10.00am – 10.30am
How can we maintain the integrity of classic book-based brands such as Peter Rabbit, The Snowman, Spot, Flower Fairies, and The World of Eric Carle? What strategy lies behind the successful development of a comprehensive licensing approach that allows these stories to be told beyond the page, partnering with high-quality partners while maintaining a strong connection to the identity of these classic properties? In this panel, we will explore Penguin Ventures' licensing strategy and learn more about staying true to book-based brands while discovering new and dynamic ways to reach audiences.
Moderated by: Samantha Loveday, Group Editor, Max Publishing, UK
Speaker: David Sprei, Commercial Director, Penguin Ventures, UK
10.40am – 11.10am
Kings League is an innovative football competition featuring unconventional rules, celebrity team presidents, and a mix of amateur and professional players. It combines traditional football with entertainment elements, aiming to attract a younger audience through fast-paced gameplay and unique twists. In essence, the Kings League serves as a prime example of building fandom to attract audiences in an innovative way.
This panel presents a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the strategies and opportunities presented by the Kings League brand. It offers insights into how sports organizations can innovate to build and expand their fandom in today's competitive entertainment landscape.
Moderated by: Samantha Loveday, Group Editor, Max Publishing, UK
Speaker: Joan Domènech, Marketing Director of Spain & Italy, Kings League, Spain
11.20am – 11.50am
The Webboh-LAB's psychographic research on the Webboh community challenges the monolithic view of Gen Z, revealing a complex, diverse generation that defies simplistic categorization. Through advanced data analysis and innovative analytical methodologies, the research uncovers distinct subgroups within Gen Z, each with unique characteristics, opinions, and values. This nuanced approach, which treats variance as a key interpretive tool, provides crucial insights for businesses and public operators seeking to understand and engage with Gen Z effectively. By moving beyond stereotypes and embracing data-driven segmentation, organizations can develop targeted strategies that resonate with the multifaceted nature of this generation, ultimately leading to more meaningful connections and impactful initiatives.
Speaker: Furio Camillo, Scientific Director, Webboh-LAB, Italy
12.00pm – 12.30pm
2025 marks a very special milestone for DeAPlaneta Entertainment: the 25th anniversary of the company's creation, which belongs to Grupo Planeta and De Agostini. A quarter of a century of all-round leadership in the entertainment sector, during which the company has distributed Academy Award-winning films (The Pianist, The King's Speech, 12 Years a Slave) and box office hits such as Saw, The Invisible Guardian, and The Girl on the Train. The company has also produced internationally recognized children's series, such as MILO, and, more recently, has explored the universe of gaming and immersive content, expanding some of its most outstanding IPs, such as Wonderpals, into interactive environments.
Speakers: Antonella Ceraso, Consumer Products Director, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, Spain; Gianluca Ferrara, Head of Italy and International Head of Toys, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, Italy
12.40pm – 1.10pm
An extraordinary legacy that has been able to renew itself over the years, always keeping highly appealing. From Finland to the rest of the world, the characters created and illustrated by Tove Jansson live on in lifestyle, entertainment, retail activations, concept stores, and much more, making Moomin a well-known and beloved brand worldwide. In Bologna this year, it's time to celebrate them, always with an eye on their upcoming projects.
Speaker: Roleff Kråkström, Managing Director, Moomin Characters Ltd, and CEO and Founding Partner, Rights & Brands, Finland
3.30pm – 4.10pm
In partnership with MiMaster
For the first time, BLTF/Kids includes a small area dedicated to promoting illustrations and designs for participating licensing companies (licensees and retailers). In this panel, we showcase a selection of participating agencies to provide a brief overview of their rich offerings and to further explore the close relationship between licensing and illustration, which is more intense than ever in Bologna.
Speakers: Among the exhibitors of the Arts Licensing Area
2.00pm – 2.30pm
Learn more about the latest strategies to grow your YouTube channel and its audience, and how to monetize your content on the main kids’ content platform.
Speaker: Adam Rumanek, Founder and CEO, Aux Mode, Canada
2.40pm – 3.10pm
From popular kids' brands like Super Simple Songs, with millions of subscribers on YouTube, to books, new and traditional media tools coexist to build storytelling and fandom. This synergy between digital platforms and conventional formats creates a rich ecosystem for children's entertainment and education.
