Your Guide To WIA At Annecy 2026: What To See, Who’s Speaking, And When

Women in Animation (WIA) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its World Summit at Annecy this year with a full day of conversations focused on women and nonbinary creators working across animation, VFX, and games.

The event takes place on Monday, June 22, at the Impérial Palace Hotel’s Salle de l’Europe, and is open to Annecy Festival and Mifa attendees. For those who can’t attend in person, WIA says the summit will be recorded and made available later through its website.

This year’s theme is “Frame by Frame: A Global Celebration of Women and Nonbinary Creators.” The program mixes established industry veterans, emerging voices, filmmakers, executives, and a high-profile closing conversation with producer Bonnie Arnold, whose credits include Toy Story, Tarzan, How to Train Your Dragon, and How to Train Your Dragon 2.

WIA World Summit Schedule

10:00 a.m. | Enduring Voices, Essential Work

A discussion focused on animation creators over the age of 60 who continue to produce significant new work.

Speakers include:

• Florence Miailhe
• Imogen “Mo” Sutton
• Joanna Quinn

The session examines longevity in animation and how artists continue evolving creatively across decades-long careers.

11:00 a.m. | Directing Animation Today

Feature directors from different parts of the world discuss their creative processes, current projects, and pathways into directing.

Speakers include:

• Elshadai-Gabrielle Dawit Tedesse
• Matisse Gonzalez Jordán
• Lauren Montgomery
• Alyce Tzue

Expect discussion about both the artistic and practical realities of directing animated features in today’s production landscape.

2:30 p.m. | Short Films and Fresh Perspectives

Moderated by Meredith Shea of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, this panel brings together directors with films screening at Annecy this year.

Speakers include:

• Karla Castañeda
• Catherine LePage
• Kat Messing
• Agnès Patron

The conversation will focus on short films as a space for experimentation, personal storytelling, and creative risk-taking.

3:30 p.m. | Bonnie Arnold Fireside Chat

The day’s closing event is likely to be one of its biggest draws.

Arnold will sit down with Justin Johnson, head of program at the British Film Institute, to discuss her producing career, her involvement with WIA, and the broader changes she has witnessed across the animation industry.

Don’t Miss The Picnic

Beyond the formal programming, WIA will once again host its Annecy picnic meetup.

The gathering takes place on Wednesday, June 24, at Jardins de l’Europe, offering a more informal opportunity for attendees to connect with fellow artists, filmmakers, and industry professionals.

A Decade Of The World Summit

The 2026 edition marks ten years since WIA launched the World Summit at Annecy. The organization says this year’s event is intended both as a celebration of that milestone and a look ahead at the next generation of creators working across animation, visual effects, and games.

For Annecy attendees looking to fit the summit into an already packed festival schedule, the Bonnie Arnold conversation and the directing panel are likely to be among the day’s most in-demand sessions, while the picnic remains one of the easier networking opportunities outside the festival’s formal venues.

We will be popping in and out all day, and hope to see you there!