focusing on sales, financing and co-production.

Mala Chapple
President
Story Syndicate

Mala Chapple is an award-winning Executive Producer and television
Executive specializing in non-fiction content. Currently, Mala serves as
the President of the premium film and television production company
Story Syndicate where she oversees the company’s production, business
affairs, and financial operations, as well as business development. She
served as an Executive Producer on the company’s Netflix weekly
viewership record-setting series Harry & Meghan and the hit Netflix
adventure-exploration series Unknown. In the past, Mala served as the
SVP of Content Strategy, Operation and Media Partnerships at MTV
Studios and as the COO and Executive Vice President of Eastern, a
television production company with offices in NYC, LA and Atlanta
where she served as Executive Producer of VH1’s hit franchise, Love and
Hip Hop. Prior to Eastern, Mala worked as a network executive at
Sundance Channel where she oversaw the channel’s development and
production slate, including the Peabody award winning series “Brick
City” featuring Cory Booker. As an independent Producer she has worked
with Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlockand has produced shows for
A&E, Bravo, Comedy Central, FX, VH1, MTV, the History Channel. In
addition to her work, Mala serves on the Board of the Producers Guild of
America and the Advisory Board of Reelworks.

Nha-Uyen Chau
Founder & CEO
LGI Media

Nha-Uyen Chau is the Founder and CEO of LGI Media (formerly Looking Glass
International). Established in 2006, Nha-Uyen’s overall commitment to strengthening LGI’s presence within the international market has strategically shaped key relationships with both broadcasters and producers around the world. As the head of the company, not only does Nha-Uyen oversee the day to day operations of LGI as well as managing her own territory for distribution, she is passionate about developing new relationships and seeking out new talent to work with. Nha-Uyen actively works hands on with producers to develop their ideas and find financing for their projects. Since LGI’s inception, she has successfully secured co-productions and presale with a number of international broadcasters including CBC (Canada), Discovery Channel, ARTE (France/ Germany), Viasat and NHK (Japan). Nha-Uyen’s broadcast clients include Netflix, Amazon, National Geographic, BBC and Discovery Channels.

Nha-Uyen has served as a jury member for the BANFF 2012 World Media Awards
and an Editorial Board Member in 2015 for The World Congress of Science &
Factual Producers. She has recently extended her creative skills by working as an
Executive Producer on a number of projects for the international market including
Yohji Yamamoto: Rebel in Black (with NHK), Unlocking Einstein’s Brain (with NHK),
Spiky Gold Hunters (Pango productions for A&E Networks), Plane Resurrection (sold
to Netflix).

Prior to creating LGI, Nha-Uyen worked at Amsterdam based production and
distribution outfit Off the Fence as a Sales and Co-productions Executive. In her first
year as Sales Executive, she tripled the sales to Asia. Nha-Uyen also brought in a
number of key clients from the region including Animal Planet, Discovery, National
Geographic, CCTV (China) and TBS (Japan) as well as securing an output deal with
TVB (Hong Kong) which was the first ever output deal with an Asian broadcaster.
In 2019, Nha-Uyen was given the great honour of Commencement Speaker at the
Queensland University of Technology (QuT) for the School of Communication
graduation ceremony.

She holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the University of Sydney. Her
passion is to empower and support women to be the best version of themselves.

Jessica Chermayeff
Owner
Cousins

Jessica is a director and producer of television series and documentary films and a founding partner of the production company Cousins. Most recently she and Ana Veselic co-directed Hulu’s six part docu series, Planet Sex hosted by Cara Delevinge. Jessica and Ana also created, produced and directed Freeform’s The Come Up. She executive produced Lifetime’s Her America: 50 Women, 50 States, an award winning digital campaign with over 75 pieces of content in video, radio and print. She produced the award winning short, Senior Prom, for ITVS and directed the documentary film Towards the North, following Honduran refugees to the U.S. Border, as part of Humanity on the Move a campaign she produced about the global refugee crisis which received an IDA nomination and aired on PBS. She also produced the SXSW-winning, Emmy-nominated and Oscar-shortlisted documentary Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace. Her other producing and directing work includes nonfiction television for CNN, New York Times and PBS covering topics including the Mongol Nation bikers, Child literacy in Vietnam and sex trafficking in America. She is a board member of the New York Studio School and a resident of Brooklyn.

Jo Chichester
Manager, Screen
ABC Australia

Jo Chichester began her career in radio at triple j, 702 Sydney and Radio National before moving to ABC TV in 2013. She has worked on a range of factual entertainment programs in Arts, Comedy and Entertainment before joining the Arts division as an Executive Producer of internal programs, and Commissioning Editor of a range of successful documentaries including Brilliant Creatures, Outback Choir, Stop Laughing This is Serious, Streets of Your Town, Mambo: Life Irritates Art, The Go-Betweens: Right Here.  Jo is currently Manager of Screen overseeing a slate of long-running internal programs Gardening Australia, Back Roads, and Landline, with responsibility for developing new programs for TV and digital platforms across the ABC.  Recently developed and commissioned content includes Movin’ to the Country, Muster Dogs, Folau, Harley & Katya.  Previous commissions include The Australian Dream, Freeman, Brock: Over The Top, Capturing Cricket: Steve Waugh in India.

Julie Christie
CEO
NHNZ Worldwide

NHNZ Worldwide owner and CEO, Dame Julie Christie is the creator and producer of unscripted formats in 30 countries.  A past winner of New Zealand’s Women in Film & Television International Achievement Award, in 2017 Julie was awarded a damehood by the Queen for Services to Governance and Television.

Heather Sunkyung Chung
Head of International Programming
EBS Korea Educational Broadcasting System

I have been working at EBS for over 30 years. EBS is a terrestrial public broadcaster in KOREA to inform, educate, engage, and enlighten people for all walks of their lives. EBS provides lifetime education and is determined to grow into a global educational broadcasting company for public and lifelong education.

Head of Acquisitions of documentaries and kids programs.

Executive Commissioner of Animation 

And now I'm in charge of Executive Producer of Senior Education Programs.

As EBS is striving to keep pace with the rapid changes in the market and media, always new roles are required for me.

Nathalie Cloutier
Executive Producer
NFB The National Film Board of Canada

Nathalie Cloutier has been Executive Producer at the National Film Board of Canada’s French Documentary Studio since 2022. Cumulating more than 15 years of experience producing author documentaries, Nathalie supports bold ideas and believes in having a diverse range of auteur voices, while taking a flexible approach to the creative process. Her productions have received wide acclaim, from Sundance to Hot Docs, Locarno to RIDM.

Emma Collin
Programming Director
Indigo Entertainment

Emma is co-owner and Director of Programming at Indigo Entertainment Ltd, a global distributor licensing around 2,000 hours per annum. She has produced, exec produced and licensed thousands of hours across factual, film, drama and kids’ programming across the globe. In the unscripted space, her career includes such highlights as launching and building the reputation for David Blaine across Asia and Central Europe, the Red Bull Taurus World Stunt Awards, blue-chip natural history for the BBC; and most recently repping Mercedes-AMG’s Project ONE (the story behind the first street-legal hypercar with F1 technology) as well as the genre-defying reality series The Fashion Hero – A New Kind of Beautiful.  She has developed and exec-produced factual series for both UKTV and Discovery.

Emma spearheads Indigo’s acquisition and IP strategy. Her ability to take a project from ideation to delivery, often bringing complementary talent and commercial partners together, makes her an invaluable partner. 

A passionate advocate for mother nature, Emma prioritises projects grounded in sustainability and actively seeks partners who share her desire to protect the natural environment and raise awareness about climate change.  

Emma is also a proud mum to a menagerie of three kids and numerous animals! 

Jennifer Comeau
VP Development and Production
Ocean Entertainment Ltd

With 25 years of television industry experience in production, distribution, marketing and post production, Jennifer is VP Development and Production at Canadian independent production company, Ocean Entertainment. She oversees Ocean's development slate, and all productions, which are primarily documentary, lifestyle and factual based series and one-offs. Jennifer joined Ocean in 2006 as Post Production Supervisor, and was also an Animation Producer, and previously a Director of Sales and Marketing in Distribution for Nova Scotian based production companies. She is a member of the Board of Directors of AFCOOP, the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative; a member of Screen Nova Scotia, and a volunteer at Women in Film and Television Atlantic.

Nick Contino
VP Development & Programming
Eureka

Nick Contino is a seasoned development executive and producer, currently serving as the Vice President of Development and Programming at Eureka Productions. His contributions to the industry have earned him recognition including "Content Innovation Rising Star" at the Content Innovation Awards in 2020, presented by Television Business International.

Brandy Crawford-Uriu
Executive Producer
History

Brandy Crawford-Uriu is a director of development and programming at History and is responsible for developing  and producing new talent, series, and specials at the network. After a previous 7 year stint at History on the programming and development team, she left to spread her wings in development on the production company side and sold projects to a multitude of  networks and streaming platforms including HGTV, Facebook Watch, BET, TLC and HBOMax. With a skillset now reflective of her experience as an executive at both production companies and networks, Brandy is excited to be back at History, working to produce award-winning factual content.

Nick Crowe
Head, Unscripted Development
Saloon Media

As Head of Unscripted Development, Nick leads Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media production company, in development of the unscripted portfolio in North America and the international marketplace, with a focus on factual entertainment, formats and specials.

Laura Crowson
VP, Development
Warner Bros. Discovery

Laura Crowson is Vice President, Development for Discovery Channel.  In this role she is responsible for bringing new series and specials to the network while supervising the development and production of concepts to green light. Crowson also helps set development strategy for the network. 

During her tenure with Discovery, Crowson has managed the development of such series as Naked and Afraid, Gold Rush: Dave Turin’s Lost Mine, Deadliest Catch: Bloodline and Undercover Billionaire.

Before joining Discovery, Crowson served as a development executive/producer for Gurney Productions in Los Angeles. Earlier, she was in the agent training program at Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Kate Cundall
Consultant

Kate Cundall is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the entertainment industry, particularly in the realm of TV acquisitions and international distribution. With a strong background in identifying, securing, and maximizing the potential of compelling content, Kate has made significant contributions throughout their career.

As Vice President of Acquisitions at eOne, Kate played a pivotal role in sourcing and acquiring projects for international sales. With a keen eye for quality and commercial viability, they collaborated closely with producers, offering financial structuring advice, creative packaging suggestions, and sales strategies for scripted projects. Notably, Kate Cundall successfully acquired projects such as "Royal Mob" from Nutopia and "The Black Hand" from Wildbear. Their strong relationships with industry stakeholders and in-depth understanding of production financing and the global TV landscape contributed to their ability to secure programming with significant commercial potential.

Prior to their role at eOne, Kate served as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at DRG, where they acquired over 700 hours of content, further enhancing the company's content portfolio. Their expertise in assessing content for creative quality and commercial viability allowed them to identify and secure a diverse range of programming from various producers and rights holders. Through strategic partnerships and representation agreements, Kate ensured a strong content offering and maximized revenue potential. They also played a vital role in analyzing financing opportunities, flagging development and talent prospects, and establishing co-production partnerships to enhance content development and distribution.

As an Independent International TV Consultant, Kate provided valuable insights and guidance to organizations seeking to navigate the UK market. Collaborating with esteemed entities such as Variety, they offered in-depth analysis, strategic recommendations, and market insights, allowing clients to make informed decisions and capitalize on opportunities within the dynamic television landscape.

Throughout their career, Kate has consistently demonstrated exceptional negotiation, communication, and presentation skills. Their ability to meet acquisitions and production deadlines, coupled with their attention to detail and strong analytical skills, has proven instrumental in driving business and creative objectives. They have fostered strong relationships with stakeholders, including producers, IP owners, and industry professionals, and have been recognized for their ability to engage and persuade key individuals to achieve collective goals.

Kate holds a Degree in Real Estate Management from Oxford Brookes University, further demonstrating their versatility and commitment to excellence.

Overall, Kate Cundall is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a genuine passion for the entertainment industry. Their extensive experience in TV acquisitions, international distribution, and market analysis, along with their exceptional interpersonal skills and business acumen, have positioned them as a sought-after leader in the field.

James Buddy Day
CEO
Pyramid Productions

JAMES BUDDY DAY is an award winning investigative journalist, producer, showrunner, director for numerous television and feature documentaries. Buddy’s work has been showcased in numerous film festivals, and featured in national publications such as the cover of People, The Today Show, Rolling Stone, TMZ, The Daily Mail, Billboard, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Buddy’s widely recognized works include What Happened, Brittany Murphy? (HBO Max/Blumhouse/Pyramid Productions), Blumhouse’s Fall River (Epix/Blumhouse), and the Oxygen series, Florida Man Murders (Blumhouse), Catching a Serial Killer (Peacock Alley Ent), The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins, The Lovers Lane Murders, The Disappearance of the Susan Cox Powell (Texas Crew Productions), and Manson: The Women (Glass Entertainment). Some of Buddy’s past projects include Charles Manson: The Final Words (REELZ/Pyramid Productions), Charles Manson: The Funeral (DRG/MyEntertainment), The Slender Man Stabbing: The Untold Story (Red Arrow/Dorsey Pictures), and Casey Anthony: Her Friends Speak (Kinetic Content/Pyramid Pro).

