Screen children: the future of fiction?

This thematic day will feature lectures and discussions with professional storytellers, researchers and programmers about creativity in children's and youth fiction in an age of formats, standardization and fleeting digital content.

Now that stories are increasingly driven by formats, predictable narrative structures and data, spontaneous and personal storytelling seems to be under pressure. Are there still areas where more is possible? Screen Children invites programmers, researchers and storytellers to reflect on how children's and young adult fiction still gives free rein to the imagination.

How can we tell children's stories that go against the grain and still reach their intended audience? How can we create imagination and authenticity while taking into account the psychology of children and the expectations of educators and gatekeepers? What does it mean to create stories for children in times of shortened attention spans? How can we apply insights from developmental psychology and audience research without falling into generic uniformity or rigid formatting

During this theme day, we invite you to join us in thinking about how we can write for children and adolescents and how we can continue to reach this diverse group with stories that really matter.

Speakers

• Anne Dreesen (Ketnet, content manager fiction)
• Frederike Migom (director)
• Carly Wijs (RITCS)
• Kevin De Ridder (JEF, programmer)

Programme

Image : Tegenwoordig heet iedereen Sorry © De Mensen, 2026