Board of Directors

Dr. Patrick Hörl is the founder and Managing Director of Autentic, a leading documentary label producing and distributing high-quality factual content. Autentic runs several FAST channels in German-speaking and international markets, including Terra Mater WILD, Autentic History, and Autentic Travel, along with its own YouTube channel. The company also operates the German-language pay-TV channels Curiosity Channel and SPIEGEL Geschichte in a joint venture with SPIEGEL TV and Curiosity Stream. Previously, Patrick served as Managing Director and Country Manager of Discovery Communications in German-speaking territories. He co-founded and is a shareholder of Documentary Campus, a leading pan-European training program for aspiring documentary filmmakers. Additionally, Patrick chairs the Board of the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers.

In January 2024, Catherine was named CEO of KM, the documentary arm of Banijay France. She brings over two decades of industry expertise, most recently at France Télévisions where she was Director of Documentaries from 2019 to 2023. She began her career in 1993 in the Programs Department of the CSA (today called Arcom,) before holding key roles in France and abroad at Image & Compagnie, Off the Fence, Télé Images Group, Arte France and France 2.

An active member of industry associations, she holds positions with the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers and is an honorary member of the mediaClub'Elles and the PDFM association, the two largest women media associations in France. Documentaries greenlit by Alvaresse received the Albert Londres Prize and two International Emmys in 2020 and 2022.

Prof. Peter Arens is Head of History and Science at the public broadcaster ZDF in Germany. He started as a young filmmaker in 1990 with documentaries about writers like John Irving, Philippe Djian and Bret Easton Ellis.  From 1997 on he has been working as head of Terra X, the most renowned documentary brand in German television with a weekly primetime slot reaching 3.5 million viewers. At Terra X he developed international coproductions with the BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, NHK, ARTE and ORF. 

From 2001 on he has concentrated on history documentaries, using large scale CGI, reenactments and drama elements in order to find new popular ways of storytelling.  In recent years his attention has been focused on the digital transformation of the Terra X brand, establishing about 20 channels and formats on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, in order to reach not only regular TV audiences (average age 60 years) but also younger potential viewers (20-40 years). Arens has written numerous books about cultural history and leads a master class at the renowned Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, transforming young journalists into directors in factual content.

Richard Bradley is a founder of Lion Television. Part of All3Media, Lion is one of the industry’s most highly-regarded production companies with bases in London, Glasgow and New York. Richard specializes in popular, ambitious history and factual projects but also oversees scripted, comedy and children’s content for broadcasters throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Under his creative leadership, Lion has established a worldwide reputation for innovative, quality television, winning many awards, including BAFTAs, Emmys and British Comedy Awards from the hit comedy series Horrible Histories for CBBC—winner of over 40 awards—to the work of professor Mary Beard such as Pompeii, and factual drama First Light. Richard has years of experience of ambitious international co-productions, and has created pioneering global production partnerships especially in China where Lion have made numerous ground-breaking shows—from Confucius with CCTV10 to Chinese New Year with the BBC and CICC. Prior to founding Lion, Richard was an Emmy Award–winning director at the BBC for 12 years.

Jorge Franzini serves as the VP of Content for Curiosity Inc.’s flagship streaming service, Curiosity Stream, and its global linear network, Curiosity Channel. His main duties include heading development for Curiosity’s original series and one-off specials and managing the in-house Curiosity Studios team. He also works with the teams responsible for programming and film acquisitions. Jorge acts as a liaison with outside production companies and partners and serves as an editorial voice while executive producing many of Curiosity’s films and series. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for World Congress of Science and Factual Producers. Prior to joining Curiosity, Jorge spent the early years of his career working in the field on a variety of broadcast and commercial projects, ranging from news, to live events, to returning series. His roles included Assistant Director, Producer, Editor, and Sound Engineer. He was also a producer and member of one of the earliest digital media companies specializing in streaming content. Jorge obtained his B.A. in Communications with a focus on digital media from the University of Maryland University College, and completed the Digital Filmmaking program at Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

Beth Hoppe is the Founder of Cricket Hill Media, currently in a first look/overall deal with ABC News Studios, where she develops and oversees non-fiction series and specials for Disney platforms. In this role she has delivered more than 60 episodes, concentrating on crime series for Hulu, with recent titles including Daughters of the Cult with Main Event Media, 4 seasons of Wild Crime with Lone Wolf Productions, and At Witt's End and Still Missing Morgan with Ridley Scott's Scott Free label. Previous positions in media include Senior Vice President for Long Form at ABC News/Disney Media Networks, Chief Program Executive and General Manager for General Audience Programming at PBS, Executive Producer at Discovery Networks, President and CEO of Optomen Productions USA, Director of Science Programs at Thirteen/WNET and Series Producer at NOVA. Her work has been recognized with several Emmy awards and a Peabody Award.

