Today, WIA (Women in Animation) announced the lineup for this year’s WIA World Summit at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and MIFA 2025. This year’s summit, themed “The Future is Animated,” will examine emerging industry innovations and the power of community as we navigate the evolving animation landscape.
The ninth annual WIA World Summit will take place on Monday, June 9 at the Impérial Palace Hotel (Allée de l’Impérial, 74000 Annecy) at the Salle de l’Europe, and will feature a day-long symposium of panels and focused conversations spotlighting key thought leaders, filmmakers and executives from around the world discussing gender equity — a system of equity and fairness for people of all genders, gender identities and presentations. The Summit will be recorded and posted subsequently on the WIA website.
“As we come together for our 9th annual World Summit at Annecy, ‘The Future is Animated,’ we’re not only celebrating progress, we’re actively looking toward what comes next,” said WIA President Marge Dean. “The industry is changing, but true equity demands relentless focus on opportunity, access, and amplifying underrepresented voices. WIA is committed to a future in which everyone can thrive.”
“It’s a real pleasure to welcome the WIA World Summit back to Annecy for its ninth edition. Each year, this event stands out as a highlight of the Festival and MIFA, a time to reflect, to connect, and to look ahead,” CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin said. “With this year’s theme, ‘The Future is Animated,’ we’re celebrating a new generation of voices who are shaping the medium with boldness and creativity.”
This year also holds a profound significance for WIA and all those involved with the World Summit following the recent loss of longtime Publicity Chair and friend of WIA, Fumi Kitahara.
“Fumi was instrumental in the success of WIA ever since the very beginning. She was our Annecy ambassador, connecting filmmakers from around the world with WIA,” said WIA Vice President Jinko Gotoh. “Her love for animation was infectious. She devoted herself to supporting filmmakers regardless of gender, color, race or socioeconomic status.”
“This year also carries a special emotion, as we remember Fumi Kitahara, who passed away a few months ago,” Marin said. “Fumi was a tireless advocate for inclusion and a cherished member of our community. I believe she would have been proud of the energy, the ideas, and the solidarity that continue to drive this Summit forward.”
The official program for the day will be as follows:
Welcome from WIA and Annecy Festival
WIA President Marge Dean and CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin welcome viewers and attendees followed by an introduction to the day’s events by WIA Secretary Julie Ann Crommett.
SESSION 1 | 10 a.m. – The Audience-Driven Future
Digital-first and audience-driven content is reshaping traditional production and distribution models. This panel, moderated by WIA President Marge Dean, will explore how creators are leveraging platforms like YouTube, Webtoons and digital comics and navigating the landscape of digital distribution. Dang Khoa Trinh, CEO, OTSU Labs; Maya Penn, CEO, Upenndo! Productions; Sophie Saget, Producer and CEO, Andarta Pictures; and Hayley Lam, Founder, Studio Munbou will share their insights on creating, building, and monetizing an engaged fanbase.
SESSION 2 | 11 a.m. – The Future of Adult Animation
Adult animation offers a powerful space for global creators to tell sophisticated and culturally resonant stories for mature audiences, told from bold, fresh perspectives. This panel — featuring Marci Proietto, Executive Vice President of 20th Television Animation; Marshell Becton, Producer of Invincible at Skybound Entertainment; Sydney Bright, Head of Global Animation at WebToon; and Ollie Green, Executive Producer with Tree People International, Inc.— explores where the medium is headed, who’s driving it, and how it’s expanding to include deeper, more complex narratives. As audiences grow up and distribution options expand, now is the time to take adult animation more seriously and consider where it might go next.
SESSION 3 | 2:15 p.m. – What’s Next: Showcasing the Future
Join Linda Simensky, Head of Character Development and Scripted Content at Duolingo, and animator and screenwriter Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe) for a candid discussion on nurturing the next generation of animation talent. Drawing from their own career journeys, they’ll explore how to identify, mentor, and empower emerging voices and why fostering creativity shapes the industry’s future. Then, Linda will present innovators such as Megan Dong, director at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation; Mailys Vallade, director & screenwriter, Maybe Movies; and Sylvia Prietov, CEO at Lucy Animation Studio, who will share a look at the work they are doing to expand what animation is, who it speaks to, and how it gets made.
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