Julien Degroote
EVP, Head of Content Development
TF1

Ludo Dufour
Vice President, Licensing
Curiosity Stream

Based in Los Angeles, Ludo Dufour is the Director of Coproductions and Partnerships for Red Bull Studios, where he handles global co-financing and distribution strategies for the studio. Prior to joining Red Bull Studios, Ludo was Senior Vice President of Sales & Coproductions for Blue Ant Media, where he oversaw the distribution and production financing of the group’s projects. And before that, Ludo was the Managing Director of Distribution for Off the Fence, overseeing the sales, acquisitions, marketing, and business affairs departments of the global, ZDF Studios-owned producer/distributor. During that tenure, Ludo associate-produced the 2021 Oscar-winning feature documentary “My Octopus Teacher”.  Ludo holds a master’s degree in international business from the European Business School (INSEEC/OMNES group) in Lyon, France 

Delores Edwards
Executive Producer
PBS/GBH

Delores Edwardsis an Emmy and multiple award-winning producer and writer delivering TV/video broadcast and digital content in entertainment, news, on digital platforms, talk, and documentary programming.

Edwards produced pieces, profiles and features for national programs and networks including, ABC News & News Specials, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, VH1, BET, and OWN.

Her passion for storytelling stems from her desire to create and develop content that informs and entertains audiences.  Her documentary and independent work includes,Harlem’s Handmaids,selected for the Reel Sisters NY Film Festival and her screenplay short,Bathroomthat was a finalist at the Wide Screen Film Festival and a finalist for the New England Film Star Award. She also produced profiles for the Tribeca Film Festival and was a Contributing Producer on the award-winning documentary,Proudly We Served: the Men of the USS Mason.

Edwards uses her voice and talent as the Executive Producer of the Emmy award-winning series,Basic Black, at the largest producing PBS station, GBH in Boston highlighting the Black community and topics impacting Black and Brown lives. Joining in 2016, she created nearly 200 original show episodes with over 700 guests. Edwards won an Emmy as Executive Producer for the special,Standing Ground: The Killing of George Floyd.She and the Basic Black team also received the prestigious Boston/New England’s National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors’ Award, their highest honor. She also headedOpen Studio, an arts magazine program for five years producing features on artists Misty Copeland, the late Harry Belafonte, and musician/composer Gustavo Santaolalla (Babel, Brokeback Mountain) and more.

Edwards additional honors include, multiple Clarion and National Association of Black Journalists, (NABJ) Salute to Excellence awards, an MPA Media Award, recognizing her work and programs examining mental health, the Margret and Hans Rey/Curious George Producers fellowship, a Case Media fellowship and multiple Emmy nominations. 

She was a member of the first Realscreen DIALOG mentorship cohort, and using the tools she learned to create and develop her own media projects.  A graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and Northeastern University, Edwards began her television career atABC News’ Nightline.

Karen Edwards
Executive Producer
Zinc Media

Karen is a multi-award-winning executive producer and documentary filmmaker.  

After a successful career as a print journalist, Karen moved into television in 2000 and has spent the last 20 years making documentaries. She is known for making ground-breaking and agenda-setting documentaries for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 as well as international broadcasters such as HBO and CCTV China.   

Karen has a reputation for making powerful and sensitive documentaries such as Nigeria’s Stolen Daughters - a feature-length film about the kidnapped Chibok girls in Nigeria (BBC2, HBO and Arte France), which won a News & Documentary Emmy and was awarded the prestigious Peter Jennings Award by the Overseas Press Club.  

Karen was also responsible for the highly acclaimed Grierson-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary Hunted (C4 and HBO), the Bafta and Grierson-nominated Ebola: The Doctors’ Story (BBC and HBO), The Orphans of Ebola (C4 and HBO), Terror in the Desert - a heart-stopping account of the Al Qaeda attack on a gas plant in Algeria, Tormented Lives - a powerful film presented by Rosa Monckton on the impact of disability hate crimes, and Frank Gardner’s Return to Saudi Arabia. 

Most recently, Karen made Fighter Pilot: The Real Top Gun, a three-part series for ITV primetime. This real Top Gun style documentary saw recruits battling to be picked to travel to the USA and learn to fly the most expensive fighter jet in the world. This adrenalin fuelled series, with unbelievable aerial scenes is now attracting US attention.  

Karen has just delivered a series with unique access to Network Rail for ITV and The Hunt for Gaddafi’s Billions - a feature documentary for BBC and European broadcasters. She is currently working on a feature documentary on 9/11 and is about to start her first venture into podcasting. 

With her journalism training, Karen is also known for crafting powerful and revelatory documentaries on current affairs that make headlines and prompt change. Her film, The Secrets of Sports Direct, was a catalyst for a national campaign, sweeping changes to the company’s employment methods and the owner of the high street giant being called before Parliament. Her documentary, The Paedophile MP: How Cyril Smith Got Away with It, prompted a full investigation, while her RTS and British Journalism Award-winning film, Plebs, Lies and Videotape, led to a policeman going to jail, ten more being disciplined and the highest-ranking civil servant and police chief in the country being called to Parliament to answer for their role in the scandal. 

Kelsey Espensen
Senior Director of Unscripted Entertainment
Blue Ant Media

Kelsey Espensen is the Director of Unscripted Development at marblemedia who focuses on Unscripted Entertainment and Formats. She developed Race Against The Tide for CBC and CBC Gem, developed Drink Masters for Netflix, created Best In Miniature for CBC and Discovery+ UK & Ireland and created A Cut Above for Discovery Canada, Discovery US and A&E UK. Kelsey has a Bachelor of Arts in Radio & Television from Ryerson University and a diploma in Broadcast Television from Conestoga College. She has over 9 years' experience working in both the television and radio industries. Prior to working at marblemedia, Kelsey was part of the marketing team at Sony Pictures Canada and was an on-air radio reporter for 101.7 The One at Blackburn Radio.

Victoria Fah
Producer, Consultant & Founder
Helvetica Films

Victoria Fäh is consultant, producer, and entrepreneur in residence at venture capital firm Antler based in London. Before pursuing her entrepreneurial endeavours, she held positions as Director, Development & Strategy, Unscripted and as Development Executive, Creative & Strategy at Anyway Content. In these roles, she led the pitch, packaging, and sales efforts of the unscripted slate, developed unscripted formats and documentaries and was responsible for new business across a variety of mediums. Additionally, she also serves as a graduate tutor in Creative Business at the National Film and Television School, guest speaker at University of Exeter and a postgraduate assessor at the University of Oxford for the MBA Business of the Arts, Culture and Entertainment module.

Before joining Anyway, she worked as a creative producer and in business development at Platonic Films, was an assistant producer at Timeline Film Switzerland and a project manager for internationally active Light Artist and Film Producer Gerry Hofstetter.

With a keen interest in the convergence of creativity and business, Victoria graduated from the prestigious National Film and Television school with a MA in Creative Business for Entrepreneurs and Executives. She was born and raised bilingually in French and German in Switzerland before moving to the US and the UK to pursue her degree in Political Science at King’s College London, University of California San Diego with additional courses taken at UCLA and Harvard University.

Farnaz Farjam Chazan
EVP Current Programming
Bunim Murray Productions

Farnaz Farjam was named Executive Vice President, Current Programming, at Bunim/Murray Productions in April 2021. 

Farjam, who has been with BMP for more than 20 years, has produced many of the studio’s top series including Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Total Divas, Total Bellas, and the studio’s recent Emmy Award-winning series Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls. 

In her role, Farjam creates and develops new celeb-reality series and oversees creative and logistical needs for all of BMP’s current projects, including serving as executive producer on The Family Stallone for Paramount+, as well as the studio’s recent reality film Dead Hot with Vanessa Hudgens (Tubi). 

Farjam won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as an executive producer on the Amazon Prime Video series Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, which won three Emmys, including Outstanding Competition Series in 2022. 

Farjam, who also served as executive producer/showrunner on E!’s Mariah’s World, originally started with the studio in 2003 as Supervising Producer. Prior to joining BMP, Farjam worked in unscripted production for Vin Di Bona Productions, Scott Sternberg Productions, and Paul Stojanovich Productions. 

Farjam began her career as a location manager in the film industry. 

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 of unscripted genres, including true crime shows Fear Thy Neighbor, Murder U and If I Should Die for Investigation Discovery, history projects like Age of Samurai for Netflix, CNN’s History of the Sitcom and The World Without Canada for History Canada, and supernatural series like Travel Channel’s Eli Roth Presents: A Ghost Ruined My Life and Paranormal Emergency. Cream has also recently entered the podcast space and James is a key member of the development team for this new effort.

John Farrar
Chief Creative Officer
Future Studios

Joey Femia
Vice President, Current Programming
Universal Television Alternative Studio

As Vice President of Current Programming for Universal Television Alternative Studio, Joey Femia oversees a wide range of series including Emmy® nominated comedy variety series “That’s My Jam,” “Weakest Link,” Lebron James’ “The Wall,” and upcoming wildlife series, “The Americas” narrated by Tom Hanks. Femia is also responsible for previous notable projects including holiday baking competition series “Baking It,” Emmy® Award-winning “Hollywood Game Night,” “World of Dance,” executive produced by Jennifer Lopez and many more.

Femia began his career as part of Walt Disney World’s management internship program. He went on to Blue Man Group as a Stagehand at Universal Orlando Resort, followed by a production internship in New York City at ABC’s “The View". He relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 as a Production Assistant on numerous programs ranging from “The Voice” to “The Oscars” and “Grammy Awards.” He then joined NBCUniversal as a Coordinator in the alternative programming division before rising to Director of Current Programming in 2020 at Universal Television Alternative Studio.

Femia graduated with a BA in Radio & Television Production and a BS in Event Management from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL.

Sam Fernandes
Head of Development
Nutopia

Sam oversees the day-to-day running of Nutopia’s development team across all genres. Joining Nutopia as a Researcher in 2015, Sam has been instrumental in developing much of Nutopia’s landmark premium content, including Babies for Netflix, The World According to Jeff Goldblum for Disney+, and the upcoming National Geographic series Limitless with Chris Hemsworth and Welcome to Earth with Will Smith. Prior to joining Nutopia, Sam was a broadcast writer at Canada’s CTV News Channel.

Ivo Fischer
Head Of Unscripted Talent And Content
Buchwald

Ilia Flagg
VP, Production
Caffeine Studios

With over fifteen years of producing experience, Ilia Flagg leads Caffeine Studios, a joint venture digital studio co-owned by live streaming start up Caffeine and FOX. Prior to heading Caffeine Studios, Ilia served as Senior Vice President of Current Programming and Executive Producer for Intuitive Entertainment and has been a creative force behind shows like “America’s Next Top Model,” Jermaine Dupri and Queen Latifah's “The Rap Game,” and “Ultimate Rap League" livestream events. With a strong focus on the ever-changing landscape of unscripted television, Ilia believes that storytelling, passion and character are the foundation for successful content. Ilia has spent over 15,000 hours on sets around the globe, in the interview chair or crafting narratives in the edit bay for a variety of networks including CW, FOX, NETFLIX, LIFETIME, VH1, TLC, FOOD, SYFY, BET, ANIMAL PLANET and NATGEO.

Andrea Florence
Executive Producer
Aquila Films

Emmy award–winning Executive Producer with a strong track record of high rating factual shows for broadcasters and platforms worldwide. 

Trained in Natural Science at Cambridge University she has a passion for sharing the wonder of science and wildlife. Spent many years travelling to remote locations across the globe to capture breathtaking visuals and compelling stories. Three years living on a river boat in the Amazon, several years in the rainforests of Indonesia and Belize resulted in a raft of successful films including blue chip wildlife shows, powerful ob-doc series, engaging A-list celebrity and presenter-led factual entertainment, innovative computer graphic specials as well as landmark 3D ventures.

She is founder member of Aquila Films, aboutique production company specialising in extraordinary standout adventure, wildlife, and science shows with innovation at their heart.

Andrew Freston
Co Head of Unscripted Vice President
VICE New York

Andrew is Vice President, Co-Head of Unscripted at VICE Studios. In his current remit Freston works to identify and create true stories with a unique positioning that resonate for both US and global audiences. Partnering with top talent and creatives Andrew has helped to build a robust VICE Studios’ Non-scripted and Documentary production slate.

His production credits include MAX’s recent streaming hit Bama Rush directed by Rachel Fleit, ESPN’s 2 part 30for30 The American Gladiator Documentary directed by Ben Berman which premiered at the Hot Docs Festival, another notable project is the documentary film titled Superpower, centered around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Co-directed by Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman, the film premiered in early 2023 at the Berlin Film Festival's Special Gala and is set to air on Paramount+. Freston also serves as the Executive Producer for the upcoming Netflix series Encounters.

His other executive producer credits include; Sundance hit, Meet Me In The Bathroom and Crusaders: Ex Jehovah's Witnesses Speak Out for VICE TV.

Andrew’s tenure at VICE began in 2011, in Los Angeles. His previous roles at VICE included being the Entertainment Category Director for branded content and marketing. Prior to joining VICE he worked at WME.

Bryan Gabourie
SVP, International Sales & Partnerships
Blue Ant Media

Based in New York, Bryan Gabourie is SVP, International Sales & Partnerships. In this role he oversees all sales activities from originals, pre-sales, content licensing, co-productions and strategic partnerships in the U.S. and is focussed on growing the company’s business across all platforms in that market.

