Content for kids and families takes center stage as Global Kids Connect kicks off the day-long “Page to Screen” programming at New York Rights Fair on May 31 in New York City.
In a session titled “Adaptation: Navigating the New Hollywood,” Eddie Gamarra, literary manager/producer at the Gotham Group and executive producer of the Maze Runner film trilogy, will lead an in-depth discussion among book-to-screen luminaries including Lisa Fragner, v-p, production & development at 20th Century Fox Feature Animation/Blue Sky Studios; Jane Startz, president of Jane Startz Productions; and Pouya Shahbazian, head of film and television at New Leaf Literary.
The session will focus on the unique challenges and rich rewards of translating beloved books into visual mediums. From transforming a classic such as The Story of Ferdinand into an Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated animated feature film to casting hotly anticipated YA adaptations, or from nurturing what was once considered “niche” stories to creating “binge-able” series for on-demand streaming services, these entertainment experts will provide an insider’s view into the collaborative process of bringing books to screens of every size. For publishers, agents, rights professionals, and editors, the event offers a valuable chance to learn how Hollywood executives look at books, how characters are evaluated for their screen potential, how the entertainment industry is evolving, and how the publishing and Hollywood industries might work together to generate more opportunities for book-based entertainment for kids, teens, and their families.
Produced by Publishers Weekly in association with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Global Kids Connect has expanded from an annual conference to include an ongoing series of learning events for the international children’s publishing community. Recent Global Kids Connect events have included Sounds Like Opportunity: The New World of Audio which featured a diverse mix of professionals across the audio ecosystem, including audiobooks, podcasts, and voice-activated smart speaker apps. Find more information about Global Kids Connect events here.
Not yet registered for New York Rights Fair? Day and multi-day passes are available here.
