Seal of Female Empowerment in Entertainment

Political trailblazer Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and made the audacious move to run for President in 1972. This inspiring and empowering film sheds light on the barriers she broke throughout her political career, as well as the sustained strength and grace she displayed through trial and triumph. Academy Award-winning actress Regina King stars as the iconic congresswoman and also serves as the film’s producer.

Executive produced by Cate Blanchett, “Shayda” follows an Iranian mother who escapes an abusive marriage and starts a new life with her 6-year-old daughter in an Australian women’s shelter. In her feature directing debut, Noora Niasari taps into her own childhood experiences to create a true to life depiction of the struggles that come with trying to break free from domestic violence. Infusing the film with 1990s Persian culture, Niasari also shines a light on the immigrant experience, providing an understanding of what it’s like to depend on a foreign land because it’s not safe to go home.