Bryan has over 15 years experience in global distribution and development and was most recently Vice President, Global Content Sales & Digital Licensing at A+E where he represented A+E Networks brands and programming for content sales, co-production, channel partnership and format sales and managed multi-territory streaming opportunities. There he honed partnerships with linear broadcasters, digital and streaming platforms in the U.S. and English and French speaking Canada for all genres within the A+E portfolio.

Prior to joining A+E, Gabourie was Vice President, International Distribution & Development, Rive Gauche Television, where he was responsible for distribution of over 2,500 hours of television and film content to international broadcasters in Asia, Europe, The Middle East and major North American and worldwide/pan regional clients for both finished programming and formats. This role also included global acquisitions for new programming, co-production agreements and original development. Before becoming a distribution executive, Gabourie began his career in production and development holding several positions at Paramount Studios/20th Century Fox TV, Nickelodeon and Warner Bros.

Kitty Gambel
SVP, Unscripted & Alternative Television
Amazon MGM Studios

Kitty Gambel is the Vice President of Unscripted Television at MGM. In her role, she manages a large slate of development projects and serves as point on current productions, including Beat Shazam (FOX) and Generation Gap (ABC), and podcasts like Going to Bed with Garcelle and Are You Smarter than a 5^th Grader. Additionally, Kitty serves as the domestic point for a robust slate of documentary projects. Kitty has been nominated for two Emmys and was recently named one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders 2020” by Variety Magazine.

Prior to joining MGM, Gambel served as a development executive at 495 Productions, where she developed The Real (Telepictures/Syndi), Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party (VH1), and The Untitled Action Bronson Show (Viceland).  She started her career in daytime syndication, with credits including Maury, Divorce Court, and Judge Judy.

Alexander Gardiner
CEO
Rare TV

Alexander Gardiner is CEO of Rare Television, a company that makes popular documentaries for broadcasters in the US, UK and Ireland. Comfortable in all areas from modern aviation to ancient archaeology, key Rare TV titles include Ice Airport Alaska for the Smithsonian Channel, Digging for Britain for the BBC and a crime slate for six different channels. As well as heading a variety of production companies over the past 20 years, Alex has executive produced a wide range of programmes ranging from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! to the exposure of British TV legend Jimmy Savile as a sexual predator. He takes pride in the fact that Rare TV has been voted one of the best places to work in the British production sector and is one of the Real Screen Global 200. His mission is to show that the best programmes can come from the nicest places to work.  

Keith Geller
Executive Producer
B17 Entertainment (The Final Straw)

Keith Geller is the Executive Producer of Netflix “Floor is Lava”, TBS and ABC's "Wipeout", MTV's "Fear Factor”, "Cannonball" for NBC and Showrunner of ABC's "The Final Straw”. Keith has also developed formats for many production companies and networks such as EndemolShine, Propagate, Lionsgate, Critical Content, Youtube, ITV, Wieden and Kennedy, 51 Minds Entertainment, Renegade 83, MTV, NBC, ABC, FOX and CW.

Prior to working as an Executive Producer in broadcast television, Keith worked as a Director and Producer with a variety of regional theaters and on Broadway.

Rabih Gholam
Head, Alternative & Unscripted Department
Innovative Artists

Coltan Gibby
Vice President, Unscripted & Alternative TV
Warner Bros. Discovery

As Vice President of Unscripted Television at Warner Bros., Coltan Gibby has been at the studio for the past 10 years working directly with the unscripted president Mike Darnell. He has been part of a creative team that has developed and produced a wide range of series and documentaries, such as “Little Big Shots,” “Ellen’s Game of Games,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses,” and “Friends: The Reunion,” among others. Coltan is also an Executive Producer for the new podcast “Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon.” Prior to Warner Bros., Coltan was Manager of Alternative Entertainment at FOX (also under Mike Darnell) where he spent over 9 years at the network working in development and on various hit franchises, such as “American Idol,” “MasterChef,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “The X Factor,” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Previously, he was at E! Entertainment and worked seasonally at The Sundance Film Festival. Coltan graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Film & TV Production.

Pamela Gimenez
VP, Unscripted Current Production
NBCUniversal Television and Streaming

Pamela Gimenez is Vice President of Unscripted Current Production at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. Gimenez is charged with creative production oversight on select documentary and lifestyle unscripted programming across the NBCU Television and Streaming entertainment portfolio, which includes NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA Network and Peacock.

Gimenez joined NBCUniversal in 2018, since then, she has served as the executive in charge of production across several of NBCU’s biggest hits, including Bravo’s Below Deck, The Real Housewives of New Jersey & Miami, Family Karma, and Peacock’s I Love You, You Hate Me.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Gimenez spent much of her career as a producer on several series and specials, including Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Miami, Married to Medicine, and Southern Charm. She also spent many years at MTV producing under the News & Docs division where it lead her to working on My Super Sweet Sixteen, Extreme Cribs and VH1’s Mob Wives. Gimenez also is credited as one of the first producers to support launching MTVTRES; a Spanish/English television network focused on Spanish music videos, reality television and drama series.

Nick Godwin
Creative Director & Co-Founder
BriteSpark Films

Award winning film maker Nick Godwin launched BriteSpark Films in partnership with Argonon Media in 2013. At BriteSpark he has created and executive produced series and singles ranging from Channel 5’s long running Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords, to Murder in the Wicked West for Investigation Discovery and Porn King: The Rise and Fall of Ron Jeremy for Channel 4. Before BriteSpark Nick was Head of Documentaries at Cineflix Productions where he executive produced series such as Nazi Hunters, Air Aces, and feature length drama documentary Manson. Earlier, he held the same role at Wag TV. Nick, a graduate of the UK’s National Film and TV School, also spent twelve years directing observational and specialist factual documentaries for British and American broadcasters.

Elliott Halpern
President
yap films Inc

Elliott Halpern is a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer, writer and director of documentary specials and series.

Most recently, he was the Executive Producer on Ice and Fire: Tracking Canada’s Climate Crisis for CBC, Loons: A Cry From The Mist for Blue Ant Media and the Rockie-nominated film, The Machine That Feels, for ARTE and CBC’s The Nature of Things.

Elliott was also the Executive Producer on Black Liberators WWII (2021) for HISTORY Canada, the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series (2021) Emmy nominee, How It Feels to Be Free, for PBS American Masters, the Rob Stewart Award-winning film, A Day in the Life of Earth for CBC, BBC, and ZDFE; the CSA nominated series, Unabomber: In His Own Words for Netflix, REELZ and Discovery; the CSA nominated web-series, My Trans Journey for OUTtv; the CSA winning film for best history documentary or series, Ice Bridge for CBC, Smithsonian Channel, France 5, UKTV and SBS; the 2018 Banff Rockie Award winner Mosquito for Discovery Channel US (2017); the CSA and Banff nominated Black Watch Snipers for HISTORY Canada (2016); the CSA nominated Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl for PBS/American Masters, BBC Four/Arena and Sony Music (2016); and the CSA nominated, Building Star Trek – the highest rated documentary in the history of Smithsonian Channel (2016).

Danielle Hammer
Agent, WME, Non-Scripted TV
WME

Whitney Hayes
Director of Development
A. Smith & Co. Productions

Whitney Hayes serves as the Director of Development at A. Smith & Co., where she leverages her extensive experience spanning over a decade in unscripted casting, development, and production. In 2013, Whitney joined Dorsey Pictures, initially serving in casting and development roles. Displaying an innate knack for identifying compelling stories and cultivating talent, she swiftly ascended the ladder to Vice President of Development, where she headed up her own development team. Whitney has been the driving force behind several successful television series, including the critically acclaimed Accident, Suicide or Murder? (Oxygen), Building Off the Grid (Discovery), Containables (HGTV), Bus Life Ever (DIY), Tiny House, Big Living (HGTV), Tiny Paradise (HGTV), and Wild Ops (Outdoor Channel). In 2022, Whitney left Dorsey Pictures and joined the development team at A. Smith & Co. Here, she continues to pioneer in the development space, fostering creative innovation and steering projects from conception to realization, constantly pushing the boundaries of unscripted television entertainment. 

Bernhard Hendling
Freelance Format Developer and Co-Founder
Gamma Ray Productions

Bernhard Hendling is an independent format developer, content strategy consultant and university lecturer based in Vienna, working for broadcasters/local streamers, production companies and agencies, both in Austria and abroad. He is active in all unscripted genres, with a comedy gameshow newly optioned in the US, UK and Sweden, and a competition reality currently rolled out by an international distributor.

Prior, Bernhard was heading development for ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 for ten years, devising formats for the group’s main channels and insourcing international formats such as “Dragons’ Den”, “Ninja Warrior”, and “Next Topmodel – Guys+Girls” for highly successful local versions. 

Since 2016, he is teaching format development at the St. Poelten University of Applied Sciences in Media and Digital Technologies, one of the most well-renowned across German-speaking territories, and a member of the faculty’s advisory board. 

Roger Henry
VP, Programming
Warner Bros. Discovery Network

Roger Henry is Vice President of Programming for MotorTrend TV (formerly Velocity), responsible for overseeing strategy and scheduling of all content on MotorTrend TV and MotorTrend FAST Channels.

Henry joined MotorTrend in November 2018 when Discovery’s Velocity Channel was rebranded. Prior to this, he led Velocity as Vice President of Programming & Operations, guiding a content strategy that drove the network to exceptional ratings growth during a time of consolidation across the television industry. He’s overseen programming for the network’s most successful series and specials including IRON RESURRECTION, TEXAS METAL, BITCHIN’ RIDES, ALL GIRLS GARAGE, FULL CUSTOM GARAGE, SHORTY’S DREAM SHOP, MECUM CAR AUCTIONS and more.

He has a wealth of experience launching and nurturing some successful brands at Discovery, Inc. across his career at the company. Henry began as a research analyst for Discovery Channel and TLC before serving as director of programming for Discovery Channel where he worked on the hit series MONSTER GARAGE and MYTHBUSTERS. Henry then served as director of programming for Discovery Health Channel before being upped to vice president of programming for Discovery Health Media. There he supervised the programming strategies for Discovery Health Channel and FitTV, and ushered in the JON AND KATE PLUS 8 and 19 KIDS AND COUNTING franchises.

Later, as vice president of programming and development for Science Channel, he was instrumental in the development of some of the network’s highest rated programs including the hit series HOW IT’S MADE and SURVIVORMAN, as well as the digitally re-mastered, landmark series COSMOS. As vice president of programming and development for Investigation Discovery, Henry also helped launch the hit series HOMICIDE HUNTER.

Henry is a recipient of CableFAX Magazine’s “Most Influential Minorities in Cable”. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a concentration in marketing from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is based out of the Warner Bros. Discovery offices in Silver Spring, Md.

Courtney Hicks
Development Producer
Frank Digital

Courtney Hicks began her career in 2008 as an assistant director and production
manager on feature films, short films, and music videos. In 2012, Courtney began
working as a development producer at Frantic Films and in 2018 became the Vice
President of Unscripted Development. In July 2023, Courtney started working for Frank Digital as their Development Producer.

During her time at Frantic Courtney was integral in the development of Still Standing (CBC), Baroness von Sketch Show (CBC/IFC), The Stats of Life (CBC), Backyard Builds (HGTV Canada), Meet the Family (Citytv), In Plain Sight (Investigation Discovery), Impossible Fixes (Discovery Science), and Buy It, Fix It, Sell It (HGTV Canada). She most recently landed a commission from CBC for the Canadian version of The Great Pottery Throw Down.

On top of her development work, Courtney produced the Winnipeg Comedy Festival
from 2021-23 and earned the show it’s first Canadian Screen Award nomination. She has also produced the digital series Talent Drivers (CBC), as well as short films Love After Anne, Second Life, and One Last Last Heist, an official selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival.

Julian Hobbs
Co-President
Talos Films

Julian P. Hobbs is the co-president of Talos Films. Recently, Hobbs co-directed and produced the mega-doc hit House of Hammer for Warner Bros. Discovery. In addition, for MAX, Hobbs directed How to Create a Sex Scandal, produced with Texas Monthly, and the breakout docu-miniseries Queen of Meth for Discovery+. 

Prior to Talos, Julian P. Hobbs, executive produced multiple feature documentaries including: Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams, and the Oscar nominated film Encounters at the End of the World, Errol Morris’ Emmy nominated film The Unknown Known, and Barbara Kopple’s Emmy nominated film Woodstock: Now and Then. Hobbs also executive produced the Emmy winning Outstanding Non-Fiction Special Gettysburg with Tony and Ridley Scott, as well as America: The Story of US with Nutopia. While heading up scripted development and production at History, Hobbs launched The Bible with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, and the breakout drama Vikings. 

Hobbs lives and works in New York City and the Yorkshire Dales, U.K. 

Valerie Idehen
Creator, Executive Producer, Consultant & Founder
ValStyle LLC

Valerie “Val” Idehen, is a seasoned television producer, multi-cam director, development executive and content creator who has delivered shows for a wide array of networks and platforms including Lifetime, VH1, WEtv, E!, TLC, BET, Oxygen, SoulPancake, YouTube and So Yummy.

