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UNESCO promotes gender equality in the animation film sector
The collaboration is part of a new partnership agreement signed in November of 2023 between UNESCO and WIA, which aims to strengthen gender equality in the animation film sector. The growing partnership is founded upon the shared belief that animation is a viable and sustainable employment opportunity for women and a vehicle for sharing local stories with a global audience.
The Stories x Women programme provides international opportunities for women animators from emerging national film and audio-visual animation communities of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America. The selected women creatives will be empowered through a series of mentoring and coaching sessions led by internationally acclaimed animation experts. UNESCO also mobilizes its network of field offices and partners in Africa to increase the participation of African delegates in the programme.
The upskilling opportunities will give rise to diverse stories rarely told - brought to life through the boundless medium that is animation. Investing in women creators enriches the society as a whole, both culturally and economically.
UNESCO has long been dedicated to protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, notably those of women artists and cultural professionals. The Organisation’s efforts echo with WIA’s actions to advocate for underrepresented gender identities in the art, science and business of animation by increasing access to resources, creating opportunities for education and encouraging strong connections between individuals.
We are thrilled by the generous support of UNESCO on this International Women's Day. Their investment in the Stories x Women program is proof of our shared commitment to empowering women creatives worldwide. We’re honored to continue working together to bring more women’s voices and stories to the world
Up to five two-person teams will be selected from a competitive pool of candidates to participate in the Stories x Women programme. The teams must have a woman or nonbinary in a leading role (producer, director and/or screenwriter) and have pitch-ready projects that are either an animated film or series. The chosen delegates will be trained to prepare for their pitches at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market in June 2024. The beneficiaries will also take part in WIA’s World Summit on 10 June 2024 in Annecy, France.
