63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
From publishing to licensing, from content to consumer products, Asian creative trends are gaining significant momentum across European and international markets. In this panel, two senior professionals from the Asian publishing and licensing industries will share their insights on how this cultural and commercial influence is evolving — and what the future may hold.
As the global licensing industry grows increasingly interconnected, Europe and Asia represent a powerful axis of opportunity. This panel explores the business potential European brands can unlock in Asian markets, and the scouting strategies companies can adopt to identify partnerships, trends, and emerging opportunities across the region. Through expert insights and open dialogue, panelists share practical pathways to build stronger cross-regional relationships — turning conversations into concrete commercial outcomes for licensors and licensees alike.
Nostalgia has always been a powerful force — but today's most innovative brands aren't just looking backward. They're blending the familiar with the new, using "newstalgia" to build emotional connections with both longtime fans and a new generation. This panel explores how brands are reimagining legacy IP, reviving beloved cultural moments, and repackaging heritage into content that feels both timeless and current. From franchise reboots and retro-inspired product launches to storytelling and trend-responsive campaigns, panelists will share the strategies driving fan base growth in an era when authenticity and nostalgia hold value. How do you honour what fans love while making space for what's next? Join the conversation on building communities that connect generations — without losing what first made them fall in love.
COO of Movimenti Production and its subsidiary MoBo, where he oversees the management of the IP of both companies, from the financing and co-production stage through to market launch, including the development of licensing agreements. She assumed this role after a long experience at Rainbow S.p.A., where starting in 2009 he served as Senior Licensing Manager – Publishing and Home Video, later continuing as VP Global Contents – OTT Distribution, Gaming, Publishing, and Music, and finally as SVP Contents and Licensing.
Jeannie Yong has over 15 years of experience in the licensing industry, specializing in content licensing, consumer product licensing, and brand licensing. She is currently the Manager of the Business Development Department at Jimmy S.P.A. Plus Co., Ltd., the management company representing renowned Taiwanese picture book author Jimmy Liao. She has led key projects such as the HTC Vive x Jimmy Liao’s All of My World Is You Virtual Reality Experience, Jimmy Liao’s solo exhibition The Essential and the Invisible at Museo ABC in Madrid, Spain, and the Thank You, Furry Bunny animation for a theme park, among many others.
Pierdomenico Baccalario has been writing novels for young readers since 1997, when he won the Il Battello a Vapore Literary Award with La strada del guerriero (The Warrior’s Road), using the name of his next-door neighbor. Since then, his bestsellers—published under several pseudonyms, the most famous being Ulysses Moore and Irene Adler—have been translated into more than thirty languages and released by major Italian and international publishers. He has collaborated with Lucca Comics & Games for over twenty years, has written for La Repubblica, and is a columnist for “la Lettura”, the cultural supplement of Corriere della Sera. In 2014, he founded the creative agency Book on a Tree in London.
Carolina Benvenga is a host and author, and one of the most recognizable and beloved faces of children’s entertainment in Italy. After her film debut in Tickets (2005), directed by Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami, and Ken Loach, she rose to prominence on television with successful series such as I Liceali and Anna e i Cinque. Since 2012, she has been one of the leading faces of Rai Yoyo, winning over young audiences with La Posta di YoYo and hosting several editions of the Zecchino d’Oro on Rai 1, becoming a key reference point for children and families. Alongside her television work, she has developed an innovative music project for children in collaboration with Sony Music Kids, transforming baby dance into a nationwide phenomenon. Her YouTube channel has over 1.3 million subscribers and has surpassed 1.8 billion total views, making her one of the most followed Italian creators in the kids & family segment. Her songs—from Vedo Vedo to BumBum ChaCha—fill theaters and cinemas across Italy with consistently sold-out tours. An author of successful books and actively involved in writing her own audiovisual projects, she recently voiced Lucy Wilde in Despicable Me 4. Today, Carolina Benvenga represents a modern, credible, and cross-platform model of entertainment, capable of bringing together television, music, and digital media with coherence and vision.
Massimo Bianchini is Country Manager of Asmodee Italia, one of the leading companies in the board game sector in Italy, known for importing and distributing successful titles such as Dixit, Dobble, and Exploding Kittens.
A role-playing game author and fiction writer, he previously served as editorial director of the Italian line of Dungeons & Dragons, contributing significantly to its growth and diffusion in the Italian market.
