‘Women in Animation World Summit’ At Annecy Program Announced

With the theme ‘Gender Justice: A Global Call for Inclusion in Animation,’ this year’s edition will be presented in collaboration with the Annecy International Animation Festival on June 13.

Every year at the Annecy International Animation Festival, Women in Animation (WIA), hosts the Women in Animation World Summit. This year’s program, the 6^th edition, will be held in conjunction with the festival and Mifa 2022; its theme is “Gender Justice: A Global Call for Inclusion in Animation.”

The Summit takes place on Monday, June 13 at the Impérial Palace Hotel (Allée de l'Impérial, 74000 Annecy) and will feature a day-long symposium of panels and focused conversations spotlighting key leaders, filmmakers, and executives from around the world discussing gender justice — a system of equity and fairness for people of all genders and gender identities, including men, women, transgender, and nonbinary people.

The event will be livestreamed and available to the public via the WIA website from 9:30 am -4:30 pm CEST/12:30 am-7:30 am PST, with a lunch break from 12:20-2:30 pm PST. It will also be recorded and posted subsequently on the WIA website.

"Over the last six years, WIA has led critical conversations on the global stage surrounding diversity, inclusion, and equity through our Women in Animation World Summits,” commented WIA president Marge Dean. "We are extremely proud of the work we’ve put in but we are not done. I’m thrilled that our sixth World Summit theme will look at how gender justice can be a solution to some of the issues plaguing the industry including a very real labor shortage. We want to ensure that people of all gender identities have the power and access to opportunities to improve their lives. I look forward to several thought-provoking and action-inducing conversations at this year's Summit.”

"We are at an inflection point in our industry and world where looking more inclusively at the concept of gender, questioning traditional power dynamics, and seeking to build a globally equitable creative community is urgent and necessary. In doing so, we widen the talent pool, create environments where all artists thrive and tell the best, most exciting stories,” added Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI Chair, Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie; Equity and Inclusion Strategist. “The theme of the WIA World Summit will reflect on exactly that - what is gender justice, why is it so urgent, and how does creating equity and inclusion across gender identities truly help solve our industry's global labor needs and push us into the next great creative renaissance."

Mickaël Marin, CEO of CITIA, on behalf of the Annecy International Animation Festival said, "After three long years, we are very happy to once again host an event that has become essential to accompany the changes in our industry. Working with WIA — an organization whose mission is to bring real equity to all people in our industry — is always inspiring. I warmly thank all the associations (including Les Femmes s’Animent, MIA, FIAPF…) that work every day for change and have contributed to the success of this edition. Annecy will always be by your side.”

Women in Animation World Summit – June 13, official program:

Welcome from WIA and Annecy Festival

WIA President Marge Dean, CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin and Head of Mifa, Véronique Encrenaz welcome viewers and attendees.

Introduction to the theme:

Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI Chair and Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie; Equity and Inclusion Strategist

PANEL: What does Gender Justice Look Like Around the Globe?

There is no “one size fits all” solution for gender justice, with global challenges varying as much as geography. This discussion features voices from around the world sharing what women, nonbinary, and transgender people face in the international animation industry and what gender equity looks like for them.

The panel will be moderated by Eleanor Coleman, Vice President, Les Femmes s'Animent

Panelists include:

Mounia Aram - Founder & President, Mounia Aram Company (Morocco)
Paula Boffo - Director, Comic Artist, Ojo Raro (Argentina)
Maureen Fan - CEO & Co-Founder, Baobab Studios (USA)

PANEL: How is Gender Justice a Solution for the Labor Shortage?

The animation industry is experiencing a workforce shortage. This discussion will look at the future of animation labor as well as how people from underrepresented genders are uniquely positioned to help provide solutions to this very real problem.

The panel will be moderated by Jill Hopper - Head of Global Production Planning & Strategy, DreamWorks Animation

Panelists include:

Adrianna “AJ” Cohen - SVP/Global Head of Production for Features & Episodics, Mikros Animation
Ramsey Naito - President, Paramount Animation & Nickelodeon Animation
David Prescott - Senior Vice President, Creative, DNEG Animation

PANEL: Case Studies: Gender Inclusion Programs

Organizations share how Gender Inclusion programs are increasing access for underrepresented people into the animation workforce around the globe.

The panel will be moderated by Jena Olson, Head of Operations, WIA

Panelists include:

Deepa Joshi - Co-CEO, Incessant Rains
Delphine Nicolini - Artistic Producer, Les Femmes s'Animent
Sajda Ouachtouki - Senior Manager, Global Public Policy, The Walt Disney Company (FIAPF/WIA Delegate Program)
Miles Perkins - UE Business Director, Media & Entertainment, Epic Games
Vanessa Sinden, Producer, Triggerfish

FIRESIDE CHAT: Inclusive Hiring: Solving the Animation Labor Shortage

Leaders in global creative talent development, animation, and DEI will recap the day's topics and discuss the importance of intentional, inclusive talent development as multi-pronged and critical in addressing the needs for unique storytelling, artistic authenticity, and labor shortage solutions in the animation industry.

Moderated by Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI Chair and Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie, Equity and Inclusion Strategist

Speakers include:

Marya Bangee - VP of RISE - Representation and Inclusion Strategies, The Walt Disney Studios
Chris Mack - Director| Creative Talent Investment & Development IO EMEA, Netflix
Janine Weigold - Manager, Animated Series EMEA, Netflix

In addition to the Summit program, WIA and FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) will be hosting six delegations of filmmakers selected for “Stories x Women.” The program fosters connections between filmmakers and top animation professionals and is aimed at increasing the diversity of voices in the global animation industry to create international opportunities for women animators from emerging national film and audio-visual animation communities. Filmmakers from Argentina, Colombia, Peru, South Africa, and Thailand will be represented this year. The program is sponsored by Walt Disney Animation Studios with additional support from Triggerfish Animation. More information can be found here.

This year’s World Summit logo was designed by Hyesu Lee. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Lee is driven by a curiosity about how people connect. She uses her art to observe and learn about the people around her. She has said that art has no language barrier. In her mid-twenties she went to study abroad in the UK, where she graduated from the University of Arts London with a BA in Illustration. She then moved to New York City where she earned an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Now based in Brooklyn, she is an established and sought-out illustrator, artist, muralist, and educator.

Source: Women in Animation