Netflix Renews Support for the Animation Career EXCELerator

Two years ago, Netflix joined WIA Vancouver to support the expansion of the Animation Career EXCELerator (ACE)  to a national program that opened up opportunities for more animation professionals who identify as women and non-binary. Today we’re excited to renew our support for the next iteration of ACE and further expand opportunities by adding a new role to the program and providing additional support for marketing and promotion at festivals.

The ACE program was 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. This unique experience runs over the course of two years and will now support nine creative roles.

“ACE is beyond grateful to partner with Netflix Canada as we launch ACE 4,” says Rose-Ann Tisserand, WIA Vancouver Advisor and ACE Program founder and executive producer. “We’re excited for more roles, more friendships, more collaboration, more passion, more stories, more women advancing in their career. The stories we will tell, and the places we will go!”

ACE 3 is made up of eight creatives from British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario including  writer Sunita Balsara, story supervisor Anna Bohac, composer Amanda Cawley, director Sonia Furier, producer Stephanie Hodgson, animation director Molly Lacoursière, editor Isabel Ribeiro and assistant art director May-Yun Ong. Together, they made the short film, Ostinato. Inspired by Balsara’s own experience with tinnitus, the film follows a composer struggling with a mysterious Tone that threatens to drown out her music. It’s only when she stops fighting that she is able to discover a way to incorporate the Tone into her music and her life.

“Women have stories they want to tell... beautiful, personal, authentic stories,”  says Tisserand. “With ACE, they get to do exactly that… tell  their story, together, all while personally advancing their professional careers.”

Learn more about the ACE 3 creatives in their own words below: 

Ostinato will premiere at the Spark Animation Festival 2023 on November 10. 

Applications for ACE 4 will open at the Spark Animation Festival 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be announced on International Women’s Day in March 2024.