Women in Animation (WIA) has recently announced the five teams that have been selected for the 2024 Stories x Women program. This program, which is sponsored by The Walt Disney Company and UNESCO, aims to highlight diverse voices in animation and provide opportunities for women animators from emerging markets in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The chosen participants will receive mentorship from animation experts and personalized coaching to enhance their pitching skills for the upcoming 2024 Annecy Animation Festival and market (MIFA).
A total of 140 applications were received from 30 countries, with a strong representation from 11 African, 10 Latin American, and nine Asia-Pacific nations. The selected projects include “Aimó” from Brazil, led by Fernanda Alves Salgado with Giuliana Danza; “The Human and the Android” from Indonesia, led by Theresa Cornelia; “Jaé Natal! (S’up Xmas)” from Brazil, led by Camila Padhila with Roger Keesse; “Karetabla” from Argentina, led by Maria Rosario Carlino with Carlos Zerpa; and “Oarona” from South Africa, led by Thandiwe Mlauli with Angel Pitre.
Stories x Women places a strong emphasis on having at least one woman in a leading role within each team. Marge Dean, the president of WIA, expressed her pride in the program’s ability to showcase talented animation creators from underrepresented gender identities in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. She also thanked Disney for their continued support and welcomed UNESCO as a new partner in promoting animation in developing industries. Dean highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving gender parity in the animation field.
Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO’s assistant director-general for culture, emphasized the organization’s belief that investing in women creators is crucial for fostering cultural diversity, equality, and sustainable societies. This collaboration with WIA and The Walt Disney Company aligns with UNESCO’s goal of supporting inclusive cultural creative industries in the Global South.
Meredith Roberts, the executive VP of television animation at Disney Branded Television, stressed the significance of supporting women in animation to empower the next generation of storytellers. This support ensures that a wide range of voices, cultures, and perspectives are represented in animation, leading to more diverse and engaging narratives that resonate with global audiences.
The teams are gearing up for their pitches scheduled for June 11, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their projects and creativity.