Our Seventh Annual World Summit at Annecy International Animation Film Festival was a success, and we thank everyone who participated, whether in-person or virtually.  The day was filled with rousing and thought-provoking discussions featuring industry professionals in the fields of animation, VFX, and gaming.

More than 400 people took part in the day. Hundreds of additional people across 13 different countries watched the live stream. 

The in-person crowd was made up of people of all genders, races, and nationalities who had a genuine interest in the power of inclusive stories in animation. The speakers explored the variety of ways in which authenticity—in storytelling, leadership, and beyond—can bring the animation industry to the next level of excellence. 

This year, WIA joined forces with GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, to bring this year’s World Summit to the Annecy International Animation Festival and Mifa 2023. Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s Senior Director of Entertainment Research and Analysis, led the crowd in a thought-provoking educational opening, ‘Unpacking: What is Gender?’ Like the rest of the day, Townsend’s talk culminated in an astute question-and-answer session. 

Among this year’s special guests were:

• ND Stevenson
• Vicky Jenson
• Ramsey Naito
• Anna Ginsburg
• Nora Twomey
• and many, many more.

Thank you for joining us and we can’t wait to see you next year!