WIA Unveils Program For 2022 Women In Animation World Summit At Annecy

Women in Animation has announced the program for its sixth Women in Animation World Summit, to be held at this year’s Annecy Festival.

The theme for this year’s summit is “Gender Justice: A Global Call for Inclusion in Animation,” and a full day of activities are planned around the topic on Monday, June 13. The summit will host a group of thought leaders, filmmakers, and executives from around the world to discuss gender justice, defined by WIA as “a system of equity and fairness for people of all genders and gender identities, including men, women, transgender, and nonbinary people.”

The Summit, which will take place at the Impérial Palace Hotel in Annecy, will be livestreamed and available to the public via WIA’s website, which will also host a recording of the event for later viewing.

In addition to hosting this year’s Summit, WIA is also teaming with the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) to host six delegations of filmmakers for the inaugural Stories x Women forum, a new initiative established to increase the diversity of voices in animation globally and create opportunities for women animators from emerging global animation communities who want to tell authentic stories.

Of this year’s Summit, WIA President Marge Dean said:

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. 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.

Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI chair, and founderCEO at Collective Moxie, added:

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. 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.

The day will kick off with a welcoming session hosted by Dean with Mickaël Marin, CEO of Annecy organizer CITIA, and Mifa head Véronique Encrenaz. After the welcome, Crommett will provide attendees with a detailed introduction to this year’s theme.

Below, an overview of the Women in Animation World Summit 2022 agenda:

Panels:

What does Gender Justice Look Like Around the Globe?

• There is no “one size fits all” solution for gender justice, and its challenges around the world vary as much as geography does. This discussion features voices from around the globe that express what women, nonbinary, and transgender people face in the international animation industry and what gender equity looks like for them.
• Moderator: Eleanor Coleman, VP at Les Femmes s’Animent
• Speakers: Mounia Aram – founder and president, Mounia Aram Company (Morocco); Paula Boffo – director, comic artist, Ojo Raro (Argentina); Maureen Fan – CEO and co-founder, Baobab Studios (U.S.).

How is Gender Justice a Solution for the Labor Shortage?

• The animation industry is experiencing a workforce shortage. This panel talks about 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.
• Moderator: Jill Hopper – head of global production planning and strategy, DreamWorks Animation
• Speakers: Adrianna “AJ” Cohen – senior VP/global head of production for features and episodics, Mikros Animation; Ramsey Naito – president, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation; David Prescott – senior VP, creative, DNEG Animation.

Case Studies: Gender Inclusion Programs

• Several organizations share how their gender inclusion programs are increasing access for underrepresented people into the animation workforce around the globe.
• Moderated By: Jena Olson, head of operations, WIA
• Speakers: 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; Miles Perkins – UE business director, media and 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 learnings 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.
• Moderator: Julie Ann Crommett
• Speakers: Marya Bangee – VP of Representation and Inclusion Strategies (RISE), The Walt Disney Studios; Chris Mack – director, creative talent investment and development IO EMEA, Netflix; Janine Weigold – manager, animated series EMEA, Netflix.