She most recently served as Vice President of Unscripted for Hot Snakes Media where she executive produced and supervised delivery of 20 episodes of the upcoming season of VH-1’s “My True Crime Story” narrated by Remy Ma. Prior to that role, Valerie served as Director of Unscripted Development for Propagate Content. She started in the business as a department assistant at Comedy Central in Advertising and Marketing over 15 years ago before transitioning into Production Development at MTV. Val’s accomplishments as a development executive include “Sisterhood of Hip Hop”, which was picked up to series at pre-crime Oxygen where it aired for 3 seasons, “All About Her with Angela Rye” which was ordered to series by Quibi and “Send Help,” a scripted dark comedy which was ordered to series by AllBlk. In 2018, her first development pitch while at SoulPancake received a scripted offer from Nickelodeon and in 2022, she sold a format she created into development at BET. Additionally, Val has over 30 credits as a producer, director or showrunner across linear, digital and podcasts. Aside from television and entertainment, Val has a passion for fashion, music, comedy, travel, entrepreneurship and sport fishing.

Val is a multi-faceted professional. When she is not showrunning or creating television, she is also an in-demand artist-strategist, marketer, branding consultant and educator. Val is a 2004 graduate of Yale University who holds a bachelor of arts in African-American Studies with a concentration in history & literature and is currently a masters candidate in the part-time legal studies degree program at UCLA Law with a specialization in media and entertainment.

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 Group and its access to high-profile athletes and sports talent, leagues and licensing rights, Capacia Johnson and the NEO Studios team, create premium entertainment content, IP and original formats (spanning scripted, unscripted, live action, animation, etc.) for streamers, networks, and social/digital platforms worldwide. While at NEO Studios, Capacia Johnson has executive produced and shepherded such series as discovery+’s Legacy: In The Shadow of Greatness, featuring Dwyane Wade, Evander Holyfield and Randall Cunningham, Snapchat’s Planet Rewild, hosted by rapper 2Chainz, Amazon’s Take us Home: Leeds United, Rakuten’s award-winning The Giants, Steph Curry’s NAACP-nominated Benedict Men and in 2021, Capacia Johnson earned an Emmy Award for the PBS series Prideland. NEO also has numerous series in development and production with sports superstars like Lewis Hamilton, Stephen Curry (Unanimous Media), Elaine Thompson-Herah, Carmelo Anthony and Kalvin Phillips, for buyers including Netflix, Amazon, discovery+, BET+, AMC and more. Melanie began her career as an independent film producer before migrating to live and unscripted programming at Viacom where she worked across MTV Movie Awards, Video Music Awards, Hip Hop Honors, Rock Honors, VH-1 Divas, Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and more. Following Viacom, she co-founded marketing and production company, Tiny Horse, where she worked alongside major format owners (including Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment, Talpa, ITV, BBC America and many more) to help them secure rights and produce programming that would ensure audiences outside of the television ecosystem (where the majority of Millennials and Gen Z spend their entertainment time) could engage with these predominantly TV-based IPs. Tiny Horse has since been incorporated into NEO Studios.

Audrey Kamga
Sales Manager
ARTE France

Audrey KAMGA is an award-winning, multilingual executive with in-depth knowledge, and experience in most key TV markets including the Americas and EMEA.

Successfully working with ARTE France - one of the largest publicly-funded European broadcasters, she possesses a very diverse distribution background working with documentary specials,  limited doc series, unscripted formats, and factual entertainment with experience in sales, acquisitions, marketing, and business affairs.

Well versed in TV History and Pop Culture, she truly believes in the importance of multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion, and a gender-balanced approach both on and off-screen.

Mika Kanaya
Head of International Content Development
NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Kanaya has been committed to the public media for over twenty five years, serving in many different capacities from production manager to researcher, TV director, and writer. She constantly searches for talent, innovative program ideas, and co-production opportunities. She has been the driving force behind deals brokered with numerous international partners of NHK.

Kanaya's burgeoning interest in technology, art, and design led to a year in Boston in 2016 as a researcher-in-residence at MIT Media Lab, where she worked closely with the Center for Civic Media. In 2021 she became the first woman to lead the 8K production office, which advises and trains Japanese and foreign staff undertaking 8K productions ranging from sports broadcasts to dramas. As well as conducting presentations at MIP and Ars Electronica, she has promoted the NHK brand at SXSW and other major conferences.

Currently based in Tokyo, she works as the head of international content development group.

Denis Karam
COO
Zig Zag CEE

Denis joined Zig Zag Productions in 2005 as an archive producer, going onto become Head of Archive in 2012. Denis has archive produced over 250 hours of the documentary programmes for the UK and the US markets. He was honored with the FOCAL International Award for the Best Archive Producer of the Year and has been part of the Training Committee at the Federation of Commercial Audio-Visual Libraries in London, an archive expert guest speaker and a panelist at the Westminster University in London, at the FOCAL Annual Mentoring program, Broadcast TECH events, NEM Zagreb.  

Recently, Denis has become a COO for a ZigZig Productions sister company – Zig Zag CEE, specializing in business development and TV productions and co-productions for Central and Eastern Europe. 

Brandon Killion
President
Bright Bay Creative

Brandon Killion is president and co-founder of independent, full-service production company Bright Bay Creative, serving as lead creative executive producing all projects, and overseeing all facets of production and development. An industry veteran with extensive experience in content production and development, Killion launched Bright Bay with wife and co-founder Jill Killion in 2016, and has since developed and delivered over 250 episodes of short and long-form programming that elevates the reality world through a cinematic lens. With specializations in automotive, lifestyle, celebrity and sports programming, Bright Bay’s slate includes such series asPlay it Forward(Yahoo! Sports), Car Issues (FYI), Droppin’ Cash (Netflix) and Rules to this Sh!t (BET) with numerous projects currently in development.

Prior to founding Bright Bay, Killion served as executive vice president of programming and development at international production company Cineflix Media, producers of Property Brothers and American Pickers. He was also previously vice president of production at Gurney Productions known for hit series Duck Dynasty and Auction Hunters. Killion began his entertainment career at Thom Beers’ Original Productions where he worked in casting, development and production before becoming producer and showrunner on many successful and high-rated shows for various networks including Nat Geo's Wild Justice, A&E's American Hoggers and History's Ice Road Truckers. Killion is originally from Massachusetts and is also an attorney.

Tania Koenig-Gauchier
Producer/CEO
Wapanatahk Media Inc.

Tania is a Métis (Cree) television producer with more than 20 years of experience in broadcasting and independent production. She has worked as a Producer for CTV, CBC and APTN, and has a background in business management, as well as marketing and promotions for television. She also spent five years in the position of Manager of Programming for the Western Region, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

Tania started a production company called Wapanatahk (‘morning star’ in Plains Cree) Media with her business partner, Shirley Mclean (Tlingit), and they have a service partnership in place with Great Pacific Media. The vision of the company is to be a top-tier media company in Canada that is known for creating original, dynamic, and compelling content that is sold around the world.

The company recently wrapped production on the second season ofWild Rose Vet with Dr. Savannah, a series that follows Indigenous veterinarians for APTN andCottage Lifefor Blue Ant Media. The series was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards forBest Photography, Lifestyle or Reality/CompetitionandBest Lifestyle Program or Seriesin 2023. Tania is the Producer and Executive Producer ofWild Rose Vets, the upcoming third season of the series.

Justin Lacob
Head of Development
XTR

Justin Lacob serves as Vice President of Original Series at Spike TV.  Lacob joined Spike in 2011 and has since overseen the development of several successful network series including the critically acclaimed Bar Rescue. Lacob will also oversee the highly anticipated Hungry Investors, with bar and nightlife expert Jon Taffer and celebrity chefs John Besh and Tiffany Derry. In addition to his reality projects, Lacob is a key member of the development team responsible for the network’s forthcoming scripted miniseries.

Prior to joining Spike TV, Lacob served as Senior Director of Development at Intuitive Entertainment.  There, he supervised development on several reality series, including LA Shrinks and Love Broker for Bravo, and a variety of projects for CW, Food Network, Animal Planet, Oxygen and Travel Channel.  Prior to his stint at Intuitive, Lacob served as Director of Development at FremantleMedia for two years where he developed Rock the Cradle, The Phone and What Chili Wants, among others.  In addition, Lacob has extensive experience serving as a Producer, with credits including America’s Next Top Model, The Sharon Osbourne Show, Supergroup and Next.

Born and raised in Jericho, New York, Lacob graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut with a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies.  Lacob currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Lucy Le Gruiec
Senior Sales & Acquisitions
ZED

I look after sales and presales at ZED, with a catalogue of over 2000 hours of documentaries. I work closely with producers in the aim of developing ambitious productions by putting in place co-productions, finding the most suited partners for each project.

I'm always on the look out for great series and projects that we can push internationally and make these travel outside of their own country.

Passionate about documentaries and people, I love good stories and new challenges! 

I have been in International Sales in the TV industry for over 10 years. Prior to ZED, I handled Scripted series, films, formats, many different types of content giving me a good overview and understanding of the industry.

Jessica Lee
Head of Development
Beach House Pictures

Jennifer Liang
VP, Acquisitions, Programming & Sales
Topic

Jennifer Liang is Vice President, Acquisitions, Programming Strategy & Sales at Topic. In this role, she oversees acquisitions, pre-buys and global co-production opportunities and manages the acquisitions & programming team. She is also responsible for sales of programming owned or controlled by Topic. Previously she has held positions in global program sales and strategy at National Geographic, HBO and Viacom and provided expertise in content strategy and valuation, acquisitions and programming, and global distribution for clients including AMC Networks International, Viacom, NBC Universal, Sesame Workshop, and Whistle Sports, Inc. She received an undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, and speaks fluent French and proficient Spanish. Jennifer lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Felicia Litovitz
VP, Acquisitions, North America
Cineflix Rights

Felicia Litovitz is a seasoned acquisitions executive, with more than 15 years of experience in various roles across the TV and film industry. As VP, Acquisitions, North America, Felicia is responsible for building Cineflix Rights’ catalogue of factual and scripted content from US and Canadian producer partners. She also focuses on securing distribution rights through setting up first-look, development and output deals, pre-sales, and co-productions. Felicia serves as an executive producer on Killer Cases, Cult Justice, and O.J. Simpson: Blood, Lies, & Murder. 

Prior to joining Cineflix Rights in May 2019, Felicia was Director, Distribution at Fremantle representing globally successful brands including Jamie Oliver, Grand Designs, Project Runway, and Family Feud. She was previously Manager, Content Acquisitions at Corus Entertainment, acquiring TV series and feature films for all Corus channels including History, National Geographic, Showcase, W, and HGTV.

Nicola Lloyd
Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment
ITV

Nicola Lloyd joined ITV in September 2016 from Twenty-Twenty where she was Executive Producer of BAFTA award-winning First Dates alongside Celebrity First Dates and First Dates Hotel. Prior to this, Lloyd worked as a Series Producer on Ramsay’s Costa Del Nightmares with Sue Murphy at Optomen and series produced What Happens in Kavos at Dragonfly.

In her role as Commissioning Editor at ITV Lloyd has commissioned a number of programmes that span factual entertainment and factual... these include: Ghislaine, prince Andrew and the Paedophile, Gordon, Gino and Fred's: Road Trip currently on Series 4, Gordon, Gino and Fred's Great Christmas Roast, 5 series of Bradley and Barney: Breaking Dad, The Games, Planet Child, Gino’s Italy, Inside The Ritz Hotel, NHS Heroes Awards, and she looks after Pride of Britain. 

More recently and with the launch of ITVX Lloyd has commissioned a selection of premium documentary boxsets and singles, these include: a three part contemporary true crime series called ‘The Other Mrs Jordan’, a two part series revealing the truth behind con artist Belle Gibson: The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist and singles: The Real Fatal Attraction, Dwarf Story and feature length film ‘It’s Showtime!’

Renata Lombardo
SVP, Development & Current Non-Scripted Programming
Scout Productions

Renata Lombardo is a veteran unscripted development executive and producer who serves as SVP of Development and Current Non-Scripted at Scout Productions. Passionate about developing new talent and reinventing familiar names, she has spent over two decades working with the industry’s premiere content creators. Renata recent credits include the transformation series The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning with Amy Poehler and an upcoming project with Charlie Puth on Roku.

Renata believes that the best content comes from authentic representation and centering a community’s voice in their own storytelling. The Emmy-winning voguing competition series Legendary – a concept she originally developed and brought to Scout – highlights the often ignored Ballroom community and supersizes the Ball experience as a fabulous, over-the-top competition. Renata is also Executive Producer of Scout’s streetwear competition series The Hype and the recently announced Living For The Dead with Kristen Stewart on Hulu. 

Myriam Lopez-Otazu
GVP Content EMEA
Warner Bros. Discovery Spain

Myriam Lopez-Otazu, the Group VP Content & Acquisitions EMEA & Int’l joined Discovery networks back in 2013. Based in Madrid, Myriam manages editorial strategy working across three key areas: planning and internal library management; third party acquisitions; and multi-market commissioning across linear channels and discovery+.

During her time at the company, Myriam has held different content positions and has had the opportunity of working closely with global and local teams across channel launches and portfolio optimisations as well as the development and roll out of Discovery+. She oversees the international multi-market commissioning strategy, partnering with local and US teams in developing and producing key titles like Children of the Cult and True Love.

