“Breaking Barriers: WIA’s Stories x Women 2025 Spotlights the Future of Female Animation!”
Women in Animation (WIA) has officially announced the five teams selected for the 2025 Stories x Women program, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in animation across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. This program, created in collaboration with FIAPF, and backed by The Walt Disney Company and UNESCO, provides unparalleled access to international opportunities for talented women animators looking to share their authentic stories.
A Program Designed for Global Impact
The Stories x Women initiative offers selected participants a game-changing experience. Each team will receive mentorship from world-class animation experts, along with one-on-one coaching sessions to sharpen their skills. These talented creatives will then showcase their work at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (MIFA) in 2025, where they will participate in the highly anticipated MIFA Pitching Sessions on Tuesday, June 10.
This year, the competition was fierce! Out of 114 eligible applications from over 100 countries, the final five selected projects represent a stunning diversity of voices and storytelling styles:
Meet the Selected Projects
- Better City (Brazil) – Created by Fernanda Bruna Capozzoli & Sara Tenti
- Adult Comedy Series (10 x 25’)
- Doris, a young rabbit-woman, embarks on a fresh start in Better City, only to find herself battling a despotic delivery app and a rigged social system that threaten her newfound friendships.
- The Brains (Turkey) – Created by Idil Sukan
Kids & Young Teens Adventure-Comedy Series (26 x 24’)
A group of six genius alien teenagers and their puppy travel the universe in a spaceship shaped like a brain, hilariously discovering the meaning of family in a cosmos full of infinite possibilities. - Condenaditos (Bolivia) – Created by Matisse Gonzalez Jordan
Teens & Young Adults Feature (80’)
Kiki inherits her family’s dark curse and must confront her unrepentant dictator grandfather, forcing him to face his past and break the cycle of guilt that sustains their family’s legacy. - Jinnbusters (India) – Created by Yusra Shahid
Kids (6-11) Fantasy-Adventure Series (11’ episodes)
A team of young misfit ghostbusters led by Noor tackle folklore-inspired spirits that threaten to disrupt life in their small South Asian town—one supernatural mystery at a time. - Nerve (South Africa) – Created by Tshepo Moche & Renee van Reenen
Supernatural Horror Anthology Series (10 x 22’)
Blending folklore, urban legends, and sci-fi, this chilling anthology uses the horror genre to explore women’s experiences in surreal and terrifying worlds.
Breaking Barriers in Animation
The Stories x Women program is committed to fostering gender diversity in the animation industry. Each team includes at least one woman in a key leadership role (producer, director, or screenwriter), ensuring female voices are at the forefront of storytelling.
“As our Stories x Women program enters its fourth year, we are incredibly proud of its continued impact in spotlighting the voices of talented women animators across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America,” said Marge Dean, WIA President. “These diverse and authentic stories deserve to be heard and told by those who create them. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support from Disney and UNESCO, whose collaboration is essential in advancing gender parity and fostering growth in animation worldwide.”
Championing the Future of Animation
Meredith Roberts, Executive Vice President of Television Animation at Disney Branded Television, echoed the sentiment:
“Truly great storytelling has the power to inspire and connect with audiences globally. By championing women in animation through programs like Stories x Women, we help ensure that our industry will continue to tell stories with universal appeal that reflect the richness of the world around us.”
With this year’s selected projects spanning comedy, fantasy, horror, and adventure, the future of animation is looking brighter than ever!
Stay tuned for more updates as these visionary women prepare to take center stage at Annecy 2025!
