Now in its 13th year, The Watty Awards continues its legacy of uncovering the most exciting new voices in fiction from around the world. A total of 13 stories won publishing and adaptation opportunities with Wattpad WEBTOON Studios

The hires follow a string of major additions for Wattpad WEBTOON Studios in 2022

The independent production company Nadie es perfecto together with mexican co-producers The42Film and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, the fan-driven global entertainment and publishing arm for WEBTOON and Wattpad, announce adaptation of bestselling teen novel Mala influencia, written by Teensspirit.

WattCon 2022 will brings together some of Wattpad’s most globally influential and popular webnovelists . The premier reader and writer event returns in-person with a full day of panels, workshops, and a live Watty Awards ceremony hosted by BookTok star Kevin Norman and Tik Tok influencer and content creator Jonathan Moore

The Wattpad webnovel adaptation stars Drew Ray Tanner, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Ennis Esmer, and introducing Rachel Boudwin

The film is backed by Wattpad WEBTOON Studios’ $100 million commitment from parent company Naver; the studio will also manage global sales and distribution outside of Canada

Fans of leading Indonesian and Filipino Wattpad authors can now look forward to a more immersive audio experience through podcasts.

Sera Tabb has joined as Head of Global Television; Taylor Grant will lead Global Animation; Lindsey Weems Ramey upped to Head of Global Film. The studio has also added key roles in Finance and Legal, with Criswell Fiordalis  Head of Finance and Strategy, and Austin Wong as Head of Legal and Business Affairs

By: Jeanne Lam, President, Wattpad  

Wattpad is often thought of as primarily a reading platform. And we are! But at Wattpad, readers and writers are equally important for our community and business. Writers, with their world-changing stories, voices, and perspectives, are at the heart of the incredible community of 94 million people who come together on Wattpad from around the world.  

The 2022 Watty Awards will give out more prizes than ever before, with  three publishing deals and 10 adaptation opportunities with Wattpad WEBTOON Studios

Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, the fan-driven global entertainment and publishing arm for WEBTOON and Wattpad, has named Emmy Award-winning television and film producer David Madden as Head of Global Entertainment, the company announced today. 

The program will see some of Wattpad’s biggest authors share their work exclusively on the platform. In addition to millions in stipends this year, the Wattpad Creators Program will offer writers new marketing and editorial supports, writing resources and more.

The First in This Slate Adapts the Wattpad Sensation “Caught In His Arms” 

Kiss Master fans will have a chance to guide the 8-part series adaptation of Jamille Fumah’s Wattpad hit. The branded entertainment partnership follows a series of successful collaborations between Wattpad and Kumu.

The Companies will Develop Series in Europe with a Focus on Spanish, Italian and English Language Content with Global Appeal

The second annual campaign supports mental health awareness and encourages people to share their stories of bravery in the face of personal challenges. As part of the campaign, superstar author, entrepreneur, and film producer Anna Todd will moderate a virtual #WattpadSpeaks panel on May 19 about Getting Creative with Self-Care.

The companies are currently developing the Wattpad sensation “The Bad Boy’s Girl” as a feature film.

With Lau’s Five Year Plan in place and Wattpad President Jeanne Lam at the helm, the company expects continued innovation and  growth.

The internet’s favorite boy next door and athlete, Noah Beck, is set to headline the romantic comedy, The QB Bad Boy and Me, marking his feature acting debut. Creator+, a new content studio and distribution platform for digital-first storytellers and creators, will produce alongside Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, the fan-driven global entertainment and publishing arm for WEBTOON and Wattpad.

Shalini Duggal joins as Wattpad’s Chief People Officer and Krishna Mann joins as Wattpad’s Head of DEI. The hires come after an acquisition and explosive growth in 2021, when Wattpad added 100 staff to its teams around the world.