Women in Animation Unveils 2024 International Diversity Initiative Teams
Women in Animation (WIA) has revealed the five teams chosen for the 2024 Stories x Women program, sponsored by The Walt Disney Company and UNESCO.
The initiative aims to amplify diverse voices in animation, offering international opportunities for women animators from emerging markets in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The selected participants will receive mentorship from animation experts and personalized coaching to hone their pitching skills for the 2024 Annecy Animation Festival and market (MIFA).
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The program saw a record 140 applications from 30 countries, including 11 African, 10 Latin American and nine Asia-Pacific nations.
The chosen projects are: “Aimó” – Brazil, led by Fernanda Alves Salgado with Giuliana Danza; “The Human and the Android” – Indonesia, led by Theresa Cornelia; “Jaé Natal! (S’up Xmas)” – Brazil, led by Camila Padhila with Roger Keesse; “Karetabla” – Argentina, led by Maria Rosario Carlino with Carlos Zerpa; and “Oarona” – South Africa, led by Thandiwe Mlauli with Angel Pitre.
Stories x Women supports women creators by requiring at least one woman in a leading role within each team.
Marge Dean, WIA president, said: “As Stories x Women enters its third year, we are extremely proud to see how it’s helped spotlight the talented animation creatives of underrepresented gender identities from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. I am grateful for the continued support from Disney and am thrilled to welcome UNESCO as a new partner in supporting animation in developing industries. Collaboration is key to achieving gender parity in animation.”
Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO assistant director-general for culture, added: “UNESCO believes that investing in women creators is a catalyst for cultural diversity, equality and sustainable societies. This is why our collaboration with WIA and The Walt Disney Company resonates with our mandate, to accompany the development of inclusive cultural creative industries in the Global South.”
Meredith Roberts, executive VP of television animation at Disney Branded Television, said: “Supporting women in animation is essential to Disney’s commitment to empowering the next generation of storytellers. This support helps ensure that a multitude of voices, cultures, and perspectives are represented in animation, fostering richer narratives that resonate with global audiences.”
The pitches are scheduled for June 11.
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