Shock at MIPCOM Dhar Mann and CEO Sean Atkins Reveal New Creator IP

Dhar Mann, the digital creator behind a worldwide audience of 170 million followers, and Sean Atkins, his CEO, will headline a pre‑opening keynote at MIPCOM on Sunday, October 11. The event marks the first time the organizers have scheduled a keynote before the market opens.

Attendees usually arrive on Sunday to secure their positions for Monday’s proceedings.

The pair will explain how an audience‑first creator business operates, focusing on building intellectual property around communities, delivering uplifting stories and forming partnerships that connect creators, brands and traditional entertainment companies.

Since its launch, Dhar Mann Studios (DMS) has amassed 300 million weekly views across platforms and runs from a 125,000‑square‑foot studio in Burbank. The company recently secured a Disney original‑programming deal, a Fox Entertainment vertical‑video distribution agreement, and brand collaborations with Adobe, the NFL, Microsoft and Gap.

## Background & Context

RX France’s MIPCOM traditionally begins its main market on Monday, but many industry professionals arrive on Sunday to arrange meetings and secure slots. In a move that underscores the event’s shift toward digital and creator‑centric content, organizers announced the pre‑opening keynote for the first time.

Event director Lucy Smith has steered MIPCOM toward digital, branded content and the creator economy in recent years, pushing heavily into those areas. She highlighted Dhar Mann Studios as a prime example of creator‑led businesses reshaping the global entertainment industry.

The inclusion of Dhar Mann and Sean Atkins on the main stage reflects MIPCOM’s role in uniting established entertainment with emerging creators, platforms and new business models. It also signals a broader industry recognition that creators can drive franchise development and cross‑platform partnerships.

## What People Are Saying

“Creators are building audiences at a scale that used to be possible only through traditional media, but what’s most exciting is when we turn that connection into franchises, new formats and partnerships that can travel around the world,” Mann said.

“Dhar Mann Studios is a powerful example of how creator‑led businesses are reshaping the global entertainment industry,” Smith said.

“Bringing Dhar and Sean to our main stage reflects MIPCOM’s role in bringing together the established entertainment business with the creators, platforms and new models shaping its future.” “Sean and I are looking forward to coming to Cannes and sharing what we’ve learned scaling Dhar Mann Studios, and why we believe the future of entertainment will be shaped by creators and the traditional industry working much more closely together,” Mann added.

DMS and MIPCOM will also co‑host an invite‑only dinner Sunday evening, bringing together roughly 25 chief marketing officers and industry leaders for a pre‑market gathering. The dinner is intended as an exclusive opportunity for high‑level collaboration ahead of Monday’s sessions.

## What Happens Next

After the keynote, attendees will proceed into the main market on Monday, where they can secure deals and participate in panel discussions. The pre‑opening keynote is designed to give early movers a strategic advantage.

Industry observers expect the discussion to highlight how creator‑driven IP can be leveraged across traditional media platforms, potentially opening new revenue streams for both creators and established studios.

The collaboration between DMS and MIPCOM may signal a broader shift toward integrating creator‑centric models into mainstream entertainment pipelines, though concrete outcomes will only become evident after the market’s proceedings.

With Dhar Mann and Sean Atkins set to share their insights before the market opens, MIPCOM’s first‑ever pre‑opening keynote could redefine how the industry approaches creator‑led content and global partnerships.