Country Manager of Asmodee Italia since 2015, with responsibilities in the commercial, financial, and administrative areas. He was co-founder of Asterion Press in 2006, served as director of LC SRL, an international trading company, from 2003 to 2012, and was director of OMC SRL, a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, from 1992 to 2012. He is a passionate Dungeons & Dragons player and an enthusiast of virtually every sport.
Born in 1976, Sébastien Celimon has spent more than two decades at the forefront of the transformation of comics in the digital and screen era. An editor and editorial director specializing in manga, animation, and Korean pop culture, as well as a teacher and essayist on digital publishing, he has built a recognized expertise at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and visual media. After developing the digital division of Glénat, one of Europe’s leading comics publishers, he became an independent consultant and agent in 2017. Since then, he has collaborated with major cultural and media organizations including Le Monde, Delcourt, Média Participations, Bayard, KOCCA, the Institut Français, Japan Expo, Ankama, and KPIPA, helping bridge creative industries across continents. Over the past two years, he has designed and curated dedicated webtoon and webcomics programs for the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival’s film market, creating platforms that connect leading professionals from around the world. He manages 2 companies, White Dragon Event and PLeaSe Comics Rights Agency with 2 cofonders. In 2022, he founded the International Webtoon Meetings of Monteux, a pioneering event outside South Korea that fosters dialogue, innovation, and cross-industry collaboration around this fast-growing medium. In 2026, the event celebrates its fifth anniversary with a special focus on South Korea as part of the France–Korea 2026 cultural initiative—further strengthening global ties in the webtoon ecosystem.
Andrea Chiarvesio is an Italian board game designer and co-founder of Try a Game, a consultancy studio specializing in the design and development of tabletop games. Over the past two decades, he has created and contributed to numerous titles for the international market, working with major publishers and entertainment companies. In addition to his original designs, Chiarvesio has extensive experience developing games on commission based on globally recognized intellectual properties. His portfolio includes projects for major brands such as Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and Cyberpunk 2077, where he has translated well-known worlds and characters into engaging tabletop experiences. His work combines strong mechanical design with careful respect for the themes and identities of licensed properties. Alongside his design and consulting work, Chiarvesio is also active as a board game design teacher at the Holden School (Turin), lecturing and mentoring aspiring designers through courses and workshops dedicated to the craft and industry of tabletop game development.
With over 30 years of experience in the licensing industry, Ms. Noletta Chiu currently serves as the Executive Director of Medialink Group Limited. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Southern Illinois University (Dean’s List). Combining her academic background with sharp strategic vision, she has successfully managed a portfolio of world-class IPs, including The Little Prince, Garfield, Sesame Street, Jujutsu Kaisen and more IPs .
Head of Italy and International Head of Toys, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, Gianluca Ferrara has long experience in the Kids & Family market managing top global brands.
Christian Fonnesbech is founder and head of IP at Leverage. His team partners with games companies and accellerators to develop lasting properties, franchises, and brands. Recent clients include Bandai Namco, Plaion, Sharkmob, Raw Fury and Funcom.
Christian and his crew focus on crafting the artistic and strategic roots of a project into lasting global properties and brands.
With a background spanning 35+ game projects and leadership roles at Nordisk Games and Interactive Media Arts, Christian brings practical insight into developing valuable IPs and franchises.
Cristian Jezdic is an executive producer and operations leader with over 30 years of experience across VFX, advertising, animation, and high-end 3D production. His career spans international feature films, television series, branded content, and complex cross-border advertising campaigns, where he has led multidisciplinary teams of artists and technicians.
He developed his expertise at the intersection of creative direction and production engineering, supervising complete pipelines from concept development to final delivery. His work includes VFX supervision and production management for major streaming platforms, international co-productions, and large-scale audiovisual projects, with a strong focus on workflow optimization, quality control, and scalable execution.
He is the founder and CEO of beQ entertainment and recently led the incorporation of YiQi Culture Media in China, creating an operational bridge between European creative development and Asian production ecosystems.
He is actively involved in industry institutions and international initiatives, collaborating with organizations such as ANICA, Cartoon Italia, and MIA to support the development and internationalization of the animation and audiovisual sector.
Kanji is more than 20 years Animation Film and Merchandising Licensing expert, including as the head of Toei Animation International Department to bolster Dragonball Z, One Piece licensing from 2004 to 2012. More than 10 years International Content Business Coordinator especially as an advisor of the Tokyo Animation Business Accelerator Program. As the CEO of Culture Connect Co., Ltd., Kanji leads a) An international content business agent for licensing Japanese animation films and its derivative rights, b) An animation and webtoon/manga business coordinator between France and Japan, c) A business coordinator for French AI/Immersive experience company for Japanese creators acquisition, d) An agent of social media monetizing service for Japan.
