Vertical Programming & Microdrama Summit at Create London to showcase key players and strategy

Shorties Studios’ Kelly Luegenbiehl, TheSoul Group’s Victor Potrel and Onset Octopus’s Ben Pengilly are the first speakers confirmed for the Vertical Programming & Microdrama Summit @ Create London. The April 29 event is designed to help producers, creators, brands and more define their future in the creator economy.

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Speaking at the Vertical Programming & Microdrama Summit @ Create London:

Kelly Luegenbiehl
Founder
Shorties Studios
From pioneering Netflix’s international expansion to founding Shorties Studios, Luegenbiehl has consistently been at the forefront of entertainment innovation. Her latest venture, a global production company spanning LA, London and Istanbul, focuses on mobile-first shortform vertical dramas.

Victor Potrel
Executive, external strategy
TheSoul Group
Potrel focuses on the group’s external growth opportunities, including partnerships with major platforms and media companies as well as new strategic initiatives. He joined TheSoul in 2019, having previously held positions at YouTube, Google and LEGO.

Ben Pengilly
Founder
Onset Octopus
Pengilly has over a decade of experience in commercials, music videos and feature films. Now at the forefront of the UK vertical drama industry, he has successfully produced hit vertical miniseries such as Mafia Lover and The Mafia Obsession, both of which have been released on Dramabox to critical acclaim.

With the microdrama market set to expand rapidly through the rest of the decade – with revenues projected to reach US$16.2bn in China and the global market outside China expected to surpass US$9.5bn by 2030 – Create London will unpack the content strategies, monetisation models and partnership opportunities shaping the future of vertical content, offering actionable insights into one of the fastest-growing sectors in digital entertainment.

As Hollywood increasingly turns its attention and investment to the space, leading platforms, apps, producers and executives will share how they are driving the next wave of microdrama and experimenting with new genres.

Other sessions at Create London will offer clear, practical guidance on how to thrive in the evolving creator economy without relying on commission-based models. Across the one-day event, attendees will gain insights into forging partnerships with leading digital platforms and brands, unlocking new funding models, and harnessing generative AI to enhance creativity, increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Previously announced speakers:

Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.