Brunico closes Natpe, Realscreen and Kidscreen Summits

Brunico Communications will be discontinuing its US events portfolio in 2027

Canadian publishing and events business Brunico Communications is discontinuing its US events portfolio in 2027, including Natpe Global, Realscreen Summit and Kidscreen Summit.

According to a note from Brunico’s president and CEO Russell Goldstein, the decision has stemmed from continuing market consolidation and the structural impacts on the content production business.

Natpe was founded 1963 as the National Association of Television Programming Executives. Brunico acquired the company in 2023 when the organisation went bankrupt, returning the event to Miami in 2024 and running the event for three of its 62 years. From 2025, unscripted-focused Realscreen Summit was moved to Miami from New Orleans and ran alongside Natpe.

In 2027, children’s-focused Kidscreen Summit was due to return to Miami following three years in San Diego, where it would run alongside Natpe and Realscreen Summit for the first time.

Founded by Brunico, the Realscreen and Kidscreen Summits ran for 28 and 30 years respectively.

In line with the decision, Natpe’s executive director Claire Macdonald, who also oversaw Realscreen Summit, is leaving the business after 13 years. Additionally, Kidscreen’s long-time publisher Jocelyn Christie, who leads the magazine as well as the summit, will be exiting after 28 years.

Brunico says it will continue to run the Banff World Media Festival for its 47^th edition this June, as well as its publication business.

“This decision was deeply considered and stemmed from the market consolidation that continues to progress and have structural impacts on the content production business,” said Goldstein.