Joachim is a strategic marketing, entertainment and licensing oriented leader with demonstrated track record for managing international brands and entertainment properties across all big Hollywood studios with over 30 years’ experience in that corner. He worked on B2B and B2C brand strategies for iconic brands and Hollywood studios including CBS, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Sony, MGM, Dreamworks, Universal, Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon, Sega, Peanuts, Emoji, Line Friends, Ironmen, Popeye, Hello Kitty, Apex Global Brands. With stations for companies such as Hasbro, WildbrainCPLG in international roles and now since 5 years with S100 International overseeing the global licensing activities Joachim turned successful brands in profitable licensing business across multiple categories. Joachim has a Diploma in business and administration, is a proud father of 3 girls and meanwhile grandfather of a cute 9 months old granddaughter. Next to his profession in business Joachim loves traveling, reading, theatre and sports especially skiing, hiking, wind surfing and he is a professional Krav Maga Defcon instructor and teaches self-defence in his free time.
Alicia Liu is the Founder and CEO of Singing Grass, a London-based cultural communications consultancy specializing in the publishing and creative industries. With over 20 years of experience operating across the UK and China, Alicia is a leading advisor to major publishers, cultural institutions, and global consumer brands including Hachette Children's Group, Simon & Schuster International, and the British heritage brand Kent & Curwen in partnership with David Beckham.
A specialist in the "Emotional Economy," she is widely recognised for her expertise in Reverse Cultural Flow—the strategic movement of Asian IP and cultural influence into Western markets. Alicia is a frequent speaker at major industry events, including the London Book Fair, BolognaBookPlus, and the Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair. She is dedicated to building meaningful bridges between East and West through data-led research, PR, and high-level representation.
With a background in journalism (Play Press, La Repubblica) and publishing (Panini Comics), he currently works as a creative producer at Fabula Pictures (Baby, Ligas, Morbo K). In 2010, he founded Italian Job Studio, a creative tank focused on the development of transmedia properties. Over the years, he has collaborated with some of the leading players in comics (Marvel, DC, Image), video games (Activision, THQ), and the audiovisual industry (RAI, Netflix, Sky, Amazon Prime Video).
Majored in Mass Communication within the Faculty of Sociology at university. Started as an editor at a publisher of a monthly motorcycle magazine. Later gained experience editing magazines in the automotive and aviation genres, as well as travel guidebooks. Having worked at a publishing company during the 1990s, experienced the shift to DTP firsthand. Subsequently, with the launch of electronic comic services, established HRC Co., Ltd. in 2005. Engaged in the industry as a production company specializing in content conversion. At the time, few people involved in e-books came from publishing editorial backgrounds, so he served as a bridge between publishers and e-book retailers on the production side. In 2023, spun off the creative division from HRC to establish Hiraku Studio Co., Ltd. Continues to the present while also nurturing young manga artists and creators.
Silvio has been working in the gaming industry since 1989, when he began his career at Stratelibri as editorial manager, helping launch the company’s first role-playing games. Over the years, he followed the development of the brand, overseeing the production and localization of hundreds of titles, including role-playing games such as Call of Cthulhu, The Lord of the Rings, and Cyberpunk 2020, as well as board games and card games. He also managed the first five years of the Italian edition of Magic: The Gathering, whose products received more than twenty national and international awards, including Game of the Year in 1993. Throughout his career in the hobby market, he has held several roles, including franchising manager for the Avalon and Defcon Zero chains, and has also published two board games as an author: Ventura and The Mystery of the Templars. He also contributed to the development of several specialized magazines, including Excalibur, GMM, and Cult Fiction. In 2014, he founded Pendragon Game Studio, a publisher specializing in board games based on major video game and film IPs. In 2023, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lucca Comics & Games.
Elena Ruffino is General Manager of SL and HL Italia and Sales Manager for France at Intertek. She has many years of international experience in product compliance, supporting brands and manufacturers in managing complex regulatory requirements and technical risks across global supply chains. Her work focuses on chemical compliance, testing strategies, and risk management, helping companies navigate evolving regulations and ensure product safety and market access.
Giovanni Servadei is Toys Laboratory Manager at Intertek Italy. He has extensive experience in product compliance for toys and children’s products, supporting manufacturers and brands in ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and quality across international markets. His expertise includes testing methodologies, risk assessment, and the application of global standards for products intended for children.
