Canada has long been a world-wide leader in animated content creation. Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with 214 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Last summer Netflix Canada and Women in Animation Vancouver (WIA) announced the expansion of WIA Vancouver’s Animation Career EXCELerator Program.
The goal of the ACE program is to advance women and those who identify as women into key creative roles in animation, providing mid-level career professionals targeted and focused mentoring, support and training. Through the program, participants are given the opportunity to develop, create and own original intellectual property.
The EXCELerator Program is designed to advance the careers of women in the animation industry by giving them a key credit in the creation of their very own short film, TV proof of concept or web series pilot, and providing mentorship and training along the way, to ensure they are set-up for success.
The program includes:
- Individual mentoring for each participant
- Group-wide mentorship and training
- Individual pitch training, focusing on how to present and sell yourself and network
- Marketing and pitch training for the development and pitching of their own IP
- Attendance at a festival and/or market
- Promotion of each participant through social media initiatives and industry networking opportunities
Canada’s animation sector is second to none. This partnership will help ensure that the animation industry continues to thrive and include the experiences of Canadian women from diverse backgrounds.
Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer, Netflix
The program is currently looking for applications from the following key creative professionals:
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
- Art Director
- Storyboard Supervisor
- Animation Director
- Editor
- Composer
Women in Animation Vancouver’s ACE Program deadline has been extended to January 31, 2022. This third iteration of the program is expanding across Canada with the support of Netflix Canada as the premiere sponsor.
WIA’s mission is to promote diversity and gender equity in the animation industry, with the goal of 50/50 by 2025. We are thrilled Netflix Canada has recognized the value of the ACE program and the impact it has had on the animation industry in BC. We are excited this new partnership allows us to not only continue the program but expand it to reach animation professionals from across the country.
Rose-Ann Tisserand, WIA Vancouver Advisor & ACE Program Founder/Co-Executive Producer
Currently in its second term, the ACE program has proven extremely successful as all of the women in the first cohort have gone on to become leaders at Animation Studios across the country.
Women in Animation (WIA) envisions a world in which women share fully in the creation, production and rewards of animation, resulting in richer and more diverse entertainment and media that move our culture forward. The mission of WIA is to bring together a global community of animation professionals to empower and support women in the art, science and business of animation by increasing access to resources, creating opportunities for education, encouraging strong connections between individuals, and inspiring excellence. For more information or to join WIA, please visit http://www.womeninanimation.org
