The 61st edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) is scheduled to unspool in the BolognaFiere district between 8 and 1 April. In 2023, the event welcomed over 1,400 exhibitors and close to 29,000 visitors. At its core, the initiative includes two brand extensions: the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids event, dedicated to brands within the kids sector, and BolognaBookPlus, which is organised in collaboration with AIE – the Italian Association of Editors and is dedicated to general publishing.

In order to strengthen the vital link between the publishing and audiovisual sectors, this year will see the BCBF launching the brand-new TV/Film Rights Centre, a business area which will welcome audiovisual producers, facilitate networking with the publishing world, and encourage wider book-to-screen opportunities.

“BCBF is the leading professional fair dedicated to publishing for children and young people, reserved for those working in the sector. As the international reference point for the trading content rights for children, each and every year it welcomes audiovisual producers who are “on the hunt” for new stories and new characters to turn into works of fiction and animations”, explains the director of the BCBF Elena Pasoli.

On the subject of the mission of the TV/Film Rights Centre, Pasoli adds: “The TV/FILM Rights Centre is one of the new additions in this 61st edition of the fair, unfolding within the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids, which is the fair’s extension dedicated to brands and content licensing for children and young people, managed by Book on a Tree, which is a storytelling agency specialising in writing for children and content creation. It’s a new business centre dedicated to TV and film producers who are looking to find the next IP to turn into a TV series or a film, and to sector operators who want to present their productions to editors with a view to seeing them transposed onto paper”.

Book on a Tree is currently one of the biggest European creative agencies in existence. Founded in London in 2014 by Pierdomenico Baccalario, it has a presence-  through its stories - in over 20 countries, thanks to its network of authors specialising in cultural productions for young people and, specifically, books, TV series, cartoons, docufilms and videogames.

Of the various leading players travelling to the capital of Emilia-Romagna, Pasoli has confirmed the attendance of Mediatoon, Gaumont, Netflix and Nelvana. “We will help audiovisual agencies and editors to come together, facilitating networking for greater book-to-screen opportunties. Audiovisual professionals will also have access to a business lounge, equipped with all the facilities required to optimise participation in an event such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair”, Pasoli concluded.

Located in a strategic position amongst the business district’s pavilions, the lounge will be available to members for organising meetings, receiving support and taking part in matchmaking activities.

All producers taking part in the event will be included in the fair’s official catalogue and will be able to consult the database of editors and professional visitors registered to attend the fair, as well as gaining access to the Bologna Global Rights Exchange service, which is the digital platform for all things copyright.