Crayola Studios unveiled the finalists of its first ever Kids’ Content Development Initiative, staged in partnership with two-time Academy Award® winner Geena Davis and the Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), which takes place from June 15-21, 2026.
The Kids’ Content Development Initiative was created to discover and develop the next generation of storytellers shaping kids and family entertainment. Inspired by Crayola Studios’ commitment to kids’ creative development, the program provides emerging creators with an opportunity to transform original ideas into content that encourages the behaviors, confidence, and skills that help shape a lifelong creative mindset. Five incredibly strong projects have been selected following a highly competitive submission process that attracted more than 120 qualifying entries to the Initiative.
The five finalists will present their original concepts to a panel of judges, introduced by EVP, Head of Crayola Studios Sabrina Wiewel, on Wednesday, June 17th at 4:30pm (CT) at The Rode House. The panel will feature Crayola Studios representatives and leading figures from the children’s entertainment industry, including: on behalf of Crayola Studios Rick Glankler, Principal of GoatFish, and Kerry Crowley, Executive Development; Sasha Duncan, Director of Development from Kickstart Entertainment; and MIT-engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host, Emily Calandrelli.
The creator of the winning concept – spanning animation, live action, or mixed media and aligning with Crayola Studios’ vision to put creativity at the heart of its content – will receive $10,000 and the opportunity for development of the winning concept by Crayola Studios.
The Finalists
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Olive and Glinda: An 11-minute animated comedy for 6- to 11-year-olds, created by Wendy Anderson and Arno Salters
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Color Me In: An 11-minute hybrid animated series for kids 5 to 7, created by Clint Schaff
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Everywhere, ART!: An 11-minute live action puppet series for 3- to 5-year-olds, created by Kris Mukai
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ImagINN: A magical animated series for children 6 to 11, created by Nicole Graves
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Imagi-goo Art Factory: A mixed media series for kids 2 to 7, created by Christina Zagarino & Renata Townsend
Executive Commentary
Geena Davis, Chair of the Bentonville Film Festival, said:
“The Bentonville Film Festival is committed to creating opportunities for emerging storytellers, and this initiative is a natural extension of that mission. Kids’ content plays an important role in shaping how children see themselves and the world around them, making it especially exciting to discover creators who bring to life stories rooted in imagination, creativity, and connection. Partnering with Crayola Studios to identify these new voices has been incredibly rewarding, and we look forward to welcoming the finalists to Bentonville as they pitch their projects and take the next step in their creative journey.”
Sabrina Wiewel, EVP and Head of Crayola Studios, said: “We believe creativity is one of the most powerful forces in a child’s life. It’s how kids build confidence, solve problems, express themselves, and imagine what’s possible. This initiative is designed to create opportunities for creatives with fresh perspectives and original ideas that can inspire the next generation. We were blown away by the imagination, heart, and originality of the submissions, and particularly, our finalists. We’re excited to hear their pitches and select a winning project, all in an effort to bring new voices and exciting new IP into kids and family entertainment.“
Industry Access and Strategic Growth
The Initiative was designed to not only discover fresh new ideas and formats, but to also create meaningful industry access for emerging creators, offering a rare opportunity to connect directly with an established studio and advance their concepts into professional development. The finalists are being invited to attend the Festival to pitch their concepts and gain opportunities to connect with potential co-producers, distributors, and international broadcasters.
The program builds on Crayola Studios’ broader strategy to develop multi-genre content for kids and families, unlocking creativity and imagination through the power of content that will empower kids’ to achieve their full potential.
The partnership with BFF complements Crayola Studios’ existing collaborations with production companies, animation studios, and IP owners, and supports its growing slate, which includes titles such as Pablo Next Level, Rainbow Brite, and The Neverending Pillow Fort.
