Last month, over 1,000 members of the children’s entertainment industry gathered in San Diego for Kidscreen, an annual conference overlooking the waterfront. Delegates mingled with colleagues, industry leaders hosted insightful panels, and creatives pitched their ideas to anyone willing to listen. I was fortunate to attend my second Kidscreen in a row, where I deepened existing relationships, forged new connections, and expanded my industry knowledge.
My journey to this point started with the FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference. I was a rising senior at Emory University in 2020, and it was the first conference I ever attended (unless comic conventions count). FUTURE NOW provided a safe and supportive space to exercise and hone my elevator pitch, develop networking skills, and gain confidence in public speaking. What once felt intimidating—introductions, first impressions, and professional conversations—became growth opportunities, allowing me to approach industry events like Kidscreen with confidence.
Back in college, I knew I wanted to work in media and entertainment, envisioning a future at companies like NBCUniversal, HBO, or A24. I had no idea an entire industry focused solely on children’s media existed. Names like HappyKids and Kidoodle weren’t on my radar. But thanks to FUTURE NOW, I found my way into the world of children’s entertainment—first at Cartoon Network, then at Moonbug Entertainment—where I manage distribution and content partnerships.
The Marriott Marquis where Kidscreen was held was packed to the gills, and no matter what part of the industry you were in—production, distribution, ad sales, brand partnerships—there was always a panel to attend or a colleague to chat with.
The conference kicked off with a Super Bowl party on Sunday night before getting down to business Monday morning with a slew of panels, ranging from how to achieve success on Roblox to a discussion on how SVOD (subscription video on demand, such as Netflix) partners have cut back on spending, and speed pitching sessions. Days three and four featured speakers from Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney Branded Television, to name a few, and even a panel on Skibidi Toilet (yes, you read that right).
While the panels offered valuable insights into the state of the industry and tips for success, I spent most of my time meeting directly with clients.
As part of Moonbug’s distribution team, it’s vital to maintain friendly relationships with our partners, and Kidscreen is the perfect place to ensure those bonds stay strong. I helped plan dinners and grabbed more coffees than I can count, but each trip to Starbucks paved the way for future success—and whenever my nerves flared up, I just reminded myself that everyone at Kidscreen wanted the same thing: to make good content and ensure it gets seen. Once I remembered that common ground, it was less nerve-wracking to pitch our upcoming shows and discuss what kind of deal they deserved.
Conferences like Kidscreen reinforce the common adage that the entertainment industry is built on networking, and that’s why organizations like FUTURE NOW are so important. Being a part of FUTURE NOW introduces you to both your future peers and possible mentors, and opens the door to an industry that might otherwise seem impossible to break into.
You may even find a way into a role you had never considered before like I did.
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