Prior to joining Discovery, Myriam was VP of Content Sales at Zodiak Rights for 5 years where she oversaw all sales activities, including formats, to Southern Europe and Latin America. She has also worked in RDF Rights and Steadfast TV, managing content sales and advertising funded content projects, as well as the commercial department of the public broadcaster in Madrid.

Caley MacLennan
Producer
Alright Pictures

Caley MacLennan has spent over a decade working on iconic projects across genres. Whether it is animation, documentary or drama, Caley has a proven track record in delivering high-quality and engaging content.

Focusing on the unscripted world when he founded Alright Pictures in 2015, Caley has built a reputation for blending contemporary pacing and energy with conventional storytelling and structure, creating work that is both in the moment and timeless.

Poppy McAlister
Head of TVF International
TVF International

Poppy McAlister is Head of TVF International, the UK's leading independent factual distributor. Based in London, Poppy leads a team of 15 across international sales, acquisitions, production, marketing, finance and operations.

The TVF catalogue encompasses everything from factual entertainment and lifestyle series to exceptional one-off documentaries, representing some of the most innovative, creative and commercial producers from across the globe. The TVF team speak over 12 languages combined and alongside the distribution of completed programming, operate extensively with pre-sales, co-productions and formats.

On top of running the day-to-day strategic operation of TVF International, Poppy works with broadcasters and producers across the UK, North America and Australia and New Zealand, recently securing a global deal with Netflix for disability-first dating series, Down for Love. Poppy also focuses on securing distribution rights through setting up first-look, development and output deals and has served as an executive producer on various TVF Productions.

Andy McEntee
SVP Development & Programming
Bodega Pictures

Andy McEntee is senior vice president of Development & Programming for independent production company, Bodega Pictures, where he is responsible for creating original formats, discovering talent, and executing sizzles and pilots across myriad platforms for Bodega Pictures’ ample development slate. Current series he has shepherded include hits like Kendra Sells Hollywood (MAX), sMothered (TLC) and Girl Meets Farm (Food). With more than a decade of experience in unscripted television as both a producer and development executive for cable and broadcast networks, Andy possesses a unique vantage point that runs from inception of a new show through post-production on a series. Prior to Bodega, Andy served as Vice President of Development for Cineflix Productions (Property Brothers, American Pickers) and as a freelance producer he has worked on genre-defining series such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC), The Millionaire Matchmaker (Bravo), and 10 Years Younger (TLC).

Kirstie McLure
Managing Director
Big Wave Productions Ltd

Kirstie joined Big Wave as Managing Director in 2021. She's a multi-Emmy award-winning leader in specialist factual content and previously was managing director of Pioneer Productions, one of the world’s leading producers of innovative, award-winning factual content, building the company to sale. Kirstie has overseen hundreds of hours of content for broadcast, cable and online providers. A passionate innovator, she brings a unique set of skills and experience to Big Wave as the company builds its specialist factual content.

"Big Wave's programming & the team's passion was a big draw. We share so many creative interests & a drive to make change. This is a very exciting time to become part of the company"

Michael McMahon
Founding Partner
Primitive Entertainment

Michael McMahon is a founding partner at Primitive Entertainment. With more
than 30 years experience producing premium non-fiction content, Michael works
with major broadcasters and distributors in North America, Europe and Japan.
His films and television series have won more than 50 international awards and
screened at major festivals worldwide.

Michael served as the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Hot Docs from 2003 to
2018, where he was instrumental in the acquisition and renovation of Toronto’s
historic Bloor Cinema. He was the Co-Chair of DOC Ontario for twenty years, the
largest chapter of an industry organization representing 1,000 documentary
filmmakers across Canada. Michael served as the Documentary Producer Mentor
at The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and on the editorial committee of the World
Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) from 2018 to 2022.

Erin Mechanic
VP of Development
Truly Original

Erin Mechanic serves as VP of Development for Truly Original, focusing on the development of competition and game formats. Prior to joining Truly Original, Mechanic was a former development exec at Game Show Network, Spike TV and Ardaban/Shine America.

John Melville
VP Content Development and Operations
Accessible Media Inc.

Nick Metcalfe
Executive Producer
Arrow Media

Nick joined Arrow as an Executive Producer in 2012 to launchUltimate Airport Dubai,a global hit series forNational Geographic. Since then, he has brought creative dynamism to more than two hundred hours of a hugely varied slate for British and international broadcasters, winning awards along the way. Credits have ranged fromApocalypse Cow(C4) with George Monbiot, toBodycamandAmerican Monster(ID), viaAmerica in Color(Smithsonian Channel),Burma’s Secret Jungle War with Joe Simpson(BBC2), among many others. Most recently he executive produced the six-part seriesWhen Sharks Attack 360(Nat Geo).

Diane Min
Head of Format Sales
CJ ENM

Diane is currently the head of non-scripted sales at CJ ENM, overlooking non-scripted content sales and format sales & development for CJ ENM's 13 networks

She joined CJ ENM in 2010 and was responsible for international finished tape sales for series and entertainment. Since she has been leading format sales from 2015, She has been successfully commissioned more than 80+ format deals globally and some highlights of her work are Grandpas over Flowers(a.k.a Better Late Than Never) for NBC and 12 countries and I Can See Your Voice for 28 countries like FOX(US), BBC ONE(UK), RTL(Germany), RTL4(Holland) etc. Diane received a Korean Prime Minister Citation Award in 2022, which is the nation’s most prestigious content awards. 

Prior to CJ ENM, Diane worked at Warner Media’s Cartoon Network for kids programming for 4 years.

Rukhsana Mosam
Managing Director
Ten66 Television

Catherine Muema
Production Coordinator
On Screen Productions Ltd

Catherine Muema brings a wealth of expertise and a discerning eye to the table. With a diverse background in TV/film production and a proven track record of delivering exceptional content, Catherine is well equipped to evaluate and recognize outstanding achievements in the industry.

With over ten years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the media landscape. Catherine has honed her skills in project management, product management, and creative storytelling. Her ability to manage complex projects from conception to delivery sets her apart as a producer who can transform ideas into captivating on-screen experiences.

Catherine's contribution to the industry is evident through her involvement in
groundbreaking projects. She has produced Kenya's first true crime documentary series, "The Last Door," leaving an indelible mark on the television landscape. Her work on the investigative documentary series, "Kenya Airways: Fall of the Pride," showcases her dedication to storytelling that captivates and informs audiences. She has also worked with renowned organizations such as the BBC Africa Eye, Vogue Magazine and Discovery Channel.

Driven by her passion and unwavering commitment, Catherine infuses each project with a creative spirit and a can-do attitude. She excels at simplifying complex objectives and delivering innovative and impactful solutions.

Andy Mundy-Castle
Managing Director
DOC HEARTS

From the award winning Lenny Henry The Commonwealth Kid (BBC1), the critically acclaimed White Nanny Black Child (BFI / Channel 5),  Jimmy Akingbola Handle WIth Care (Peacock / ITV)  Charlene White Empires Child (ITV), to the critically acclaimed The Fade  (Netflix), and the RTS / BAFTA nominated Battyman (C4), Mundy-Castle’s work has been regarded highly as work that documents diverse experience with depth and style. 

Natasha Negrea
Head of Programming
TVO

Natasha Negrea is Head of Programming with TVO, a publicly funded educational broadcaster and media organization. She is responsible for the overall direction and evolution documentaries and children’s programming at the Canadian pubcaster. This includes overseeing the slate of award-winning commissions and acquisitions and building the strategy for scheduling and distribution on broadcast, OTT and digital platforms. Natasha has had a robust career in screen content including serving as a Development Executive the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and as a producer with Blue Ant Media. She also led programming at Women and Film and Television Toronto (WIFT).

Angela Neillis
SVP Non Scripted Content Commercial & International
Fremantle Media Limited

As SVP, Non-Scripted Content, Angela oversees Fremantle’s global non-scripted acquisition strategy including developing, financing, curating and launching content from Fremantle’s global network of labels and third-party producers. Joining Fremantle in 2013, Angela has spearheaded huge growth of the premium documentary slate including series such as Arctic Drift (from UFA & Wild Blue Media) which won Best Science Documentary at the 2022 Grierson Awards and has sold into over 170 territories and Klarsfeld: A Love Story (from Roast Beef Productions), which had its world premiere at Filmfest Hamburg 2022. Angela has also manages relationships with non-scripted talent including Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, and series and films from exceptional producers such as Naked Entertainment, 72 Films, True to Nature, Lightbox, Arrow, Docsville Studios. Before joining Fremantle, held senior Commercial roles at BBC Worldwide, Zodiak Rights, Sky and Granada International.

Charlyn Ng
Executive Producer
IFA Media

IFA Executive Producer Charlyn Ng has produced commercials, feature films and scripted series across Asia, producing for notable Singapore directors like Royston Tan (3688, a Singapore feature and Grand Prix nominee at the Osaka Asian Film Festival) and Lee Thean Jeen (Bring back the Dead, official selection of the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, also nominated for Best Fantasy/Horror Feature and Best Original Score in the festival). Charlyn’s commercial successes include producing local box office favourite Ah Boys to Men 4, which grossed a successful 4.5M USD. At IFA, Charlyn was Executive Producer of the 2nd season of HBO’s hit The Teenage Psychic which was in the 10 ten of all shows in Taiwan in 2019. In 2020/2021, Charlyn Executive Produced and Produced local drama series My Mini-me and Me. Charlyn was Executive Producer and Producer of IFA’s first Thai drama series Forbidden for HBO Asia, with its first 2 episodes premiering at the 26th Busan International Film Festival under the On screen section. Charlyn is currently producing IFA's first Thai feature film to be released in 2024 and is also producing a mini-series in China.  

Aisling O'Connor
Commissioning Editor, Unscripted
BBC

Aisling O’Connor is a Commissioning Editor, Unscripted in the Content division of the BBC, based in London, UK. She has a brief to work across all of the Unscripted genres with a particular focus on the independent television sector outside London. 

Previously Aisling was the Head of TV Commissioning for BBC England, with a brief to grow portrayal for local on network as part of the BBC’s ‘Across the UK’ commissioning strategy. She commissioned and ran a slate of factual programmes as well as running and re-launching inhouse local Current Affairs as the series We Are England for BBC One in 2022.

Aisling started her career in television 27 years ago at London Weekend Television and has worked at all levels of production. Career highlights to date include being a BBC Daytime Commissioning Editor, a BBC Music and Arts Commissioning Executive, an Executive Producer on flagship investigative current affairs programme Panorama and a Senior News and Current Affairs Adviser in BBC Editorial Policy.

While a Daytime Commissioning Editor Aisling looked after 17 series concurrently including Great British Menu, Wanted Down Under, Heir Hunters and Bargain Hunt. As Head of TV Commissioning for BBC England recent co-commissions include the series Brickies and Angels of the North for BBC Three, Commando: Britain’s Ocean Warrior, Villages By the Sea and Yorkshire Midwives On Call for BBC Two, Scarlett’s Driving School and Soldier for BBC One and Jazz UK: Spitting Fire for BBC Four.

Aisling was an Executive Producer for the BBC on the feature documentary ‘Tish’ which opened Sheffield Documentary Festival in 2023. She is currently BBC Executive Producer on ‘Twiggy’ -  a feature documentary from director Sadie Frost which will deliver in 2024.

Aisling says the two highlights of her career to date were executive producing U2 Innocence and Experience Live in Paris for BBC Music and flying to Chile (economy) to make a speech about public service broadcasting to broadcasters from around the world.

Aisling is from Dublin, Ireland, has three daughters and lives in Hastings, UK.

Bryan O'Donnell
Producer
in Vision Intertainment

Bryan is a multifaceted Unscripted Producer/Director with a background as a director of photography & Editor. He started his career in Photojournalism and Documentary in Maine then Seattle which led to MTV’s The Real-World Seattle and into the unscripted genre.  He has Produces and Directs such shows like Joe Millionaire, Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé, American Inventor, Top Gear, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers and America’s Next Top Model, Terrance Howard’s Fright Night (Fox), Bait Car (TruTV), America’s Toughest Jobs (NBC), Full Throttle Saloon (A&E), Spartan (NBC) and Lace Up the Ultimate Sneaker Challenge (YouTube) are just a few other projects that Bryan has played a pivotal role in cultivating. 

As Show Runner on Docu-Series, Bryan always uncovers authentic and dramatic aspects of the characters.  TheGirls Next Door (E!) is a great example of Bryan’s ability to turn a “T & A” concept into an iconic comedy series. Private Chefs of Beverly Hills (Food) brought Bryan’s family restaurant experience to the screen, introducing the Food Network to the demanding yet entertaining world of Private Chefs. Kim of Queens (Lifetime) highlighted Bryan’sability to reveal the real-life dramas with a comedic twist, set inside teenaged beauty pageants. Southie Rules (A&E) asked Bryan to turn a Docu-series into a soft-scripted family comedy, writing scenes on the fly, taking advantage of characters personalities and family dynamic.      

As a member of the Director Guild of America’s Blue-Ribbon committee he has judged the last 5 years of unscripted nominations and finalists for the DGA Awards.

