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Netflix Canada and ACE Canada Society to announce the shortlisted candidates for the fifth cohort of the Animation Career Excelerator Program.

Bridging the Animation Gap: Netflix and ACE Canada Unveil Cohort 5

Netflix and the Animation Career Excelerator (ACE Canada) Society have announced the short-listed candidates for the ACE Canada Program’s fifth iteration, with Netflix Canada as the premiere sponsor. The program is an immersive Animation Career Excelerator training program for animation professionals who identify as women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit.

A Record-Breaking Application Pool Across Six Canadian Provinces

“ACE 5’s cohort drew 126 applicants from across six provinces, reflecting the depth, diversity, and creativity of Canada’s animation community while underscoring ACE’s role as a trusted program where animation professionals can grow, connect, and fundamentally advance their careers,” says Founder and Co-Executive Producer of the ACE Canada Program, Rose-Ann Tisserand.

“Brought full circle by the screening of ACE 4’s completed film Rocketship Mai at Annecy Film Festival in France, which shows how meaningful support and mentorship can elevate underrepresented filmmakers.”

The Official Roster: Meet the 45 Shortlisted Animation Professionals

A jury of industry professionals selected the top five candidates for each position in the program. The 45 shortlisted candidates will receive a series of workshops and training to prepare them for their roles further, and then present to a final jury who will select the nine participants for the fifth ACE cohort.

Core Creative Tracks: Directors, Writers, and Head of Story Candidates

ACE CANADA Cohort 5 Shortlisted Applicants Are:

DIRECTOR
Alice Roncier (BC)
Alice Manieri (BC)
J Meeka Stuart (ON)
Francesca Natale (BC)
Sima Naseem (ON)

WRITER
Kara O-Donnell (ON)
Georgia Touchette (BC)
Goun Lee (ON)
Natalia Delgado Avila (QC)
Tammy Tsang (BC)

HEAD OF STORY
Sara Mota (BC)
Chloe Lemay (BC)
Debra Rengga (BC)
MJ Barros (BC)
Sophie Whittingham (BC)

Production Excellence: Producers, Production Managers, and Editors

PRODUCER
Asli Bulut Ahatoglu (ON)
Noushin Emami (BC)
Collette Whyte (BC)
Paulette Shnier (MB)
J Meeka Stuart (ON)

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Helen Lysenko (BC)
Clara Chang (NS)
Anja Wacke (BC)
Collette Whyte (BC)
Reem EIShaer (BC)

EDITOR
Kate Brascoupé (ON)
Sarah Fricker (BC)
Rachel Guergis (BC)
Vanessa Seecharran (BC)

Visual and Audio Stylists: Art Directors, Animation Directors, and Composers

ART DIRECTOR
Paulette Ordonez (BC)
Dorothy Yang (BC)
Jennifer Wu (BC)
Roz Stockton (ON)
Sujin Kim (BC)

ANIMATION DIRECTOR
Calista Antonio (QC)
Anamika Baruah (BC)
Diane Aarts (ON)
Jade Laflamme (AB)
Reem EIShaer (BC) 
Vanessa Foermer (BC)

COMPOSER
Chihiro Nagamatsu (ON)
Diane Vallesteros (ON)
Eimear MacCarrick (BC)
Ally Fiola (NS)
Olivia Korosak (ON)

Taking the Global Stage: ‘Rocketship Mai’ Set for Annecy Film Festival

ACE Canada has also announced that it will host a private screening of the ACE 4 cohort’s completed film, Rocketship Mai, at the Annecy Film Festival on Wednesday, June 24th, in the Rotonde de l’Europe at the Imperial Palace.

Private Showcase Details at the Rotonde de l’Europe

The Rocketship Mai screening at the Annecy Film Festival will take place on Wednesday, June 24th, from 12:45 to 1:45 pm in the Rotonde de l’Europe at the Imperial Palace.

Forging International Relationships and the Structural Power of Mentorship

The ACE program will be highlighting the work of its filmmakers on an international stage. The event will include special guests and a panel conversation with a focus on the power of mentorship in the animation industry.

From Shortlist to Selection: The Next Steps in the Intensive Training Pipeline

While at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, ACE will also support the ACE 4 filmmakers with valuable networking opportunities, helping them forge global relationships as they continue building their careers.

The ACE program was created with a focused intention to support mid-level professionals to advance into key creative and senior roles, and to create opportunities for new and diverse voices to tell their unique story. The program provides participants with a key credit in the creation of their own short film, as well as mentorship and training to ensure their success.

ACE Canada is made possible with the support of generous sponsors, including Netflix Canada, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, Creative BC, Toon Boom, Autodesk Technology Impact Program, The National Film Board, Atomic Cartoons, Canadian Media Producers Association – BC Producer’s Branch, SyncSketch, 708 Sound Studio, WildBrain Studios, VIFF Amp, Producer Essentials, the Research House, and Pender PR.  

For more information about the ACE Program, please visit the ACE Canada official website, and follow the non-profit organization’s social media on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Note: The information above was sourced from a press release.

🏮 Read More In Asian Spaces

• Netflix’s Animated Adventure at ANNECY! – An overview of the executive panels, production highlights, and interactive installations taking over the festival circuit.
• Netflix at Annecy 2026: First Looks at THE ONE PIECE, Ghostbusters Series, and Charlie vs. The Chocolate Factory Revealed – The definitive breakdown of the upcoming major slate reveals, character redesigns, and premiere dates dropped during the studio’s spotlight events.
• GKIDS to Release “Another World” in North American Theatres: A Dark Fairytale From Hong Kong – Expand your independent animation scope with a look at GKIDS’ latest high-profile theatrical acquisition reshaping international distribution routes.

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