Mattel's Richard Dickson will discuss the toy company's content development strategy.

This year's annual MIPTV content marketplace will kick off Monday in Cannes, France, with more than 1,500 companies slated to showcase the latest content for all ages and platforms.

As always the event will also feature a host of conferences and seminars from industry leaders including a keynote session from Richard Dickson, president and chief operating officer of Mattel. The toy company just announced Thursday that it is launching a new centralized content division focused on leveraging its portfolio of brands across TV and film. Dickson's keynote will take place Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. local time in the Grand Auditorium. 

Other keynote seesions will feature Guillaume de Posch of the RTL Group, Ted Schilowitz from Twentieth Century Fox and Dominique Delport from Vivendi.

License! Global's group publisher Steven Ekstract will also appear in a special panel discussion titled “The Power of Fans Superpanel,” which will take plaec on the first day of the show, Monday, April 4, at 10:10 a.m. local time. Ekstract, along with panelists from Shotglass Media (part of FremantleMedia), DigiSay and Victorious, will discuss how companies can collaborate with fans to use their passion and permission to monetize on their favorite shows.

A range of leading licensors will be presenting their upcoming content slates including Viacom International Media Networks, which will preview new properties from Nickelodeon and Comedy Central; DHX Media, which will bring “Inspector Gadget,” “Space Ranger Roger” and more; Rainbow, which will showcase new series including "Regal Academy," "Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends" and "World of Winx."

Stay tuned to License! Global all this week for live coverage of MIPTV.