Dr. Patrick Hörl is the founder and Managing Director of the factual entertainment label AUTENTIC. The company produces and distributes high quality factual shows and series for audiences around the world. Furthermore, he is MD of the two factual pay-tv channels SPIEGEL GESCHICHTE and SPIEGEL TV WISSEN, a joint venture between Autentic and Spiegel TV.

Patrick is one of the founders of DOCUMENTARY CAMPUS and serves Chairman of the Board of Campus a pan-european advanced training program for young filmmakers/aspirants in the fields of documentary film and factual entertainment. Additionally, Patrick is member of the Board of Directors of the factual section of PRODUZENTENALLIANZ and of the Board of the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers.

Since January 2019, Catherine Alvaresse has served as head of documentaries for France Télévisions Group. Previously, she served as head of documentaries and cultural magazines of France 2, from 2016 to 2019, and as the deputy director of Specialist Factual Department at ARTE France from 2011 to 2016.

She served as a deputy managing director at Europe Images International from 2007 to 2011, director of International Co-productions for Boreales from 2006 to 2007, and director of Acquisitions and International Co-productions at Tele Images International from 2004 to 2006. She is an award-winning international distributor and co-producer of factual programming.

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.

Beth Hoppe is the Senior Vice President for Long Form at ABC News, Disney Media Networks, overseeing long form programming including 20/20, Nightline, WWYD, and all the output of Lincoln Square Productions, while working closely with the broadcast and digital teams on release strategy. Prior to joining ABC News, she was the Chief Program Executive and General Manager for General Audience Programming at PBS, growing the network from the 12th to the 6th most-watched in America. During her tenure she oversaw the return of the acclaimed drama Mercy Street; partnered with the BBC to generate specials; developed a multi-platform strategy for independent films including the Oscar-nominated film Last Days in Vietnam from American Experience and Black Panthers from Independent Lens. Beth collaborated with filmmaker Ken Burns to develop the strategy and roll out for The Roosevelts and The Vietnam War. Under her guidance PBS had more News and Documentary Emmy Award wins than any other network in 2016 and 2017. Before PBS Hoppe was the Executive Producer at Discovery Networks. Prior to her time at Discovery, Beth was President and CEO of Optomen Productions USA that she started from the ground up.

Her work has been recognized with several Emmy awards, including DNA: The Human Race (2004), The Secret Life of the Brain (2002), and NOVA, Siamese Twins (1995). The Channel 4 co-production 1900 House earned the prestigious Peabody Award in 2000.

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 is 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.

Passionate about building bridges between different industries, Deborah explores 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: Live Entertainment, Location-Based VR, Music, Health, Mobility, Culture (museums, immersive exhibitions, documentaries, etc.)