Cecilie Olsen
SVP, Global Content, Non-Scripted
ITV

As the SVP of Global Content, Non-Scripted at ITV Studios Global Distribution, Cecilie Olsen heads up the non-scripted acquisitions team. Olsen also actively seeks out new third party co-production partners, as well as oversees the internal labels' non-scripted programming output for international distribution. Olsen is looking for shows that are bold, brave, noisy returnable franchises and highly commercial. Successes include 24 Hours in Police Custody, River Monsters, The Magical Land Of Oz and Hells Kitchen. 

With more than 20 years of experience, Olsen previously held roles at Argonon International, where she was the SVP Sales & Acquisitions leading the international sales and acquisitions division, prior to this she was Director of Formats and Production at NBCUniversal International Studios - securing international format commissions for brands such as Queer Eye, Top Chef, Hollywood Game Night and Real Housewives. Olsen also had stints at TwoFour helping to set up their distribution division TwoFour Rights, Target Entertainment and Fox Sports International.

Henrik Pabst
Chief Commercial Officer, Entertainment
ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE

Raj Panikkar
Executive Producer, SVP + Partner
Fifth Ground Entertainment

Raj Panikkar is an award-winning Toronto based producer, who also operates and functions as an independent writer, filmmaker and creative consultant for film, television and digital media. With his outfit Fifth Ground Entertainment, his productions have included the documentary series Reelside (Crave); the half-hour comedy series Rent-A-Goalie (Showcase); and the music documentary series The Rawside Of... (IFC). As well, Raj is producing live-action series for kids. Science adventure series Leo’s FishHeads launched in 2020 on TVOkids, and spin-off series Leo’s Pollinators is currently on air. The new series Secrets of the Forest is in production for TVOkids, while Space School and The Booligans are in development. Every season of every television series he has produced has won or been nominated for industry awards, and he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction for an episode of Reelside he directed. 

Nikki Parrott
MD/Founder
Tiger Lily Productions/Tigerlily Two Glasgow

Tigerlily productions is a multi-award-winning independent production company with a reputation for tackling powerful subject matter with sensitivity and artistry.  Their output covers scripted and non- scripted documentaries, arts and music, history, and current affairs across a range of media. In 2018, Tigerlily Two in Scotland was formed with the purpose of exploring new talent and stories outside London, and to be a prominent co producer for international projects and teams. It is run out of Glasgow and headed by Nikki.

In their first three years, they have co-produced two feature documentaries POLY STYRENE I AM A CLICHÉ, which won two Bifas including best documentary, IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? which premiered at Sundance, and produced HONG KONG MIX TAPE, which premiered at Glasgow Film Festival and Hot Docs TORONTO where it was listed in the twenty most watched documentaries loved by audience.

They are also producing two several feature documentaries, LOOKING FOR PAULINE BLACK directed by Jane Mingay, and BORDERS directed by Jessi Gutch, which will be a co -production with France.

BRING BACK THE BEAVER coco-produced with Sinner Films and directed by award winning director , Chris Atkins

Other documentaries in production include ENO to be directed by Gary Hustwit and SUPERNATURE by Ed Sayers

On the drama side , …They are  prepping a gay Turkish /Welsh dramatic feature to be directed by the award winning and Oscar nominated  Umit Unal and shot entirely in Glasgow and INFERENCE  based on the Scottish novel and written /directed by HOPE DICKSON LEACH and a drama series for teens based in Rothesay written by MICHAEL LEE RICHARDSON

Daniel Pearl
VP, Unscripted UK Originals
Paramount+ & Channel 5

Daniel Pearl has rare experience of commissioning across the full range of public service and commercial unscripted TV, working at a senior level in the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and most recently across UK Unscripted Originals for the launch of the Paramount+ streaming service. Daniel has produced and commissioned some of the highest profile and highest rating programmes across Factual genres from the Emmy-Award winning Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson & Me to the all-time highest rated factual series on Channel 5 Our Yorkshire Farm. Daniel has launched a large number of new successful formats and doc series and has also brought many high calibre faces to Channel 5 from Jeremy Vine and Dan Walker to Jay Blades and Lucy Worsley. Previously Daniel has been Editor of Channel 4’s Dispatches strand, Deputy Editor of the BBC’s Panorama, Newsnight and 10 O’Clock News and Editor of the BBC’s first ever Prime Ministerial Debate.

Sitarah Pendelton-Eaglin
SVP, Original Series
Paramount Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios

As a Senior Vice President of unscripted series for Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios, Pendelton-Eaglin brings a distinct approach to all the franchises on which she works, meticulously unfolding storylines – an aspiring artist seeking fame or someone looking for love – showcasing their ambition, their friendships and their drama, driving audience engagement and top ratings. “The common thread among the shows is a commitment to authentic storytelling,” says Pendelton-Eaglin. “I dig deep into the layers of people. We are working with real people, and it’s critical that we showcase their full personalities and life choices - good and bad - honestly, because that is what resonates with fans. We may not all lead the same lives as the people on our shows, but we all have friends, family, and ambitions. Where our fans identify with our casts on a human level is exactly where I want to cultivate and grow interesting stories.”

As a senior female Hollywood executive at MTV Entertainment Studios, Pendelton-Eaglin is a force behind some of the biggest reality shows in television, including The Real World Homecoming franchise on Paramount+, MTV’s Catfish and VH1’s juggernaut series Love & Hip Hop, among others.

A champion of diversity and inclusion both in front of and behind the camera, Pendelton-Eaglin served as the executive producer of The Real World Homecoming: New York, reuniting the original cast and continuing the progressive conversations and culturally resonant stories that the series is recognized for, including addressing the Black Lives Matter movement as well as equal rights for Women and LGBTQ+ communities. She also served as the executive producer of Season 8 of MTV’s Are You The One?, which won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Reality Program for having the first all gender-fluid cast. The season not only was groundbreaking for the franchise and reality TV, but also for how the LGTBQ+ community was represented in media.

Raised in New York, Pendelton-Eaglin danced for most of her life with the Dance Theater of Harlem. She went into production work after college, cutting her chops in production roles and as a writer/producer on MTV’s early programming Spring Break and TRL, before going on to become a successful executive at several networks including AMC and NBCU. She returned to MTV Entertainment in 2017 where she has remained since. 

In 2021, Pendelton was recognized as one of the most powerful women in media by Cablefax.

Leela Pon
SVP, Content
Fox Broadcasting Company

Leela Pon is Senior Vice President of Content of FOX Entertainment’s in-house unscripted studio FOX Alternative Entertainment (FAE). Based in Los Angeles, she is responsible for the daily oversight of the team that works to develop and create new series and formats for the studio.

Since joining in 2020, Pon has been integral in developing a number of FOX series, including NEXT LEVEL CHEF, CRIME SCENE KITCHEN, NAME THAT TUNE, DOMINO MASTERS, ALTER EGO, and JOE MILLIONAIRE: FOR RICHER OR POORER, as well as the upcoming game shows SNAKE OIL and WE ARE FAMILY. She works with numerous international productions making local versions of FAE original formats including “The Big Deal” (Ireland/Virgin Media Television) and “Marriage Market” (Germany/ProSieben).

In addition, Pon oversees the development and production for the slate of documentaries FAE produces for FOX’s ad-supported streaming platform Tubi, including more than 30 original titles ranging from true crime and conspiracy to celebrity biographies, as well as such third-party series as the international dating format “Love Trip: Paris” for Freeform.

Prior to joining FAE, Pon was the Senior Vice President, Head of Development at E!
Entertainment, where she was responsible for the development and production of “Botched,” “Chelsea Lately,” “The Bradshaw Bunch,” “True Hollywood Story,” “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills” and the “WAGS” franchise.

Pon began her early career at The CW, 20th Century Fox Television and Dick Clark Productions.

Julia Redwood
Joint Managing Director
Prospero Productions

Julia Redwood co-founded Prospero Productions in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1991. In 2021 she became the company’s sole owner and Managing Director.  With over 30 years in the industry, producing nearly 400 hours of factual television, Julia has become one of Australia’s leading screen practitioners.  With global hits such as Outback Truckers, Outback Opal Hunters and Red Dirt Road Trip to her name, she has also become a well renown figure in the West Australian business community; recently acknowledged by being awarded the 2021 Western Australian of the Year, Business Award.

Julia currently sits on Screen Producers of Australia (SPA) Board as an advisor and is Chair of Screen Voice, an association for Australian owned, independent producers. This coupled with her extensive creative talents and many years of experience in the marketplace makes Julia one of the leading figures in the Australian film industry.

Angelina Rivero
Director of Programming
Telemundo

Angelina Rivero is Director of Programming at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. She plays a key role in creating and executing the content strategy for Spanish language broadcast networks, Telemundo and Telexitos, as well as Spanish language cable network, UNIVERSO, reporting directly to the EVP of Programming and Content Development, Sandra Smester. In addition to her responsibilities in the Programming team, Rivero also co-leads the Miami chapter of the Women’s Network at NBCUniversal.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises in 2016, Rivero worked in the Latin American market with Warner Bros. Discovery (previously Discovery, Inc.) as part of the Media Planning team, and interned at various other media companies such as Viacom, WDNA and the Tallahassee Democrat.

Angelina earned her B.S. in Media Communication Studies from FSU with a minor in Hispanic Marketing.

Alexis Robie
Executive Producer
Coronet Productions

Alexis Robie is an award-winning television documentary producer and development executive with over 20 years of experience. A graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and Brown University, Robie got his start under the tutelage of cinéma vérité icon Albert Maysles. He continued his career as one of the pioneers of “video journalism” developing techniques in dramatic immersive non-fiction storytelling that paved the way for many of the follow-doc series of today. He is a specialist in the true crime and justice genre and has produced or overseen hundreds of episodes of programming, including show running many seasons of A&E’s critically acclaimed series, The First 48. He has also developed and ran other series such as First Blood, Homicide Squad Atlanta, The Killer Speaks, The Case that Haunts Me, The Interrogators, and Runaway Squad. Robie is currently developing new non-fiction series and specials with A+E Factual Studios.

Karina Rompa
Director of Content Acquisition

Karina Rompa is an independent expert and a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (International Emmy Awards) with over 15 years of experience in TV, video, and telecommunications. Her expertise spans product launches, management, content strategy, acquisitions, negotiations, and business development. Her previous roles include working in content at VIDAA (Hisense Group), PLAY (Iliad Group), Netia (Polsat Group), and Vectra. She is a graduate of Gdynia Maritime University and SGH Warsaw School of Economics, and an Executive MBA alumna of Kozminski University.

Ayelet Rosen
Senior Creative Director
Armoza Formats

Ayelet Rosen serves as the Senior Creative Director at Armoza Formats, which is part of ITV Studios. She has led the creative development for the renowned annual TV format competition 'Formagination' for the past two years. Under her guidance, two of the competition's formats were successfully launched at MIPCOM and MIPTV. In recognition of her exceptional expertise, BAFTA selected Ayelet as an emerging talent in the UK television industry in 2016. The following year, her documentary film "Super Orgasm" captivated audiences when it aired on Channel 4 in the UK, subsequently reaching viewers across the globe.

Ayelet brings over 15 years of experience as a storyteller, producer, developer, and director, having worked with prominent TV channels and production companies in both the UK and Israel. She studied Entertainment Format Development at the National Film and Television School in London and at the BBC Academy.

Carlotta Rossi Spencer
Head, Branded Content Business Development
Banijay Rights

Carlotta Rossi Spencer serves as Head of Format Acquisitions for Banijay. Working across the Group's 22-territory footprint, she is charged with acquiring Unscripted formats with cross-country appeal for the company's 120+ entities. Overseeing the process from industry analysis to negotiation and completion, she has established strong relationships worldwide, making Banijay a top destination and go-to for content developers, distributors and brand managers alike. Additionally, she is tasked with seeking out external co-development and co-production opportunities.

In leading operations in Unscripted acquisitions, Rossi Spencer also provides high-level consultancy to the Group's production labels in the local roll-out of all formats acquired, as well as Temptation Island. Prior to Banijay, she held several roles in research and development, having begun her career in journalism and communications & marketing.

Ralf Ruckauer
Vice President Unscripted
ZDF Studios GmbH

Ralf joined ZDF Studios in 2003. He is Vice President of the Unscripted department, which has a strong focus on wildlife, science and history programming as well as entertainment formats sales. For more than 25 years, Ralf has held various positions in the media industry such as development, production, commissioning, acquisition, sales, co-production, format sales and VoD channel management.

Jon Rutherford
President Global Rights Franchise & Content Strategy
Boat Rocker Rights Inc

Jon Rutherford is President, Global Rights, Franchise, and Content Strategy, Boat Rocker Studios. In this role, Rutherford oversees the sales and exploitation of all Boat Rocker owned or managed IP and brands worldwide, including Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC), Mary Makes It Easy (Bell Media) and Beacon 23 (MGM+). He also manages the Studio's content ownership and rights retention strategy, and is responsible for sourcing projects, pre-sales, co-productions, regional productions, and franchise brand opportunities across all genres in line with that content strategy. 
 
A veteran in the media industry, Jon was instrumental in combining Boat Rocker’s content, distribution and brands teams under the consolidated ‘Boat Rocker Studios’. Over his 25-year career, Jon has established an excellent reputation for cultivating strong global alliances with leading broadcast networks and streaming services.  In addition to the programs above, recent highlights include continued success on global sensation, The Next Step (BBC), and co-financing and spearheading content strategies for series, Robyn Hood (Corus), Dino Ranch (Disney, CBC), Cook at All Costs (Netflix), Motel Makeover (Netflix) and Listing Large (Bell/Roku).

