WIA Spotlights Female Animators with Stories x Women Program
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WIA has chosen five teams to participate in Stories x Women, their diversity initiative, for 2025.
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The program’s explicit goal is to enhance access to global opportunities for women animators from emerging regions. These include Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
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The news was first reported by Skwigly Animation Magazine.
Hot Take
Here’s the spicy, low-down scoop, my friends: WIA is throwing down the gauntlet with their Stories x Women Program. They’re saying, “Hey, 3D animation world, how about we stop setting up camp solely in the familiar fields of the West and take a safari in the wild jungles of diversity?” They’ve handpicked five talented teams, each brimming with artistic vision, to help lead the expedition, and we’re here for it! It’s an exciting call to adventure, one that promises to infuse global animation with fresh perspectives. So, gear up, readers – we’re on a journey to diversify the animation vista, and boy, it’s going to be one hell of a scenic ride!
Image: WIA
In a trending announcement today, Women In Animation (WIA) revealed the selected teams for the 2025 installment of the Stories x Women initiative. This groundbreaking program is committed to amplifying diverse voices in the global animation industry with a focus on female talent from burgeoning film and audio-visual animation communities in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The initiative is a joint effort of FIAPF and generously sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, and UNESCO.
The chosen creative artists will have the rewarding opportunity to engage in mentorship sessions with internationally recognized animation specialists, one-on-one coaching towards pitching their visionary projects on a global platform, the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (MIFA). The pitch sessions will be held on Tuesday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. CEST in the distinguished Haendel Room of the Impérial Palace.
This iteration of the program saw an overwhelming response with 114 qualified applications from an impressive array of over 100 countries. The applications came from:
- 40 African nations
- 48 Latin American nations
- 26 Asia-Pacific nations
Image: WIA
Here are the chosen ambassadors, noted alphabetically by projects:
- Better City – Headed by Fernanda Bruna Capozzoli from Brazil (with Sara Tenti)
- Condenaditos – Lead by Bolivian Matisse Gonzalez Jordan
- Jinnbusters – Indian delegate Yusra Shahid at helm
- Nerve – Stemmed from South Africa under Tshepo Moche (with Renee van Reenen)
- The Brains – Led by Idil Sukan from Turkey
As a demonstration of its earnest commitment to fostering women-led growth in the animation industry, Stories x Women openly invited teams headed by at least one woman (in any leading role like a producer, director, or screenwriter).
Entering its fourth successful year, the impact of our Stories x Women program on the animation industry, especially in nurturing female talent from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, is truly satisfying. These unique stories, rooted in diverse cultures, rightfully deserve space and representation. We deeply appreciate the steadfast support from Disney and UNESCO in our endeavor to promote gender equality and stimulate industry growth.
-Marge Dean (WIA President)
This shared vision of championing women creators resonates with Disney’s ethos as well.
Exceptional storytelling creates a profound connection and has the ability to inspire audiences globally. By bolstering female talent in animation through the Stories x Women initiative, we are facilitating a wider spectrum of stories that echo the global richness and resonate universally.
-Meredith Roberts (Executive vice president of Television Animation, Disney Branded Television)
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/stories-x-women-2025-teams/