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.
The competition features films created by women participating in Empower Women Media’s Middle East Fellowship. Over several months, fellows from Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Israel, Cyprus, Morocco, Syria, and other countries studied freedom of religion or belief, explored the role of storytelling in advancing human dignity, and received professional training in documentary filmmaking.
Also see 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 results.
Film Competition Winners
Our Father's Daughters
$3,000 Grand Prize Winner, by Rasha Aziz
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice that remains prevalent in parts of Upper Egypt due to limited awareness, misconceptions, and the persistence of social and culture beliefs, despite the absence of a valid religious foundation for the practice.
Don't Look Away
$1,500 First Runner-Up, by Maryam Farahzadi
Through Persian miniatures brought to life, DON’T LOOK AWAY traces Iran’s 2025-2026 uprising, from the streets of Tehran through a war that ended the reign of an evil tyrant who ruled for 47 years, to a freedom still not won, and a world asked to finally bear witness.
Just a Human
$500 Second Runner-Up, by Suzy Fawzy & Cherry Ramsis
When a young man replaces his religion with the word “Human” on an official form, a quiet act of defiance sets in motion a deeply personal journey through memory, identity, and the search for meaning beyond labels.
Additional Awards
Faith Without Fear: Voices of Hope
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Wagma Feroz
“Faith Without Fear: Voices of Hope” is a documentary film capturing voices across Pakistan as they navigate religious freedom, coexistence, and the struggle for peace amid rising intolerance.
Barefoot: A March for Peace
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Deborah Paul
When Israeli and Palestinian women walk side by side through the streets of Rome, Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun show the world that the shared love of a mother knows no borders. A defiant and beautiful act of hope in a world that desperately needs it.
Mariam's Veil
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Maggie Morgan
A Christian girl in rural Egypt must wear the veil to continue her education. Will she comply with an unwritten rule—or challenge it?
Why Don't We Speak Up?
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Maggie Morgan
After asking to recite a Bible passage at her public school in Egypt, a Christian student faces fierce opposition. Will she remain silent or speak out?
Chama's Story
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Hayvi Bouzo & Galith Benichou
Moroccan Artist and Policy advisor, Chama Mechtaly leads MENA women forging dialogue and coexistence, a bridge between cultures and faiths.
The Faith That Draws Near
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Elana Sztokman
Three women of faith, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian, reject hatred and fear to show how religion can become a source of empathy, shared humanity, courage, and peace.
Between Two Bells
Global Peacebuilder Award Suzy Fawzy & Cherry Ramsis
When a school bell forces two inseparable boys, one Christian and one Muslim, to attend separate religion classes, their innocent friendship is tested for the first time, leading them to question the divisions imposed by the world around them and rediscover the simple truth that humanity comes before labels.
Liron's Story
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Hayvi Bouzo & Galith Benichou
Liron Lavi Turkenich, Israeli Designer and Creative Director of a hybrid script readable in both Hebrew and Arabic, using design to bridge cultures and spark dialogue.
The Questions
Global Peacebuilder Award, by Maggie Morgan
Passant and Lamia reflect on growing up in schools where questioning religious teachings was discouraged. By daring to ask difficult questions, they discover a path to freedom.