Speakers: Brett Jubinville, COO & Head of Distribution, Skyship Entertainment, Canada; Kate Turner, Head of Product & Business Development, Spain
3.20pm – 3.50pm
Come to discover Karina Schaapman’s intricate miniature world of Sam & Julia - The Mouse Mansion blossomed into a flourishing international children’s brand.
Crafted from cardboard boxes, vintage fabrics, and recycled materials, Karina built the Mouse Mansion as the backdrop for her books about the mice and best friends Sam & Julia. Since the first title launched in 2011, the Sam & Julia brand has grown into a global phenomenon. It now includes an award-winning animated TV show, a diverse range of creative toys, a licensing programme, an immersive brand store in Amsterdam, and an interactive game currently in development.
In this panel, we make an overview on the key milestones — from the brand’s humble beginnings in the Netherlands to the animated TV series now airing internationally. Learn how Sam & Julia’s mission “to inspire families around the world to be creative, welcoming and kind” evolved into an evergreen property that continues to spark imagination, creativity and kindness among families worldwide.
Speaker: Manita Schaapman, Co-Founder and Creative Director, The Mouse Mansion Company, Netherlands
4.00pm – 4.30pm
With countless brands that have made history in global entertainment, this year Mattel turns 80 and celebrates its history and its unbreakable bond with the world of books in Bologna, also offering an overview of the group's future licensing and publishing projects.
The panel will be followed by a reception at Mattel’s Booth
Speakers: Claudia Lucarella, Head of Publishing EMEA, Mattel, Italy; Eleonora Schiavoni, Head of Consumer Products Italy, Spain & Portugal, Mattel, Italy
4.40pm – 5.40pm
In partnership with Spielfabrique
Video game developers pitch their studios and their skills in making of video games. They will present their past experiences and specialities, showing their capacities in adapting your Book IPs into an interactive experience. We will offer up to 10 pitches on stage from Video game developers presenting their IPs. The session will start with a short presentation of SpielFabrique and the brand-new Games Business Centre, with the presence of the MEDIA Desk, followed by a networking moment among all the attendees.
Except where otherwise indicated, the sessions will be moderated by Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief at Licensing Magazine.
Furio Camillo is Professor of Business Statistics at the Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Bologna.
He teaches various courses including Business Intelligence, Market Research and Data Analysis and Analytical Techniques for CRM and Marketing Research.
He is Director of the Master in Investigation de Mercado y Data Mining at the Buenos Aires branch of the University of Bologna and lecturer in the Master in Data Science at the Bologna Business School.
Author of more than 60 scientific publications, he has participated in more than 300 consulting projects on Data Analyis applied to economic or social issues. In particular, he has dealt with data analyis methods and models for decreasing subjective choices in the definition of the driving parameters of a customer profiling project, discriminant models estimated with kernel space (for customer profiling and credit scoring) and a selection approach linked to information complexity theory
Antonella Ceraso is an executive with over 20 years of experience in the licensing and branding sectors. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Calabria and has held pivotal roles at companies such as Rainbow, where she served as Head of International, overseeing business development across Europe, the United States, and Latin America.
She also worked at Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG), managing relationships with key rights holders including DreamWorks Animation, Fox, Universal, and MGM. In 2016, she joined Planeta Junior as Country Manager for Spain and Portugal, and is currently the Consumer Products Director at DeAPlaneta Entertainment. In this capacity, she leads teams and strategies to expand and internationalize the company’s brands in the children’s and family markets
Joan Domènech drives the marketing strategy for Kings League in Spain and Italy, shaping the brand's identity and ensuring it resonates with fans. From creating bold campaigns to boosting engagement, ticket sales, and product launches, Joan helps position Kings League as more than just a competition—it’s a global phenomenon. Focused on innovation and fan connection, he leads initiatives that blend the best of football, entertainment, and digital culture, making Kings League an unmissable experience for audiences worldwide
Head of Italy and International Head of Toys, DeAPlaneta Entertainment
Gianluca Ferrara has long experience in the Kids & Family market managing top global brands.
