Including Bologna Licensing Trade Fair taking shape for 2020.
Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
The countdown is on to Bologna Licensing Trade Fair, with this year’s event set to introduce a new format, new features and have almost 1,000 brands on show. Now re-formatted as a two-day show – taking place on March 30-31 – the event will also host the Bologna Licensing Awards in the afternoon of the first day. The 2019 show saw 4,500 visitors, 900 brands and 60 retail companies take part, with the organiser anticipating similar numbers in 2020. The popular Licensing Retail Lounge will this year be joined by the Licensing Fashion Zone, while there will also be a dedicated matchmaking service.
Acamar Films has welcomed three senior members to its product development and marketing teams. Paul Keech joins the company as director of product development, having previously held roles at DHX Media, HIT Entertainment and 20th Century Fox; Charlotte Hill takes on the newly created role of marketing director, leading on Bing’s global marketing and communications strategies; while Ruedilyn Schwegler is on board as head of marketing.
2020 marks 75 years since the publication of Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking. Over the course of the year, a raft of activity will be taking place including a charity partnership with Save the Children, plus new books and storytelling events across the country. Musical circus experience, Pippi at Cirkus, will premiere in Stockholm in the summer, while a big screen adaptation is also being planned.
Children’s artist and illustrator, Nicoletta Costa has secured a deal with European educational toy company Ludattica to create a range of sustainable games based on her designs. Launching at Nuremberg toy fair, the educational games and puzzles are manufactured from paper and cardboard, with the products encapsulating the illustrator’s themes of cats, letters and numbers.
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) has revealed its 2020 slate of finalists for the 16th annual Wonder Women Awards. The accolades celebrate top female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and other changemakers for their accomplishments and impact within the toy, licensing and entertainment industries. Winners will be announced at a special dinner held on Sunday February 23, coinciding with Toy Fair New York. In addition, WIT will also present its Mentor of the Year Award to Pam Lifford, president of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, and the WIT Changemaker Award to Stephanie McMahon, WWE’s chief brand officer.
Toei Animation and Fathom Events have confirmed the new feature film, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuma, will be screened on March 25 as special one-night only theatrical event across the US. Movie-goers will get to experience a 15-minute pre-show which will include interviews with the film’s director, Tomohisa Taguchi, and chief animation director, Seiji Tatsukawa.
Zumer Sport has confirmed its collegiate licensing programme with CLC and the launch of its College Collection of 200 skus on Fanatics. Using patented designs with actual football, basketball and baseball materials, Zumer Sport now offers backpacks, bags and accessories for several top universities. The deal was created with the assistance of The Brand Liaison.
APC Kids has inked a deal with the number one French kids free to air TV channel Gulli for series one and two of Kid-E-Cats.
Sinking Ship Entertainment has hired Mehmet Gunduz as its new manager of TV sales for LATAM and Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.
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