Over 1,000 Participants for MIPJunior 2011

PARIS, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Numbers of participants, buyers, programmes and projects have risen significantly for the 2011 edition of MIPJunior, the international showcase for children and youth programmes, which runs in Cannes on 1-2 October 2011, ahead of MIPCOM. The MIPJunior keynote will be delivered by Sam Register, Executive Vice President Creative Affairs at Warner Bros. Animation (WBA).

For its 19th edition, MIPJunior breaks the barrier of 1,000 participants this year. The number of registered buyers to date is also reaching a record 600 (+25% compared to 2010) and the number of programmes and projects listed in the MIPJunior catalog rises to 1,092.

"We're very proud of the growing success of MIPJunior," underlines Laurine Garaude, Director of the Television Division, Reed MIDEM. "The significant progression of MIPJunior reflects the kids' entertainment industry's impressive evolution in many directions. Notably, kids publishing and the licensing initiatives now represent important segments of the youth programme industry's business, sustained by the Books-to-TV Exchange and the Licensing Challenge events at MIPJunior 2011."

At Warner Bros. Animation, Sam Register spearheads creative efforts for the development and production of new programming and content for all distribution outlets. As former VP of the Cartoon Network channel, he developed hit animated series such as Ben 10 and Teen Titans. In 2004, he also created a series about the adventures of pop stars in Japan called Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi. At MIPJunior 2011, Sam Register will share his views on recent trends in the animation world. He will also report on current and future projects at WBA and will discuss the rejuvenation of some of Warner Bros' legendary characters – the celebrated Looney Tunes – mainly through the use of 3D technology.

"I am so excited to represent Warner Bros. Animation at MIPJunior," said Sam Register.  "From our new DC Nation programming block featuring Green Lantern: The Animated Series, to our current series, The Looney Tunes Show, Mad, and Thundercats, WBA has an outstanding slate of programming available for global markets. I look forward to presenting our vision to MIPJunior attendees – and I promise it'll be fun, too."

This keynote will be followed by the international screening premiere of Leafie, A Hen Into The Wild, a Korean animation feature film produced by Myung Films, which has met with huge success since its release in South Korea with over two million tickets sold, placing it just behind Kung Fu Panda. The film tells the story of Leafie, an amazing hen who dreams of a life outside her cage: a story of adventure, love and sacrifice.

Licensing is once again a key theme of MIPJunior 2011. In partnership with License Global, this year marks the eighth edition of the Licensing Challenge, which considers a selection of 80 shows launched during the previous year and presents an award to the one with the greatest potential in terms of licensing and merchandising. Holly Stein, Vice President, Licensing Acquisitions & Business Development of Mattel Inc., will head up the Licensing Challenge jury.

Boosted by its success in previous years, MIPJunior will host a third edition of the MIPJunior Kids' Jury, sponsored this year by Carousel. A jury of 20 children, divided into three different age groups (3-6 years, 7-10 years and 11-14 years), will screen a selection of 15 unreleased programmes and will vote on their favourites. Some 118 new programmes were entered into this year's competition, representing an increase of 30% on 2010. For the first time this year, the kids' motivations in the decision process will be analysed and delivered during the new Kids' Jury Consumer Lab.

For more information on MIPJunior click here.

ABOUT REED MIDEM

Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organiser of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sectors.

Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser, with over 460 events in 36 countries covering 44 industry sectors. In 2010 Reed brought together over seven million active event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 34 fully staffed offices.

SOURCE Reed MIDEM