APD Conference 2025

Curator and Host: Prof Lilian Klages

CEO & Executive Producer of the Danish based company Parka Pictures Aps and the German based company Dreamin’ Dolphin Film GmbH. Since 1995 Lilian Klages has worked as producer and executive producer for international animated feature films with a focus on development and financing for companies like UFA Cinema GmbH, A. Film Germany, Munich Animation and Lego. In addition to her position as a producer, Lilian Klages gives lectures at filmschools, serves as a head of the study line „Animation Producing” at the animation academy in Ludwigsburg and as censor for the Animation Workshop in Viborg.

Panellists

Sara Cooper
Founder, Meta Media Entertainment

Sara Cooper is the Founder of Meta Media Entertainment, an international distribution company specialising in children’s animation, which was established in 2016. She was previously Chief Operating Officer at children’s TV distributor Union Media for 5 years, where she was responsible for Digital and Finance. Sara began working in TV in the early ’90s where she was Head of International Sales for a French production/post-production animation company, Videosystem, based in Paris. Sara then produced a weekly media TV programme, Media Europe, for Financial Times TV in London, followed by 8 years in investment banking. She has also co-founded a talent management business and a publishing company. Sara has a Mathematics degree from the University of Oxford.

Alexander Arndt
Managing Director and Co-Founder, Digital Smiles

Digital Smiles is a Munich-based start-up creating global entertainment brands for kids. With 25+ years in the entertainment and start-up industry, Alexander Arndt held management positions at ProSieben, co-founded Studio71, a leading global digital content company and he played a key role in building Julep Media into a major player in the podcast space. His expertise spans content creation, distribution, and social media expansion across video and social platforms.

Tania Reichert-Facilides
Managing Director, OneGate Media

As CEO of OneGate Media (ARD/Studio Hamburg), Tania drives transformation through digitalized operations and innovative exploitation strategies, creating resilient frameworks for evolving media landscapes. After ESCP Paris, she worked at L’Oréal before joining Universum Film (1994-2010), where as MD she expanded into theatrical and digital markets. Until 2019, she produced children’s content and co-founded Animation Germany.

Tony Matthews
Digital Production Consultant, Whitley Heights Creative

Tony Matthews is a seasoned producer and studio leader with 25+ years of experience in animation, digital media, and immersive storytelling. From Disney to XR venues, he has led complex creative and technical teams to deliver groundbreaking productions. A specialist in organizational transformation and innovation, Tony helps studios and businesses adapt, innovate, and thrive in times of disruption. With a background in both aerospace engineering and entertainment, he bridges disciplines and brings teams together.

Curator and Host: Tünde Vollenbroek

A key figure in the European animation industry, creator-producer Tünde Vollenbroek makes animation and graphic novels for (young) adults, ranging from queer romcoms to documentaries on femicide. Throughout the past 15 years, she ran animation production house Studio Pupil, headed the KLIK animation festival program, and wrote for Cartoon Brew as their European correspondent. Tünde is a two-time recipient of the Trickstar Business Award and served on numerous festival juries such as Zagreb and Playgrounds.

Panellists

Kristine Knudsen
Producer and Co-founder, Knudsen Pictures, Den Siste Skilling

Knudsen produces animated feature films. She co- founded the production companies Knudsen Pictures in Berlin 2005 and Den siste skilling in Bergen 2010. Her track record includes the internationally successful “Richard The Stork And The Mystery Of The Great Jewel” (2023) and “Richard The Stork” (2017). She was executive producer on “Titina” (2022). Currently financing “Cocobanana & The Dinosaurhunt”, co- developing “Pesta” and developing “Gingerbread Town”, “Checkmate” & “Sara`s Midsummer” (WT).

Aisha Madu
Animation Director

In her work animation director Aisha Madu (1992) mixes narrative stories and visual poetry, with a minimalist graphic design.
She easily moves between arthouse and more commercial projects, having her work displayed at the Dutch Design Week while also getting 18 million views on her web series “Schroom” (“Kinda Awkward”).
She likes to explore awkward and uncomfortable situations that are part of our everyday life, and address them with humor and a touch of absurdism. Aisha’s short film “House of Broken Hearts” is currently touring festivals.

Jérémie Périn
Animation Director/ Writer

Jérémie Périn was born in 1978 in the north of France. He studied animation at the renowned Gobelins school, graduating in 2000. Since 2001, he has worked for various animation studios, acquiring solid experience in storyboarding, layout, compositing, and design. He moved on to directing in 2004 with TV series pilots and short films.
In 2007, he collaborated with the studio JE SUIS BIEN CONTENT as a writer or co-director on various series such as “CO2”, “Nini Patalo” and “Socks”. He also worked at Autochenille Production, working on the development of “The Rabbi’s Cat” and “Sardine in Outer Space”. In 2011, he directed the music video “Fantasy” for the band DyE and got noticed.
In 2016, he wrote and directed the “Lastman” series. “Mars Express” is his first feature.

Mark Taynton
Head of Adult Swim EMEA, Adult Animation Content Management International