Empower Women Media honors women who artfully and compellingly explore the impact of freedom of religion and belief (FoRB) in their workplaces and communities through short films.
Films submitted to the 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.
Film Competition Winners
Strength Despite Everything
$3,000 Grand Prize Winner, by Dilpak Megeed (Iraq)
In this observational documentary, Eman Abdullah, a Yazidi woman victimized by ISIS, fights to empower women and bring justice.
Unity
$1,500 First Runner-Up, by Azadeh Nikzadeh (Iran / USA)
A poignant call for all supporters of democratic change in Iran to unite and work together, despite our differences.
Samira's Camera
$500 Second Runner-Up, by Paula Kweskin (USA / Afghanistan)
A young mother/filmmaker uprooted from her home by the Taliban spends her days traveling the streets of Kabul capturing stories most are too frightened to tell.
Additional Awards
Hope to the Hopeless
Heather Mercer
When a beloved son is killed in a car accident, Global Hope’s Freedom Center and the grieving people of Koya, Kurdistan overcome religious and cultural differences to find hope.
I Stood Among the Bodies
Safar Ali Danish & Shakira Hazara
The story of an ordinary day and an extraordinary incident which transforms a simple girl into a national athlete.
Freedom to Change
Hedieh Mirahmadi
An Iranian woman finds the courage to change her faith identity. (Article 18)
Assyrians
Karmella Borashan
The Assyrians are an ancient Christian community who have been systematically exterminated in their homeland. The Assyrian Aid Society of America and Iraq works to preserve the Assyrian people and their heritage before it is too late.
How to Support the Freedom Movement in Iran
Erica Kasraie
Since the 1979 revolution, Iranians have risen up time and again in pursuit of their foundational human rights, yet none of these movements have prevailed. How is the Woman Life Freedom movement of 2022-2023 different, and what can you do to support it?
Yearning
Parastoo Poortaheri
A young Iranian girl accepts Christ after watching a Christian TV channel and longs to develop her faith and share her beliefs freely in a culture where it is difficult to do so.
Assyrians
Karmella Borashan
The Assyrians are an ancient Christian community who have been systematically exterminated in their homeland. The Assyrian Aid Society of America and Iraq works to preserve the Assyrian people and their heritage before it is too late.
Honorable Mentions
Loureen Ayyoub
Lily Meschi
Bernadett Poolis
Sharon Angel
Maryam Farahzadi
Mehran Sanei
Hedieh Mirahmadi