He has occupied several positions with incremental responsibility in the Marketing & Sales department at Giochi Preziosi Group and his latest achievement has been the building from scratch as well as the scale-up of a successful start-up for Bandai Toys in Italy. In 2024 he joined DeAPlaneta Entertainment as Head of Italy and International Head of Toys
Brett Jubinville is co-owner of Skyship Entertainer, creators of popular kids brands Super Simple Songs, the Bumble Nums, Noodle & Pals and Caitie’s Classroom. Brett started his career as a designer and animator, but today he oversees Skyship’s branding and consumer product initiatives, as well as growing it’s YouTube channels and subscription app
Roleff Kråkström is managing director of Moomin Characters Ltd, and CEO, chair of the board and founding partner of the licensing agency Rights & Brands. He is a board member on several companies within the Moomin group of companies as well as others. Moomin Characters Ltd owns the rights and licenses the original artwork of the Moomins, created by Tove Jansson (1914-2001), a Swedish-speaking illustrator, writer and artist from Finland.
The Moomins are a family of white and roundish trolls with large snouts that live in Moominvalley. All characters from Moominvalley are trademark-registered worldwide. Before joining Moomin Characters, Roleff worked in the publishing industry for 15 years. Previous to that, he was a fish mongler, something he is very proud of and claims laid the foundation for his skills in sales
Samantha Loveday is group editor at Max Publishing, with direct responsibility for trade publication Licensing Source Book and online hub LicensingSource.net. She has 25+ years experience working in sectors including character, entertainment, brand and lifestyle licensing, toys, preschool and video games.
Claudia Lucarella serves as the Head of Publishing for Mattel in the EMEA region. In this role, she oversees the development and execution of publishing strategies for Mattel's diverse portfolio of brands, ensuring that storytelling remains integral to the company's offerings. Under Claudia's leadership, Mattel has expanded its publishing initiatives through strategic partnerships and innovative content delivery.
She has emphasised the importance of balancing brand heritage with contemporary storytelling to engage audiences across generations. Through her strategic vision and dedication to innovative storytelling, Claudia Lucarella continues to enhance Mattel's publishing footprint across the EMEA region, ensuring that the company's iconic brands resonate with both existing and new fans
Adam Rumanek is the Founder and CEO of Aux Mode. Aux Mode assists individuals, professional entertainment companies, including studios and distributors, in safeguarding, revenue reporting, and monetizing their content on streaming platforms. Before founding Aux Mode in 2012, Mr. Rumanek was an internet entrepreneur and programmer
Manita Schaapman is the co-founder and Creative Director of The Mouse Mansion Company, a family business she launched with her brother, Ian Schaapman to support and grow the unique world of The Mouse Mansion, created by their mother, Karina Schaapman. Drawing from Karina’s intricate miniature world made of cardboard and waste materials, Manita oversees product development, e-commerce, TV production, publishing, and licensing.
Manita has been instrumental in transforming the world of Sam & Julia from a beloved book series into a global brand. The company’s product range inspires children to craft and create their own miniature worlds, using sustainable materials and imaginative designs. Under her leadership, The Mouse Mansion has expanded internationally, with products sold in stores and through distributors across Europe, North America, and Australia and New Zealand
Eleonora Schiavoni, who has delivered exceptional results as an external agent for Mattel in Italy for many years, join Mattel EMEA in-house as Head of Consumer Products for Italy and Iberia effective January 2025.
Based in Milan but traveling frequently to Spain and Portugal, Eleonora brings a proven track record of executing outstanding consumer product programs, coupled with deep market knowledge and business acumen. Her leadership is instrumental in driving Mattel’s ambitious goals in the region
David Sprei is the Commercial Director of Penguin Ventures the Consumer Products & Experiences team at Penguin Random House Children's UK. Managing a portfolio of iconic literary brands and characters including PETER RABBIT™; THE SNOWMAN™; SPOT™; FLOWER FAIRIES™; THE WORLD OF ERIC CARLE™ and Tom Fletcher's WHO'S IN YOUR BOOK? David leads the team with a clear mission to find new ways to tell the world's favourite stories off the page by creating strategic partnerships in product licensing, retail and promotions; location-based experiences including immersive, theatrical and exhibitions, and across the digital landscape
Kate has been working for Oxford University Press in Spain for a decade, and her publishing career spans 20 years across the UK and Spain.
In addition to her degree in English & Spanish from the University of Oxford, Kate is a qualified teacher of English as a second language and has developed significant expertise in this area, both hands on in the classroom and in the development of bestselling English Language Teaching and CLIL materials. Kate is currently Head of Product and Business Development for Oxford University Press España
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