“Stand Up 4 Her: Inspiration 2020,” Women Creating Change’s second annual fundraising gala, went virtual this year, presenting a program of music, poetry, short films and stand-up comedy from talented Middle Eastern and North African women via YouTube.
Hosted by comedians Mona Shaikh and Batia Parnass, with a musical performance by singer/guitarist Ninet Tayeb, the Dec. 19 fundraiser represented voices from Egypt, Israel, Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Turkey, bridging cultural divides and celebrating diversity through art.
Performers included comics Shaikh, Noam Shuster Eliasi, Sarah Fatemi, Maya Simchi and Atheer Yacoub; singers Zein Khleif, Meital Venus, and Inbal-Rotem Sagiv; filmmakers Shir Cohen, Natasha Kermani and Yasmine Asha; and poets Dania Boustany, Shelly Skandran, Sanam, Erfani and WCC Founder and Executive Producer Lee Broda, who recited several of her poems during the event.
“Women Creating Change was founded by female filmmakers and artists from across the greater Middle East and North Africa (MENA), who seek to inspire change and bridge cultural divides,” Broda said. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to celebrate our talented international community, and spotlight new artists and filmmakers.”
“Women Creating Change was founded by female filmmakers and artists from across the greater Middle East and North Africa (MENA), who seek to inspire change and bridge cultural divides,” — Lee Broda
Founded in 2017 a by a group of Israeli and Arab female filmmakers, WCC is multicultural, multifaith organization dedicated to diversity, equality, fighting stereotypes and supporting women in entertainment, giving a voice to artists outside the mainstream media through workshops, showcases, networking and other initiatives.
During the pandemic, the WWC community has stayed connected via virtual coffee meetings, masterclasses, workshops, networking, and unifying opportunities which resulted in five collaborative film projects between female MENA filmmakers and actresses. Panels and masterclasses featured Israeli, Palestinian, Iranian, and many more nationalities from the Middle East.
To learn more or to donate, visit www.womencreatingchange.com.
