BOLOGNA, February 25 – The finalists of the Bologna Licensing Awards for international licensors/agencies, licensees, and retailers have been announced. Now in their eighth year, the Awards are an integral part of the 18th Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K), the only fair dedicated to children’s and young adult brands, held within the 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF).

This year’s Awards feature 14 categories, including the newly introduced Best Licensed Videogame Project, and attracted over 250 applications from all over the word.

A distinguished panel of five jurors convened at Bologna’s beautiful Salaborsa library to select the finalists: Karin Ebnet (Journalist and Editor at Toy Store), Michelle Perez Barruos (General Manager of Feenix Studio), Ian Hyder (CEO of Max Publishing), Helena Mansell-Stopher (CEO and Founder of Products of Change); and Marina Narishkin (IP Management and Strategy Expert, with over 20 years of experience).

The shortlist includes three to five finalists in each category and is as follows:

BEST PRE-SCHOOL LICENSING PROJECT

• Papp International with Paramount for the book 100 First Words with Paw Patrol;
• Story Toys with Sesame Workshop for the children’s video game Sesame Street Mecha Builders;
• Maurizio Distefano Licensing with Acamar for the Bing for Faba project, developed by Faba Srl.

 BEST KIDS LICENSING PROJECT

• Mattel with the Actimel Barbie project, developed by Danone;
• WildBrain CPLG with Peanuts Worldwide for the United Colors of Benetton x Peanuts project, developed by United Colors of Benetton;
• Starbright Licensing with Scopely Inc. for the Stumble Guys MonsterFlex project, developed by Diramix;
• The Pokémon Company International with the Pokémon OVS Project, realised by OVS;
• Starbright Licensing with Toei Animation for Dragon Ball Super Kinder Ferrero Easter Eggs by Ferrero.

BEST TEEN LICENSING PROJECT (11-17 years)

• The Pokémon Company International with the Pokémon OVS Project, realised by OVS;
• Sanrio with the My Melody brand for the My Melody x Lazy Oaf project, realised by Lazy Oaf;
• Cicaboom with Mediatoon Licensing for Naruto Boomez Boad Game;

 BEST YOUNG ADULT LICENSING PROJECT (+18 years)

• Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Chinti & Parker x Hello Kitty project, realised by Chinti & Parker;
• WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Octopus x Dungeons and Dragons project, realised by Youth Srl;
• Bonus Marketing with Warner Bros. for the project Friends Box for Mc Donald’s;
• Rai Com with Lavazza for the Lavazza & Mare Fuori

 BEST RETAIL PROJECT

• Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Hello Kitty x CHADSTONE project, realised by Chadstone;
• Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Primark x Hello Kitty project, by Hello Kitty;
• WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Intimissimi Uomo x Monopoly project, by Calzedonia SpA.

 BEST KIDS FASHION PROJECT

• Sanrio with the brand Mr. Man, Little Miss for the Monsieur Madame x Petit Bateau project, realised by Petit Bateau;
• Rights & Brands with the brand Moomin for the P’s Moomin Collection project, in partnership with Polarn O. Pyret;
• Peyo Company with the Smurfs brand for the Smurfs x Emporio Armani project, curated by Emporio Armani.

BEST TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS FASHION PROJECT

• Sanrio with the brand Hello Kitty for the project péro Hello Kitty capsule collection, realised by péro;
• Sanrio with the brand My Melody for the My Melody x Lazy Oaf project, by Lazy Oaf;
• WildBrain CPLG with Dr. Seuss Entertainment for the Tezenis & Intimissimi Uomo x The

Grinch project, by Calzedonia SpA;

• WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Octopus x Dungeons and Dragons project, by Youth Srl;
• IMG with Goodyear for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company project, by Rubber Company.

BEST LICENSED PUBLISHING PROJECT

• Maurizio Distefano Licensing with BBC for the Bluey licensed publishing project, by Fabbri Editori, part of the Mondadori Group;
• Papp International with Sogex & Pomase for the book Discover Space with The Little Prince;
• Pon Pon Edizioni with Starbright Licensing for the Stumble Guys licensed publishing project;
• Sweet Cherry Publishing with NSPCC for the book Techosaurus Saves the School.

BEST LICENSED TOY PROJECT

• Starbright Licensing with Scopely Inc. for the Stumble Guys MonsterFlex project, by Diramix;
• Lisciani Giochi with Disney for the Inside Out 2 – Il Gioco delle Emozioni project;
• Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Hello Kitty x Giochi Preziosi project, developed by Giochi Preziosi.

BEST LICENSED VIDEOGAME PROJECT

• Rights & Brands with the Moomin brand for the Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley project, by Hyper Games AS;
• Story Toys with Mattel for the children’s video game Barbie Colour Creations;
• Miraculous Corp for the project Miraculous RP: Quests of Ladybug and Cat Noir, realised by Toya.

BEST PROMOTION/LOYALTY CAMPAIGN

• Dea Planeta Entertainment with Miraculous Corp for the Miraculous x La Piadineria project, realised in collaboration with Dynit and La Piadineria;
• WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Nostromo x Monopoly project, realised by Nauterra;
• Maurizio Distefano Licensing with Acamar for the Bing x Costa Crociere project, realised by Costa Crociere;

BEST LICENSED KIOSK PRODUCT

• Starbright Licensing with Scopely Inc. for the project Stumble Guys MonsterFlex First, by Diramix;
• De Agostini Publishing for the project ¡Go Go Power Rangers!
• WildBrain CPLG with Sega for the project Cocoricoò x Sonic Modern, realised by Cocoricò;
• Sbabam with Sanrio for the Hello Kitty Key Chains

BEST LICENSED SUSTAINABLE PROJECT

• Maurizio Distefano Licensing with BBC for the Bluey Eco Puzzle project, by Clementoni;
• Peyo Company with the Smurfs brand for the Smurfs x Emporio Armani project, by Emporio Armani;
• Maurizio Distefano Licensing with Acamar for the Bing for Faba project, developed by Faba Srl. 

BEST PROPERTY OF THE YEAR

• Sanrio with Hello Kitty;Licensing with BBC for the Bluey Eco Puzzle project, by Clementoni;
• SEGA with Sonic The Hedgehog;
• BBC with Bluey;
• Devolver Digital with Fall Guys.

The finalists’ products will be showcased throughout the fair at the BLTF/K Awards display area, located in the BLTF/K zone of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Hall 29 – Mall 2.

The winners will be announced on March 31 at …pm at the BLTF/K Awards Ceremony, held in the Licensing Conference Room, Hall 29 – Mall 2.

The event is open to all industry professionals.