Nick Ryle
Mr
Trombone Productions

Nick Ryle has had a long and varied career in production across a range of media.  Moving from commissioning and producing music videos in the 90’s, via running TV development for IPC Media to setting up documentary film production companies [Sundog Pictures, Moneyglass Films], Nick has worked with a huge range of creative talent over the last 10 years. He has produced a series of critically acclaimed sports documentaries; Being AP, the award winning Fighting For A City and Dettori. He has worked with Universal Pictures, BBC Films, Sky, Entertainment One and Embankment Films to find audiences for his films on Sky, BBC, Netflix and Amazon and premiering at TIFF and the Leeds International Film Festival. He has regularly collaborated with Bafta and Emmy winning director, Anthony Wonke.

Polly Scates
Head, Acquisitions
Channel 4

Polly Scates is Senior Acquisitions Manager at Channel 4.

Based in London, Polly leads on non-scripted presales and acquisitions for both the linear portfolio (C4, M4, E4 & E4 Extra) and VOD platform. Polly has been instrumental in developing C4’s unscripted pre-buy strategy, delivering successes such as, Chernobyl: The New Evidence, Griff’s Canadian Adventure and Grierson Award winner The Arctic Drift, for the channel. She has played a significant role in the growth of True Crime on 4, securing boxsets My Name Is Reeva, I, Sniper and Moors Murders for the strand.

Channel 4 is a publicly-owned and commercially-funded UK public service broadcaster, with a statutory remit to deliver high-quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo.

Jessica Schmiedchen
Director of Development, Unscripted Content
CBC

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 is responsible for sourcing the best new formats from around the world, and working with the independent production community in Canada to bring their ideas to life. 

Since joining the Unscripted team in 2011, Jessica has led development on popular and award-winning series including Still Standing, Hello Goodbye, The Detectives, Back in Time for Dinner, You Can’t Ask That, Fridge Wars, and Jensplaining.

Jessica spent the first half of her career in the independent production community, where she broke all the unwritten rules about working with children and animals.

Heidi Schorn
VP Development
Original Content Lab

Heidi is a seasoned unscripted development and production executive with 13 years of expertise creating and executing top-tier content across all genres, and for a variety of platforms. As VP Development for Original Content Lab Inc, she applies her multifaceted background in development and production to continue to masterfully cultivate and manage relationships with a range of partners, creators, and talent in international territories. Heidi has had a hand in several hit series and format adaptations in lifestyle and factual genres, and continues to demonstrate a deep understanding of the evolving marketplace.

Her range of credits include factual and documentary series such as Klondike Trappers (History Channel), two seasons of Crossroads: Beyond the Boom and Bust (TVO), format adaptations such as This is High School (CBC) and original lifestyle series such as Bake It Possible (Food Network) and Staying Inn: Hotel Julie (CTV).

Peter Schweizer
Director, Development & Acquisitions
Tresor TV Produktions GMBH

Peter Schweizer is Director Development & Acquisitions at TRESOR TV, based in Munich / Germany. Since its foundation in 1992, TRESOR TV has been producing high-quality programs for the German-speaking television market. The focus is on shows, reality and factual entertainment.

Successful TRESOR TV productions include local versions of GERMANY’S NEXT TOPMODEL, I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE, POPSTARS, ETERNAL GLORY or SUPERNANNY.

In 2017 TRESOR TV became part of Keshet International, one of the leading global media production and distribution companies with offices in Tel Aviv, London, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Sohail Shah
Managing Director
King of Sunshine Productions

Sohail Shah is the Managing Director of King of Sunshine Productions, a truly independent production company.

Since its creation in 2019, King of Sunshine has scored multiple commissions, including the RTS nominated Agatha & Poirot for ITV, Meet The Richardsons for UKTV, George Michael Last Christmas for Channel 5, and The UK’s National Parks with Caroline Quentin for Channel 4.

With 30 years’ experience in television, Sohail specialises in factual entertainment, factual and popular culture programming. He has multiple credits on all 5 UK terrestrial channels and numerous digital channels worldwide.

Prior to setting up KOSP, Sohail was Commissioning Editor for BBC Entertainment. Whilst there, he commissioned and executive produced shows across all four BBC channels. He was the lead on all BBC3 content and sat on the European Business Unit as the UK representative dealing with all connected Eurovision programming. His roster of programmes included QI, The Graham Norton Show, Sounds Random, The Apprentice You’re Fired, and The Eurovision Song Contest.

Prior to commissioning, Sohail was an experienced Showrunner and a successful Head of Development; heading up development units for BBC Studios, ITV Studios, STV Productions and October Films amongst others.

Sohail is also currently a Non-Exec Director for Elstree Film and TV Studios.

Jean Shi
SVP, Alternative Programming & Development
Fremantle

Jean Shi serves as the Senior Vice President, Alternative Development & Programming for Fremantle in North America. Shi is responsible for developing and selling original unscripted series, with a focus on global formats and talent. Recent series include About Last Night for HBO Max hosted by Ayesha & Stephen Curry, Relatively Famous for E!, and an upcoming Wayne Brady family docuseries for Hulu.

Shi is an executive with extensive hands-on experience in development and production across all genres of television, including unscripted, scripted and new media.  Prior to joining Fremantle, she served as Vice President, Development in the NBCUniversal group at Oxygen Media where she oversaw two content rebrands and shepherded series such as Pretty.Strong., Douglas Family Gold, GLAAD award-winning Strut,and The Disappearance of Natalee Hollowayamong others. Shi also spent three years as Vice President and Co-Executive Producer overseeing development and production at Intervention producer GRB Entertainment where she sold and produced multiple series for networks such as TLC, WeTV, Travel Channel, and National Geographic, among others. Shi started her career in morning news. 

Shi lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs and is a graduate of Stanford University.

Taye Shuayb
Executive Producer & Global Head of Studios & Content Development
Tastemade

Andrew Sime
Head of Format Sales
Newen Connect

Andrew Sime is SVP of Format Sales at Newen Connect, the distribution arm of TF1-owned Newen Studios, and leads sales of scripted and unscripted formats including “HIP”, “Time To Love” and “Grand Prix”. He is based in London, and prior to joining Newen, worked at companies including Banijay Rights and Sony Pictures Television.

Deborah Skeffington
Acquisitions Manager
VideoElephant

VideoElephant is a unique video content solution for online media, digital screens and streaming platforms globally, powered by the world’s largest curated premium video library. As the world’s largest premium video library and content distribution network we’re all about incredible video content and bringing it to screens everywhere. The VideoElephant library contains more than 4 million videos with over 3000 added daily, from 1000 content sources across more than 35 categories and 20 languages. We built VideoElephant so that we can make it easy for content producers to distribute and monetise their video globally and for businesses worldwide to connect with their audiences through extraordinary video experiences. VideoElephant sources, licenses, curates, programmes and distributes premium video content distributing globally for content producers and delivering to online media, digital screens and streaming platforms worldwide as single VOD assets, playlists, feeds, programming and channels. For our clients we deliver access to millions of videos, with thousands added daily, from hundreds of sources across multiple categories and languages. Rights cleared, brand-safe, continually refreshed premium content with flexible delivery options. All on one contract. For our content partners we deliver game-changing expansion of reach, revenue and brand with access to billions of impressions and millions of viewers across hundreds of clients globally. Expert curation, transparent reporting, unique data-driven insights and extraordinary performance.

Dave Snyder
Senior Vice President, Docs & Current Programming
World of Wonder

Hollann Sobers
Production Executive
Amazon Studios

Hollann Sobers is a multidisciplinary leader and Production Executive overseeing cross-platform entertainment from conception through distribution in television, short film, documentaries, promos, and events.

Hollann rose to the position of Production Executive in her time at Viacom, where she worked on documentaries under VH1’s award-winning Rock Docs franchise and various original series, including the launches of Love & Hip Hop and Black Ink Crew.  After VH1,  she worked at Al Jazeera America and Sundance TV before joining Complex Networks in 2017 as the Director of Production.   Hollann worked across all original programming brands while building an infrastructure to support 30-plus series per year,  including some licensed by Netflix, Hulu, and Roku. Before leaving Complex, she executive produced the ComplexCon(versations) series and served as Sr. Director of Integrated Development & Programming Operations, which entailed a combination of innovative content development, original programming, and operational excellence.

Hollann is currently a Production Executive at Amazon Studios overseeing their unscripted programming.   In addition to being an active member of the  PGA, NYWIFT, and NAMIC, she serves on the Television Academy’s Board of Governors representing the Production Executive Peer Group.

Akanksha Sood Singh
Founder
The Gaia People

Akanksha Sood Singh is among India’s multi-award winning natural history filmmakers.  Her career spans over 21 years and covers the range and breadth of film production - from the jungles to tent pole feature films, crafting scripts to negotiating complex acquisition / co-productions and now to producing and directing her own films.

Akanksha’s films have seen their first broadcast on almost all major networks in the world. With over 200+ awards and nominations, her work has won 5 National Film Awards by the President of India, a Wildscreen & Jackson Wild nomination and a UN Film Award.

She is one of the Jurors for the International Emmy ® Awards – Documentary category, a member of the Jackson Wild Advisory Council and will soon be featured in the UN Women India’s coffee table book on '75 Stories of Women's Leadership in India'.

Chelsey Stephens
Owner
Chelsey Creative

Chelsey is a veteran unscripted talent and development Executive based in New York. 

Former Senior Vice President Of Talent & Development at Truly Original, she spearheaded casting and development of several titles in the ‘Housewives’ franchise, working as head of original casting and Executive Producer on The Real Housewives of Potomac and The Real Housewives of Dubai, and as head of casting on The Real Housewives of Atlanta for 8 seasons. She also worked as head of original casting / development on Winter House, Family Karma, and Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.

Now, she owns her own casting / development company, Chelsey Creative, Inc, and has a first look deal with ITV America developing shows across all genres.

Janice Strangward
SVP, Head of Sales
WAG Entertainment

With over 25 years of content sales experience, Janice Strangward has over the span of her career, distributed content from all programming genres to a variety of networks and content platforms and has direct sales experience of negotiating with all territories worldwide.

Having previously worked within several content distribution departments to include Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Discovery Communications, Passion Distribution , Entertainment One , Al Jazeera Networks and Zee Television , Janice joined Wag Entertainment Limited in 2017 as Head of Sales to manage global sales activities to the acquisition of third-party content for distribution.

Igal Svet
Founder, Night Owl Pictures
Night Owl Pictures

Igal Svet is a highly accomplished TV executive with a track record of making a significant impact on the non-fiction genre. In 2023, he founded Night Owl Pictures, a next generation, artist-centered film and TV production company dedicated to innovative storytelling and undeniable talent.

With a notable tenure as Head of Documentaries at discovery+, Svet was the driving force behind the platform's documentary strategy, leading to over 50 award-winning and critically acclaimed documentaries. His ability to identify compelling stories and talent have earned him a reputation as one of today’s top creative execs in the industry.

Svet's keen eye for talent and compelling stories has led to some of the most talked-about docuseries of the last few years, including Unprecedented, House of Hammer, Curse of the Chippendales, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed and Queen of Meth. The award-winning feature doc slate elevated the brand with titles such as Introducing Selma Blair, January 6th, Rebel Hearts, Francesco, Lily Topples the World, A Radical Life and Burn This Letter Please.

Most recently, Svet commissioned and executive produced Shaun White: The Last Run, which is generating significant buzz since its premiere on Max. Additionally, as well as the eagerly awaited music documentary featuring Selena Gomez and Stacey Abrams and a gripping true crime docuseries in collaboration with Imagine Entertainment both slated for 2024.

Prior to his work at Discovery, Svet was the driving force behind National Geographic's pivot to premium content. During his five-year tenure at the company, he developed a broad slate of documentaries and series, including the Oscar-winning Free Solo, Emmy-winning LA 92, and BAFTA-winning Jane. His contributions to the network also included the highest-rated new series in its history, such as Mars, Story of God with Morgan Freeman, and One Strange Rock.

Svet spent years in physical and post-production as a producer for hit unscripted formats like Top Gear USA, all access docuseries Full Throttle Saloon, and the transformative weight loss format Love Handles. His career trajectory took off as a development executive at esteemed production companies like Reveille, BBC WW, and 2C Media, where he created, packaged, and successfully sold new non-fiction projects to broadcast and cable networks.

Svet graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University with a BS in Film/Television and Philosophy.

Liz Tang
Executive Director, Acquisitions
Fifth Season

As the head of the acquisitions team at Fifth Season, Tang seeks out and secures best-in-class unscripted and scripted content for the company’s global TV distribution slate, building partnerships with producers and financing projects at all stages of production. Notable unscripted titles developed on her watch include Netflix’s top-rating feature doc, The Pez Outlaw, from Sidestilt Films; celeb-hairdresser docusoap Blowing L.A., from Fulwell 73; the acclaimed investigative docuseries Victoria’s Secret: Angels & Demons, from Film 45 and Altimeter; Lightbox’s premium limited docuseries Spector and Curse of the Chippendales; and Hulu’s Emmy-winning WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn. Prior to joining Fifth Season, Tang managed series acquisition for Sky UK, with a special focus on the US Studios, and she has over a decade of experience in acquisitions and co-productions at leading international broadcasters and network groups, including the BBC, ViacomCBS, and Discovery. 

