Pitchfest 2025 Event Ticket

Pitchfest Agenda

Join us for a lively conversation with editors Samia Fakih (First Second/Macmillan) and Mike Marts (Papercutz/Mad Cave Studios) and literary agent Maria Vicente (PS Literary) about the latest trends in graphic novel publishing in 2025, as well as their personal outlook.

We’ll cover questions like:

• What is one of the most rewarding graphic novel projects you’ve worked on recently, and what made it so fulfilling to work on?

• What’s a tough decision you’ve had to make recently as an agent or editor that you think more creators should understand?

• AI, webcomics, tariffs, the rise and fall of social media platforms—there’s a lot of “disruption” in the industry now. How are you personally adapting to such a rapidly changing landscape? How is your company adapting?

KCU Pitchfest Celebration Day Schedule

11:45 am EST Welcome and Introduction by Janna Morishima, founder of KCU

12:00 pm EST “State of the Industry” panel discussion and Q&A with:

• Alex Lu (editor, Random House Graphic)

• Samia Garcia-Fakih (editor, First Second)

• Mike Marts (editor-in-chief, Mad Cave Studios)

• Maria Vicente (literary agent, PS Literary)

1:00 pm EST KCU Pitchfest 2025 Showcase Unveiling, and Announcement of Winners

1:30-1:45 pm EST Concluding remarks

2:15-4:30 pm EST Pre-scheduled 15-minute one-on-one Zoom reviews with agents and editors from the jury and individual creators/creative teams