WIA & FIAPF select 6 delegates for Stories x Women
Image ©WIA and FIAPF
The International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) and Women In Animation (WIA) have this week announced their six selected delegations selected for their Stories x Women program, which aims to increase “diversity of voices in animation globally” by supporting women animators hailing from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America’s access to international opportunities and “tell their authentic stories”. The program is sponsored by Walt Disney Animation Studios with additional support from Triggerfish Animation.
These talented creatives, chosen from a competitive pool of candidates, will benefit from a series of mentoring sessions led by internationally acclaimed animation experts, as well as 1:1 coaching sessions that will prepare them to pitch their projects at the upcoming 2022 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market.
For its inaugural edition, Stories x Women opened their call to teams of up to two team members with at least one woman in a leading (producer/director/screenwriter) role. The successfully-selected delegations are as follows:
- La Sombra del Altiplano (Highland’s Shadow) – Argentina. A project led by Paula Boffo (with Patricio Plaza).
- Cotton Bottom Town – Colombia. A project led by Luisa Fernanda Velasquez (with Andrés Felipe Rodriguez Rodriguez).
- La Carpeta de Greta (Greta’s Journal) – Peru. A project led by Elva Alessandra Arrieta Tabuzo (with Saul David Anampa Mesias).
- Miss Camel – Saudi Arabia. A project led by Haifaa Al Mansour (with Brad Niemann).
- Rorisang & the Gurlz – South Africa. A project led by Dr. Tshepo P. Maaka and Kabelo Maaka.
- Gannu – Thailand. A project led by Aimsinthu Ramasoot and Saraswathi Vani Balgam.
As the global voice for producers worldwide, FIAPF promotes all forms of film genres, including animation and its universal language. With Stories x Women, we want to support the work of women animators from regions that are less visible in the international market. FIAPF has been working on diversity and gender equality for more than a decade, launching Stories x Women is an extra step in our collective action. We are extremely happy to run this initiative with Women in Animation and to benefit from the support of Walt Disney Studios and Triggerfish Animation, one of the pioneers in animation in Africa.
-Luis Alberto Scalella, President of FIAPF
For more than 25 years, WIA has been on the frontline of gender equity in animation, fighting for the empowerment of talented yet underrepresented artists and creatives in the industry and advocating for a more just and equitable system for our global field. Stories x Women gives these deserving creators the support they need to bring their stories to life. We’re thrilled to be part of such a wonderful initiative that champions our mission of bringing together the global animation community to empower and advocate for people of underrepresented gender identities in all facets of the industry.
-Marge Dean, WIA president
Having had the good fortune to work with voices around the world on both Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon, I’m thrilled beyond words to be part of this fantastic initiative to support, mentor and invite this international group of talented female filmmakers to Annecy, the world’s foremost animation festival, helping them gain access to the resources and connections necessary to bring their unique creations to the screen, and inspire the next generation of women in animation.
-Osnat Shurer, Disney Animation producer
Learn more about Women in Animation at womeninanimation.org