Children’s Media Conference Collaborates with the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival
In April 2017 the CMC is taking further steps into the Chinese kids’ media market through a collaboration with CICAF, the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival.
CMC is organising and producing two conference sessions at the vast CICAF market, held annually in Hangzhou. CICAF is an official government-supported event that attracts the majority of broadcasters, online platform operators and producers of animation in the Chinese market. CMC has gathered a core group of professionals to represent the UK in the CMC@CICAF sessions, 26- 28 April 2017.
Director of BBC North and BBC Children’s, Alice Webb will be giving a Keynote at the Conference, outlining how the BBC as a public service broadcaster is planning to face its digital challenges posed by young audiences; while Olivier Dumont (MD, EOne Family and EOne Licensing), Helen Howells (Joint MD, HoHo Entertainment) and Jean-Philippe Randisi (CEO, Zodiak Kids, Zodiak Media) will participate in a panel to discuss their various existing and planned relationships with Chinese partners, and to asses the potential for further developments between the UK animation and programming scene and the Chinese market.
Sarah Baynes (CEO of the Creative Garden consultancy) will join the panel with an overview of the international markets and as Deputy Chair of the CMC Advisory Group, Sarah will promote the Sheffield Conference (5-6 July) and the potential for Chinese representation at the International Exchange (the CMC’s market day – 4 July in Sheffield).
All the UK delegation members will have a series of meetings at CICAF with key Chinese companies organised by CMC’s partner in this venture The Media Pioneers, who can offer this service for a fee to other UK companies who might want to accompany the delegation to CICAF.
This delegation, which CMC is describing as a “pilot mission”, is supported by the Department for International Trade (DIT) as part of the UK government strategy and a continuing campaign to grow UK children’s entertainment business in the Chinese market.
Greg Childs, Editorial Director of the CMC, a long time supporter of links to China said:
This creates more solid foundations for the bridge between the UK and China which is important for both sides. With the arrival of the UK-China co-pro treaty, there couldn’t be a better time to build connections, which is what the CMC is always about. Taking our uniquely curated approach to conference content into the heart of the Chinese animation industry, and attaching to that some high-level executives who are looking to do business or make creative partnerships are the perfect early steps.
We’ll bring UK expertise, talent and creative skills to the attention of the Chinese market not only in the conference content but in the networking and meetings which surround it. It’s a set-up we and our clients understand. We’ll also use our presence at the event to work with DIT to identify potential Chinese companies to attend the CMC and the International Exchange in Sheffield in July. We’re very excited about building this two-way bridge.
Speaking about the services the UK companies would receive on site, Maggie Liang, MD of The Media Pioneers added: “We’re pleased that the CMC@CICAF speakers will form the core of a larger group attending CICAF from the UK. Speakers of this caliber will attract a significant audience at this huge event, and the resulting meetings could be extremely advantageous to both sides. Companies wishing to join the group on this pilot mission should contact us via our website to find out about the fee structure and travel arrangements.” http://www.themediapioneers.co.uk/cicaf-2017.html