Empower Women Media and the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation honor women who artfully and compellingly explore the impact of freedom of religion and belief (FoRB) in their workplaces and communities through short films.
This year, Empower Women Media offered two film competitions: the 2022 Religious Freedom & Business Foundation Film Competition and the 2022 Women’s Empowerment and Religious Freedom Film Competition.
Most of the media projects submitted to the two film competitions came from thirty women who took part in Empower Women Media’s Pakistan Media Training Fellowship. For six months, these talented Pakistani women learned about Freedom of Religion or Belief and received expert training on how to produce contextualized digital media to reach their communities and world class leaders.
Also see 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 results. (MEDIA: Press Release & Contacts)
FILM COMPETITION WINNERS
She Stood Against Religious Extremism
EWM $3,000 Grand Prize Winner, by Zeenat Bibi (Pakistan)
In a war-torn region of Pakistan, a young woman starts an initiative to counter religious extremism and sectarian violence by holding dialogue sessions with youth from different beliefs and religions.
Zeenat Bibi grew up in Peshawar and graduated with a degree in mass communication. She is a journalist at Samaa News, a Pakistani National TV network.
EWM First Runner-Up, by Khalida Niaz (Pakistan)
A young woman in Peshawar, Pakistan counters religious-based violence by building relationships among different faith influencers.
Khalida Niaz is from Nowshera district of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa Pakistan. She is a journalist with a passion for religious freedom.
EWM Second Runner-Up, by Eleni Spiru (Pakistan)
“Without Fear” captures the story of a Pakistani American woman and her struggles to escape oppression and fight for religious freedom.
Eleni Spiru is the Program Director of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council. She manages AMMWEC’s operations, including programming, outreach, and communications. She is an advocate for religious freedom and women’s rights.
Together We Grow Together We Empower
RFBF 3,000 Grand Prize Winner, by Fatima Nazish (Pakistan)
A businesswoman in Peshawar, Pakistan welcomes women of different faiths to her center and trains them to become entrepreneurs.
Fatima Nazish grew up in Peshawar, graduated with a degree in mass communication, got her break at Samaa News, and is a successful national level network television journalist.
RFBF First Runner-Up, by Samantha Javed (Pakistan)
A young entrepreneur opens the doors of her parlor (Shahar-e-Naaz) to both Muslim and Hindu women despite the social challenges, leaving a lasting impact on her community.
Samantha Javed is a humanitarian professional who holds a master’s degree in International Relations. She shares a passion for media and communications. She believes that media is one of the fastest traveling mediums next to light, water, and air.
RFBF Second Runner-Up, by Shahzad Naveed (Pakistan)
In the Swat Valley where educating girls was banned during the Taliban era, an 18-year-old girl runs a software academy and business.
Shahzad is a young journalist from the once terror-ridden Swat Valley. During the militancy period in Swat and the subsequent military operation, he worked to improve the image of his hometown. After more than a decade, he is determined more than ever to create a positive image of this region, which has tremendous potential for tourism.
ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Global Religious Women’s Empowerment and Religious Freedom Award, by Soraya Deen (Pakistan)
Three thousand female Buddist Bhikkuni’s in Sri Lanka who are denied identity cards fight against gender-based discrimination and for Freedom of Religion and Belief.
Inclusion Award, by Anita Inayat (Pakistan)
A school in Lahore, Pakistan provides training and a loving community for blind girls from all faiths so they can achieve their dreams.
A Helping Hand Across Faiths and Countries
Inclusion Award, by Jamaima Afridi (Pakistan)
A local Christian woman, Soraya Bibi, helps empower Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
A Story of a Cyclist from Skardu
Diversity Award, by Saira Zahid (Pakistan)
A woman cyclist manages to overcome obstacles to achieve her dream of cycling.
Gurdwara Siri Singh Saba, Quetta
Diversity Award, by Rani Wahidi (Pakistan)
The Sikh community welcomes the reopening of the Gurdwara (Temple) Siri Singh Saba, located in Quetta, Balochistan, after 73 years.