LOREDANA CUNTI
Author • Creator • Producer • Publisher
Toronto, Ontario
Loredanac1@me.com | +1 (416) 317 7600
iloredana.com
ARTISTIC PROFILE
Award-winning Canadian creator, children’s author, producer, publisher and speaker working across
children’s literature, live storytelling and musical theatre. Founder of Loreworks Ltd. and
Loreworks Press. Published by Annick Press, Kids Can Press and Loreworks Press.
Creator, librettist and producer of Neapolitan Ice Cream: The Musical, an original Canadian
music-theatre work exploring immigration, cultural memory and reinvention through storytelling
and music.
SELECTED CREATIVE WORK
NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM: THE MUSICAL Creator, Librettist & Producer |
Conceived c. 1996 • Development 2016–present • First Produced 2026
Original Canadian music-theatre work inspired by the history of Italian emigrants deceived and
diverted from their intended destinations.
● Wrote the original story and libretto and developed the chamber-scale production
combining spoken narrative, live music and visual projections.
● Cast and produced four public performances to sold-out or capacity audiences.
● Currently developing the work for publication, broadcast and international touring.
● Confirmed international performance: June 16, 2027 — Festa di San Vito, Campania,
Italy.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
HOW GOGO FOUND HER GROOVE Author & Publisher | Loreworks Press | 2025
Children’s picture book exploring confidence, individuality and belonging. Selected for
distribution to every elementary school in the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
THE REINDEER CAFÉ COOKBOOK Co-Author & Publisher | Loreworks Press | 2024
Children’s holiday cookbook combining recipes and storytelling. Winner, 2025 World Cookbook
Award. Proceeds support Canadian Top Ten Charity StepStones for Youth.
TINA PRIMA BALLERINA: BUTTERFLIES DANCE TOO Co-Author & Publisher |
Loreworks Press | 2023
Picture book co-written with Tina Pereira, The National Ballet of Canada’s first Caribbean
Principal Dancer, exploring nervous feelings, resilience and confidence.
KARATE KAKAPO Author | Kids Can Press | 2019
Picture book about perseverance and problem-solving. Selected recognition: Junior Library
Guild Gold Award • TD Canada Summer Reading Club Top Ten • Shining Willow Award
finalist • National Cartoonists Society/Reuben Award
DR. DAVE ASTRONAUT SERIES Co-Author with Dr. Dave Williams | Annick Press
|2016 - 2020
Four-book children’s nonfiction series created with Canadian astronaut Dr. Dave Williams,
Canada’s spacewalking record holder, translating complex science and space exploration for
young readers.
Titles include To Burp or Not to Burp, Go For Liftoff!, Mighty Mission
Machines and Destination: Space.
MEDIA, FILM & TELEVISION EXPERIENCE
LOREWORKS LTD. Founder, Company Director & Executive Producer | 2003–present
Independent creative company developing original intellectual property across publishing,
children’s entertainment and live performance.
Selected clients include Weta Workshop, Universal Pictures, MGM Studios, Fremantle Media,
Fresh TV Canada, ABC Australia, Chapman Entertainment UK, Singapore Media Development
Agency and Atlantyca Entertainment.
LOREWORKS PRESS Founder & Publisher| 2003–present
Independent Canadian publishing imprint developing original children’s books and related
educational and live experiences.
MGM STUDIOS Children’s Programming Consultant / Associate Producer| 2007-2010
Developed children’s programming strategy and contributed to the creative development of Pink
Panther and Pals. Associate Producer on the animated series.
UNIVERSAL PICTURES VISUAL PROGRAMMING — London, UK Senior Vice
President / Head of Children’s Programming | 2000–2003
Led all aspects of creative development and production, including concept development, story
and script development, visual direction, production partners, animation teams and voice casting
across television, animation and interactive media..
Executive Producer of Sitting Ducks, based on the work of Canadian artist Michael Bedard, and
producer of international children’s programming including Maisy Mouse.
Named one of Animation Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Animation.
UNIVERSAL PICTURES WORLDWIDE TELEVISION — London, UK Vice President /
Head of Children’s Television |1997–2000
Led Universal’s worldwide children’s television business, overseeing programming strategy,
acquisitions, international distribution and broadcaster relationships following the integration of
PolyGram’s children’s catalogue.
POLYGRAM FILMED ENTERTAINMENT Vice President / Head of Children’s
Programming | 1997–1999
Established and led the company’s international children’s programming division.
MALOFILM ENTERTAINMENT, CANADA Head of Foreign Film & Television
Distribution | 1994–1997
Led international distribution of independent Canadian film, documentary and television
programming.
SELECTED SCREEN CREDITS: Sitting Ducks — Executive Producer • Maisy Mouse —
Producer • Pink Panther and Pals — Associate Producer • Zevo-3 — Associate Producer
CURRENT WORK IN DEVELOPMENT
NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM: THE MUSICAL PUBLISHED PLAY Playwright / Librettist | Forthcoming
2027
Published-play adaptation of the original musical.
NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM: THE MUSICAL — THE TELEVISION SPECIAL Creator
& Producer | March 2027 TBC
Special filmed presentation currently in development with a national cable broadcaster.
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21 Collaboration in Development
Development in progress for a potential presentation and national tour of Neapolitan Ice Cream:
The Musical
WALTZ OF THE BUTTERFLIES Author | Picture Book | Forthcoming 2027
Children’s picture book exploring nervous feelings through the story of a young dancer
preparing for her first solo.
SELECTED ARTS & INDUSTRY SERVICE
● Toronto International Film Festival — Industry Advisory Committee
● Sponsor & Moderator-in-Residence, Opus Chamber Music
● Patrons Committee, Fall for Dance North
● Mentor, Ontario Media Development Corporation
● Mentor, Singapore Media Development Authority
● Moderator KIDSCREEN Summit
● Jury participation at Giffoni Film Festival, Kidscreen and Cartoons on the Bay
SELECTED AWARDS & RECOGNITION
● 2025 World Cookbook Award — The Reindeer Café Cookbook
● Junior Library Guild Gold Selection — Karate Kakapo
● TD Canada Summer Reading Club Top Ten Selection
● Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
● AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize longlist
● Top 25 Women in Animation, Animation Magazine
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Radio and Television Arts — Ryerson University, Toronto | 1997
Diplôme de Pâtisserie — Le Cordon Bleu, Paris | 2011
LANGUAGES
Italian and French; conversational Spanish