Celia Taylor
Managing Director
Distant Voices

Celia Taylor started in the independent sector working in comedies, prime time formats and documentaries for C4 and BBC. She then joined BBC as a Commissioning Editor in Factual working across BBC1 and 2 winning a BAFTA for Innovation for Doubletake. As part of the launch team for BBC3, she delivered ratings and critical success for the channel with shows like Diners, Celebdaq, Towerblock Dreams, and Madame Kitty’s Whorehouse. Keen to branch out, she joined Virgin as Director of Programmes managing all aspects of 3 Digital channels - Bravo, Trouble and Challenge. Winning an RTS for Innovation for the first comedy UGC show, she also launched the first Virgin TV channel Virgin 1. As Head of Non-scripted at Sky, she delivered their highest rating show in 20 years with An Idiot Abroad alongside other award winning formats like 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy and Pineapple Dance Studios. She also commissioned 6 Natural History films with Sir David Attenborough in 3D, and a slate of Award winning theatrical release documentaries and many other hit returnable formats and entertainment shows. Returning to production, she became MD of Mentorn Media securing a USA network series as well as US pilots and revitalising it’s UK output with new returnable series for BBC, C4 and C5 and an ambitious doc series for an SVOD.  She set up Distant Voices, a diverse and regional independent production company in 2021 and she has secured commissions from main broadcasters and paid development in scripted projects as well. She has 2 kids, a dog and a fish.

Jonathan Taylor
Director, Original Programming
Olympic Channel

A veteran Emmy & Webby winning producer and development executive of non-fiction content. Based in Madrid, Taylor currently heads the originals department for Olympic Channel (the IOC’s global content studio) which develops and produces long form content for Olympics.com, media rights holders, Olympic sponsors and third party platforms. Content produced includes feature length documentaries, short films, athlete profiles, follow docs, branded content and formats. Taylor cut his teeth over many years in LA where his previous experience included running his own reality production company and working alongside outlets such as A&E, E!, VH-1, AXS and MTV where he was the showrunner for all seasons of  the ground breaking series “The Osbournes”.

Jared Thompson
Senior Agent
A3 Artists Agency

Jared Thompson is a Senior Agent at A3 Artists Agency in the Alternative Programming Digital Media, Licensing and Branding Department.  He focuses on packaging and staffing unscripted programming across broadcast, cable, and streaming networks. In addition to his work in the unscripted space, Jared has been an early adopter of emerging and new media markets sourcing lucrative digital, podcast, and NFT opportunities for clients. Jared’s client list includes premier full-service production companies, industry leading showrunners, as well as high-profile celebrities, digital creators, and other prominent unscripted talent.  

Outside of his role at A3, Jared is active in the entertainment industry community with a two-year role as an HRTS Associates Board Member, involvement in multiple mentorship programs, and participation in speaking engagements as an expert guest lecturer at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University. 

Jared began his tenure at A3 Artists Agency in 2018 after starting his career at Rebel Entertainment Partners in 2011.  He recently relocated to New York City in May 2022 after spending 12 years in Los Angeles.  Originally from Denver, Colorado, Jared attended Arizona State University where he earned a BA in Finance.

Anna Thomson
Executive Producer & Series Director
SandStone Global Productions Ltd.

Anna Thomson has directed more than 30 films, including Long Lost Family: The Unknown Soldier for ITV, Portillo’s Hidden History of Britain for Channel 5, A Great British Air Disaster for Channel 4, Portrait Artist of the Year for Sky Arts, Al Murray’s German Adventure for BBC, Patisserie with Michel Roux for BBC, World War 2: The Last Heroes for Channel 4, and Objects of Desire for Sky Arts.

Anna has also directed the Sundance-backed feature documentary Yoghurt Utopia, as well as short fiction and branded content. She recently stepped up to executive producing, working on Tea with Bettany Hughes for Google Arts & Culture, and two one-hour films, Treasures of Malta and Treasures of Greece for BBC Worldwide and Channel 4.

Having served as Vice-chair of the Directors UK Board, Anna has regularly contributed to and hosted events. As a former trustee of the Directors Charitable Foundation, Anna has run directing workshops in schools. She is also a graduate of ScreenSkills’ prestigious Series Producer Programme.

Caterina Turroni
Founder & Executive Producer
At Land Productions

Caterina Turroni is one of the world’s leading producers of historical programming. Her company, At Land Productions, specializes in high-end factual documentaries, with particular focus on ancient history and archaeology.

Through Caterina’s decades of producing, At Land has establish exclusive access and arrangements with many of the world’s leading historians, scientists and archaeologists. These unique relationships has ensured that At Land receive privileged ‘first looks’ at new, high-profile projects and discoveries around the globe.

The company creates Blue Chip content for major international channels and platforms including ‘Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb’, Netflix’s first original archaeological documentary, “Tut’s Lost City Revealed’ for Discovery+ and news-making, yet to be announced special for National Geographic/Disney+.

Caterina has spent an enormous amount of time in Egypt, filming the most exciting excavations. Her dream is to find the tomb of Queen Nefertiti. Each shoot, she believes, brings her one step closer.

Carri Twigg
Founding Partner & Head of Development
Culture House

Carri is Co-founder and Head of Development for Culture House media, a women owned, premium film and TV production services and immersive experiences company that specializes in storytelling about the cultural questions that shape society, politics, and identity.

Current series from Culture House include Ladies First: A story of Women in Hip Hop, a Netflix worldwide Top Ten series, and past series include  The Hair Tales for Hulu and OWN and  Growing Up for Disney+. Carri also leads Culture House's consultancy work, collaborating with major studios like Paramount Pictures, and creatives to ensure their projects are culturally productive. 

In 2022, Carri was appointed by President Biden to the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts and the Kennedy Center board, where she will advise the administration and the Kennedy Center on diversifying national programming and arts funding.  

Carri served in the Obama White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Public Engagement for then Vice President Biden.   Carri spent over 10 years working at every level of American politics and government. Carri is an expert in crafting engaging, socially relevant and politically resonant stories, and has been seen on stages from TedX to SXSW.

Jason Watt
Executive Producer
Watt Pictures

Jason Watt is the founder and CEO of Watt Pictures, the full-service, independent production company behind HGTV’s hit series Rico to the Rescue and its mini-series Home Afloat, as well as Magnolia’s Hibbs Shows You How, History’s Road Hauks, and Discovery’s Battle Tested and Max Grundy. The company has sold numerous pilot and development deals to a range of clients including Netflix, RoKu, Food Network, Bravo, Animal Planet, Travel, and National Geographic. As an independent producer, he created TLC’s Jersey Brides and Bada Bling Brides and served as a producer on the award-winning documentary Sons of Perdition, which toured festivals globally and premiered on the BBC and OWN. Before launching Watt Pictures, he worked as a field and post producer, director, showrunner and development executive. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois.

Philip Webb
COO
OUTtv Network Inc

Philip Webb, COO, is originally from the UK where he worked at ITV Productions on a number of factual reality hits. Since moving to Canada he has produced over 200 hours of documentary, lifestyle and reality programming. At OUTtv, Philip is responsible for the operations of the company, with a specific focus on the technical and delivery side of the business. He also continues to oversee the development and production of OUTtv's original programming including hits such as For the Love of DILFS, Hot Haus, Iconic Justice, Call Me Mother, Drag Heals and X-Rated.

Mark Westcott
CEO
Marshal Bishop Productions

Mark Westcott is an award-winning British TV executive, producer, and director with over thirty years of experience in the industry. Working in unscripted programme making, he is best known for adventure shows fronted by some of the world's leading on-screen survival experts, including Bear Grylls and Mykel Hawke. Series and episodes he is credited on as a  director and producer  include the global hit Bear Grylls: Man vs. Wild, ITV UK’s Bear Grylls: Mission Survive and Discovery Channel’s Man, Woman, Wild.

In 2020, Westcott co-founded the London based production company Marshal Bishop. The company's first series, Called to the Wild, (a co-production with ITV America) is currently airing on National Geographic and was a featured documentary pick on the Disney+ main page for many weeks in 2023. A seasoned traveller, he is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Sean Wheatley
Head of Acquisitions
Passion Distribution

As Head of Acquisitions at Passion Distribution, Sean Wheatley spearheads the company’s content acquisition activity, working closely with Passion Distribution’s production partners - both with independent producers and the Tinopolis group companies. Since joining the company in June 2018 Sean has acquired a range of high-quality unscripted titles from production companies and channel groups in Europe and North America.

Sean previously worked at Fremantle where he held the role of Senior Acquisitions Manager. During his tenure, he expanded Fremantle’s factual and lifestyle slate, striking deals with a number of independent producers and content owners. Prior to Fremantle, Sean was Acquisitions Manager at Sky Vision acquiring specialist factual content. Prior to moving into international distribution, Sean held various producing roles at independent production companies.

Dan Wiesman
Head of Formats and Development
Reshet 13

A highly-professional and seasoned television content creator, story teller, editor and executive producer.
With an extensive experience of over two decades in the TV industry as a showrunner of various mega reality and entertainment shows such as "The Voice", "Beauty and the Geek" and "Survivor".

Currently, I'm the Head of Formats and Development at Reshet 13, responsible for identifying new unscripted formats in the international market and localize them.

Reshet 13 is one of Israeli's leading commercial broadcast channels, its programming includes local versions of the top international reality brands such as "Survivor" and "Big Brother" and previously, "X-Factor", "Dancing with the Stars", "The Amazing Race" and "Undercover Boss".

Deborah Williams OBE
Chief Executive
Creative Diversity Network

Since 2016, Deborah has been the Executive Director of Creative Diversity Network, the membership body funded by the UK’s major broadcasters, and production community. Its aims are to support the UK television industry to promote, celebrate and share good practice around the diversity agenda. 

With over 30 years’ experience working above and below the line in television, film and theatre, as well as policy development across the wider creative and cultural industries. She is the architect and designer of the BFI Diversity standards that were adopted by The Oscars and BAFTA in 2020. In addition she is an adviser to the UN and UNICEF on the rights of disabled people to cultural activities. 

As well as sitting on panels and steering groups for a many organisations, Deborah is known in her own right as an artist provocateur having won awards and nominations nationally and internationally. Her work in theatre is acknowledged as a catalyst for challenge and change in perceptions of disability and difference.  

In 2019 she was awarded the Life Time Achievement award from Inclusive Companies for her body of work in the area of diversity and culture. She is a Disabled Powerlister 2018 2019, 2022. She was made OBE in the Queens Platinum Jubilee Honours in June 2022.

Justina Wojtowicz
EVP, Acquisitions Co-Productions & Sales
Rive Gauche Television

Justina Wójtowicz (nee Hemperek) joined Rive Gauche in August 2020 and is EVP Acquisitions & Sales. She oversees Global Acquisitions, Co-productions & development, working with international producers & broadcasters to secure production finance and partnerships.

Prior to Rive Gauche she was the Head of Acquisitions at Beyond Distribution charged with overseeing all global acquisitions as well as corporate strategies & relationships. She also played a significant role at eOne based in the UK, where she was Director, Acquisitions and worked on expanding eOne’s presence, expansion and premium content outside of Canada for international distribution. During her career in distribution she also worked at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, All3Media International and RDF Rights in the UK.

Hannah Wyatt
Managing Director, Factual Entertainment & Events
BBC Studios

Hannah Wyatt oversees the creative, commercial, and operational strategy for the Factual Entertainment and Events production business at BBC Studios. From their bases around the UK, this award-winning team produce some of the nation’s most popular shows including Dragons Den, The One Show, Countryfile, Top Gear, Antiques Roadshow, Amazing Hotels, and Gardeners’ World.

Hannah also led the BBC Studios Events team through their multi-award-winning coverage of the Platinum Jubilee, the funeral of HM The Queen and Coronation of King Charles III. Her team also produced the star-studded Platinum Jubilee and Coronation Concerts.

She oversees development of new factual entertainment formats to ensure the continued creative growth of IP in this key genre. Her creative team have developed The Unique Boutique and Foxy’s Fearless 48-hours for Channel Four, Lost Dogs Live for Channel Five, Hungry for It for BBC Three. Hannah is also growing the Unit’s digital business, producing Game and Glory and The Workout Badges with Joe Wicks for YouTube, Pinch of Nom for Facebook and shortform content creator videos for Pinterest.

Hannah joined BBC Studios in 2018 from Boundless where she was Managing Director, overseeing formats including The Apprentice (BBC One) and Grand Designs (Channel 4). Before this she was Director of Programmes at Mentorn, responsible for programmes including, The Fried Chicken Shop (Channel 4), Watermen: A Dirty Business (BBC Two), Hotel of Mum And Dad (BBC Three)

Nicole Zien
TV Agent
Innovative Artists

As a former Development Executive and Executive Producer, Nicole has overseen dozens of unscripted programs from concept to creation, selling to nearly every major network and streaming platform. She became a TV agent in early 2022, combining more than a decade of unscripted development and production experience with her passion for connecting people and projects. At Innovative Artists, she represents non-fiction production companies, showrunners, and directors with a heavy focus on equal representation of women in the industry.