1. AI, Because It’s 2025!

Whether in live action or animation, it’s time to integrate tools into your next project plans. Virtual sets, artificial intelligence, real-time animation, and optimized creative pipelines will soon be essential. Don’t miss this exciting meeting point of creativity and innovation. The panelists collectively offer a deep, interdisciplinary view—from studio-level AI integration to academic frameworks, child-focused ethics, digital play, and immersive narrative development.

2. The ABCs of Gen Alpha and Beta - Getting to know your audience

What You Need to Know About the Kids of Today and Tomorrow Gen Alpha—and the just-arriving Gen Beta—are growing up in an era shaped by uncertainty, climate crisis, identity fluidity, digital saturation, and a rapidly shifting global landscape. What does this mean for the stories we tell—and how we tell them? In this keynote, Kim Wilson draws from her research at the Children’s Media Lab, real-world insights from user and focus testing conducted through OneFish TwoFish Consulting, and a thorough review of emerging Gen Alpha/Beta literature to offer a deep, nuanced portrait of today’s and tomorrow’s kids. Touching on themes like interests, identity, play, and platforms, this session offers a deep dive into the emotional needs, values, and creative expectations of today’s and tomorrow’s kids. With powerful quotes from kids themselves and actionable takeaways for content creators, it’s a future-focused session grounded in what young audiences truly want and need.

3.  YouTube & Discoverability: Tools, Trends, and Tactics to Grow Your Audience

Join Stephanie Wilson Bonin and Mac Malik from YouTube for an insightful session on how to maximize the visibility of educational and children’s content on the platform. This presentation will explore YouTube’s discoverability tools and analytics, with a focus on the YouTube Player for Education—an ad-free, curated environment designed to support learning. Gain practical tips and strategic insights to help your content reach and engage the right audiences

4.  Keynote Speaker:- (TBC)– a success story
Two special guests share their journey and the factors behind your success—particularly how they’ve managed to reach such a wide yet targeted audience across multiple media platforms. Their experience stands as a powerful example of discoverability done right

5. Beyond Broadcast: Building Big Audiences for Every Screen - YouTube and more

In today’s oversaturated digital landscape, reaching children and families requires more than just presence—it demands purpose, creativity, and strategic thinking. In this session, panelists will exchange ideas on how to successfully grow children’s content across platforms like YouTube, Roblox, and social media, even with modest budgets. A recurring question from our organizing committee—and one that will guide this discussion—is how to stand out without simply replicating what others have done. What truly connects with today’s children and families? The conversation will explore adapting IPs for digital-native audiences, building fan engagement, extending brands into interactive environments, and navigating monetization and compliance challenges. This session is for creators, producers, and media professionals seeking fresh, effective approaches to connecting with young audiences across every screen.

6. The Importance of Trust in Indigenous Productions: Demystifying Narrative Sovereignty

This panel explores Indigenous narrative sovereignty and the keys to respectful, equitable collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous production companies. Panelists will discuss how trust, transparency, and active listening are essential to creating authentic stories led by Indigenous communities. Through real-world examples, the conversation will highlight the growth of Indigenous media in Canada, including APTN’s pivotal role over the past 25 years. The panel will also address current challenges, best practices, and future paths for culturally respectful audiovisual production. A must-attend for industry professionals seeking to build fair, lasting partnerships rooted in Indigenous narrative sovereignty.

7.   International Co-Productions and Productions in films, series and others:  How to Partner for a Global Audience
As U.S. protectionism and shifting incentives reshape Canada’s audiovisual landscape, international co-film, tv and media production is becoming an essential business model in the kids’ media industry. This panel brings together producers, and funding representatives to explore the co-pro opportunities and challenges, including: the benefits of the Canadian treaties’ framework, designing projects at co-development stage, key steps to building relationships with future international partners in films, series and other media productions. Focusing on both creative and financial dimensions, the discussion will also cover the vital role for co-productions and productions, that shape reception, attract funding, and enhance cultural exchange. Attendees will leave equipped with best practices and actionable insights, alongside strategies for leveraging support, and other key organizations to successfully develop and showcase international project

8.  The energy is there !

In closing, attend a motivational talk with writer-director Tope Babalola, a digital content creator with over 2 million followers across YouTube and TikTok. The Winnipeg-born Babalola is also a filmmaker and creative executive in Toronto, where he's developing a series of projects, including coming-of age young teen mystery series. From TikTok and Instagram to YouTube Shorts and emerging platforms, storytellers are redefining pacing, genre, and engagement for a young generation raised on quick hits and interactive content. So where does that leave more traditional programming? We’ll hear from a leader with insight into both the digital media world and the viewing habits of young consumers about how the visual storytelling landscape and episodic content has changed, as well as how the traditional industry can change with it while not losing sight of what makes traditional platforms unique and important.