Prior to Marengo Media, Tessa was the finance director for Lion Television. She was with Lion TV since 2001 and was responsible for managing the group’s finances in both the UK and US. A UK chartered accountant, Tessa worked at KPMG overseas before spending four years at BBC Worldwide where she worked in publishing and TV distribution and as a commercial manager for factual global brands. She also has a degree in physics from Queen Mary College, University of London.

John Lynch is a leading industry figure in the production of specialist factual film and television, with a substantial track record in creative innovation, editorial judgment and international partnership. In a distinguished media career, including the editorship of Horizon and culminating in a decade as the creative and business leader of the renowned BBC Science Unit, he has long been committed to reaching the widest possible audience with knowledge that matters to their lives. As an award-winning executive producer, writer and director, with three BAFTAs, two Emmys, two RTSs and a Prix Italia, he was responsible for the global smash-hit Walking with Dinosaurs, and produced the acclaimed Horizon documentary, Fermat’s Last Theorem. In 2011 he was honoured with an OBE for services to broadcasting. Following his departure from the BBC he has been active on a variety of advisory boards that focus on the communication of knowledge. John has been a passionate supporter of the World Congress since its early days and, as Chairman of WCSFP Ltd until December 2022, was instrumental in its development to become the preeminent, and most popular, international specialist factual industry event.

Deborah has been with Ubisoft since 1997, holding positions in Marketing, Business Development and Game Development. Passionate about building bridges between different industries, she explores since 2016 new business opportunities for Ubisoft, looking beyond the world of video games to bring its brands to wider audiences, and to share the company’s expertise with new sectors. An appreciated deal-maker and inspiring leader, she develops innovative partnerships and new forms of entertainment in a broad range of industries with her team: Live Entertainment, Location-Based VR and AR, Music, Health, Mobility or Culture (education, museums, documentaries, immersive experiences).

Deborah is a recognized expert of immersive entertainment and culture, sitting in several French governmental commissions: vice-president of the CNC (Centre National du Cinema) “Immersive Creation Fund” 2020-2024, qualified personality for France2030 “Digitalization of Heritage and Architecture”commission 2022-2024. A founding member of the French Touch, along with BPIFrance (Banque Publique d’Investissement), she is involved in the development and promotion of all creative and cultural industries, and innovation at large. Deborah also likes to share her experience and knowledge of the video-games industry with students from business schools, engineering schools and beyond (SciencesPo, IFM, etc.).

Carolyn Payne is a Commissioning Editor for National Geographic, working across global development and production.  Carolyn has developed, commissioned, and executive produced major premium factual series, including the EMMY winning and BAFTA nominated One Day In America franchise (from 72 Films) with titles including 9/11: One Day In America; JFK: One Day In America and Cult Massacre: One Day In Jonestown.  Other notable series include Tsunami: Race Against Time (Blast Films) and InVogue: The 90s (Raw and Vogue Studios) for Disney plus. Before Nat Geo, Carolyn was freelance Show Runner working on projects such as the BAFTA winning children’s show Operation Ouch.

Yasuda joined NHK in 1997, starting out his career as a director in NHK’s Hiroshima Station. After moving to Program Production Department of NHK headquarters, Yasuda directed a variety of programs in art, education, entertainment, and documentary genres. Since 2009, he is responsible for international co-productions, serving as the bridge between NHK’s in-house production unit and broadcasters and production companies around the world. Between 2019 and 2022, Yasuda was a series producer for NHK’s award-winning short documentary strand No-Naré. Between 2021 and 2023, he served as the Secretary General of the Japan Prize, an annual international competition for educational programs hosted by NHK. Under Yasuda’s leadership, Japan Prize underwent transformation from a program competition to a film festival dedicated to professional exchange and learning. While overseeing NHK’s international co-productions and acquisitions, Yasuda continues to enjoy working on his passion projects. His recent works include JAKE AND CHARICE (2020) directed by Hiroko Ninomiya and nominated for 2020 International Emmy Award and INSTRUMENTS OF A BEATING HEART (2024) directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki and nominated for the 97th Academy Award.