Submissions open for Stories x Women Program

The program’s goal is to support access to international opportunities for women creatives from emerging animation communities of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and, ultimately, to increase the diversity of voices in animation.

The aim of the program is to increase the diversity of voices in animation content globally.

About Stories x Women

• Stories x Women is a springboard program to propel women creators, in particular producers, screenwriters, and directors, coming from a selection of countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
• Stories x Women will select up to five (5) delegations composed of women or nonbinary creators who are citizens of eligible countries and have pitch-ready projects that are either an animated feature film or series.
• Applications will be assessed by a selection committee made up of international industry stakeholders.

Program Offerings

• The selected candidates will be invited to attend the upcoming Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market, which will be held in Annecy, France, from June 9th to 15th, 2024, to pitch their project and attract financing.
• The on-site programming will run from June 9ththrough 15th, 2024, and includes participating in the WIA World Summit on June 10th, 2024. Throughout the week, the selected candidates will have access to the robust network that Annecy offers and will be able to connect with a wide range of decision-makers.
• To prepare for this unique opportunity, the selected candidates will be required to attend a series of virtual mentorship sessions prior to the festival with internationally acclaimed experts. The sessions will help candidates strengthen their pitching skills and will help build relations with key stakeholders. Sessions will take place virtually between April and June.

Benefits of Stories x Women

• Virtual mentorship sessions led by internationally acclaimed experts
• Networking and pitching opportunities in Annecy, including attendance at the WIA World Summit
• Connection with key players from the animation industry (including but not limited to producers, distributors including broadcasting and streaming services, festival program leaders, etc).
• Invitation to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (expenses covered include economy-class flight ticket, seven-night accommodation, MIFA accreditation, per diem). Visa fee, if applicable, will be covered.

Eligibility Criteria

• The call is open to up to two team members, which must include at least one woman or nonbinary person who is designated as the “Lead Project Holder”.
• Project holder(s) must be the producer and/or the director and/or the screenwriter entitled to represent the project and have an in-depth knowledge of it.
• The Lead Project Holder must be a citizen of one of the eligible countries from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America2.
• Project holder(s) must have a ready-to-pitch project, whether for an animated feature, for an animated documentary film, or for an animated series project. A ready-to-pitch project is defined as a project in advanced development – i.e. with significant creative material already in place – or at the pre-production stage.
  • Note: If a production company is already involved in the project, the application form must be completed by the production company.
• Project holder(s) must have reached majority of age in their respective country/ies of citizenship and must in any case have reached the age of 18 years .
• Project holder(s) must possess sufficient English skills3to fully enjoy the benefits of the program, including its mentorship session and opportunities of pitches and networking in Annecy.
• Project holder(s) must be able to attend the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market from June 9thto 15th, 2024 and must commit to attending all virtual mentorship sessions before Annecy.
• Stories x Women strongly encourages applications from communities that have been historically less visible. In particular, they encourage applications from indigenous people, disabled people, and those who identify as LGBT+.

For more information, visit WIA.