Prior to the Red Carpet Event and Awards, we are offering another year of exciting panels with industry insiders. We will hear from female leaders about how they overcame challenges to succeed and create impact.

See full line-up HERE.

DAY TICKETS:

10 am - Registration - Doors Open to All Attendees

First panel begins at 11 am SHARP!

11 am - 12 pm Panel #1: Storytelling for Social Impact (Black Box Theater)

• Storytelling makes any film or project more powerful and memorable. But how do you find your story – and how do you give it emotional impact? Our panelists will share ideas about how to use this secret weapon successfully – in your social impact films or in other aspects of your work.
• Panelists: Effie T. Brown, Gay Gaddis, Nioma Narissa and Sharon Arteaga
• Moderator: Victoria Fine

12 - 1 pm Showcase Set #1: Screening of Selected Short GITW Films in auditorium

1 - 2 pm Break - Food trucks available for lunch purchase – Bring cash!

2 - 3 pm Showcase Set #2: Screening of Selected Short GITW Films in auditorium

3 - 4 pm Panel #2: Dynamic Women: Leadership and Vision (Black Box Theater)

• With women still sorely underrepresented in the top ranks of leadership and allegations of sexual harassment and abuse echoing in the halls of so many workplaces, from the hotel room to the boardroom, how do we navigate workplace power dynamics? How can we achieve success in our careers and make a difference for other women and girls? Our inspiring panelists will talk about their hard-won career success and offer advice for young women who are launching their careers in the time of #MeToo and Time’s Up.
• Panelists: Edna Adan, Effie T. Brown, Elizabeth Avellán and Umaimah Mendhro
• Moderator: Lolis Garcia Baab

EVENING TICKETS:

4 pm Red Carpet

• Mix and mingle with guests, speakers and sponsors. Post photos and videos on social media using #connecther #GITWFF #whyicare and tag @Connecther along with @gitwff

5-7pm Awards Ceremony (in Auditorium)

Awards Presentations

Performance by Abir

Fireside chat with: Ibtihaj Muhammad

7 - 8 pm Private reception for VIP ticketholders (in Lobby hallway near Black Box Theater)

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Wifi: St. Andrews Guest - no password necessary

Presenting Sponsor:

Eloise DeJoria is a presenting sponsor and finalist judge for the Girls Impact the World Film Festival. In addition to being the spokesmodel for Paul Mitchell, Eloise uses her time and talents to help people lead healthy, fulfilled lives. She focuses her efforts on recovery programs, the arts and promoting the rights and well-being of women and girls.

Featured Speaker: Fireside chat with Ibtihaj Muhammad - Evening Awards Ceremony:

Ibtihaj Muhammad is an entrepreneur, activist, speaker and Olympic medalist in fencing. A 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 5-time Senior World medalist and World Champion, in 2016, Ibtihajbecame the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab. Ibtihaj was a 3-time All American at Duke University where she graduated with a dual major in International Relations and African Studies. In 2014, Ibtihaj launched her own clothing company, Louella, which aims to bring modest, fashionable and affordable clothing to the United States market. In 2017, Mattel announced their first hijabi Barbie, modeled in Ibtihaj’s likeness, as part of Barbie’s “Shero” line of dolls. The Barbie became available for purchase in July 2018. Ibtihaj also released her debut memoir in July 2018, PROUD: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream.

Ibtihaj is a sports ambassador with the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls through Sport Initiative, and works closely with organizations like Athletes for Impact and the Special Olympics. Named to Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential list, Ibtihaj is an important figure in a larger global discussion on equality and the importance of sport. Her voice continues to unite both the sports and non-sports world.

Speakers and Panelists:

Elizabeth Avellán is the Co-Owner and Vice President of Troublemaker Studios and President of EYA Productions. Troublemaker’s first feature was the 2001 hit Spy Kids. In addition to producing family genre films that have collectively grossed over a billion dollars, she has played a primary role in developing Austin, Texas as a thriving film community. Avellán began her producing career when she co-founded Los Hooligans Productions in 1991 with Robert Rodriguez as the two began their feature film project, El Mariachi. During the past decade, Avellán has produced a dozen films.

Edna Adan was born in Hargeisa, the daughter of a prominent Somali medical doctor and was trained as a nurse in the 1950s in the United Kingdom at the Borough Polytechnic, now London South Bank University. In 2002, on land donated to her by the regional government on a site formerly used as a garbage dump, she officially opened The Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Somaliland. (Now a general hospital, the focus remains infant and maternal health.)

In October of 2012, Edna Adan and the hospital were featured in the documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, which premiered on PBS. The series introduces women and girls who are living under very difficult circumstances and bravely fighting to challenge them. Edna has been named among the 100 most influential Africans and is recognized internationally as a pioneer of woman’s health and education.

Effie T. Brown is an award-winning film, TV, and digital producer and a champion of inclusion and diversity behind and in front of the camera. After producing several feature films at various production levels, Effie founded Duly Noted, Inc. Together, they are the force behind such critically acclaimed HBO films as STRANGER INSIDE, REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES and EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

Nioma Narissa Sadler is the Co-owner of the wellness tea giant, Traditional Medicinals Inc. and the Co-Founder of the Traditional Medicinals Foundation. However, it is her work as the Founder of WomenServe; an international aid, advocacy, education, and economic development initiative that aims to improve the lives of impoverished and marginalized women and girls throughout the globe that she has been preparing for her whole life. Sadler’s advocacy through storytelling has contributed to the construction of six large community ponds and more than 400 taankas (rainwater catchment tanks), providing water security to thousands of women, the construction of five primary schools with mandated female enrollment and employment of female teachers, the first in the region. While listening to the stories of women and girls in these communities, Sadler began to document their hardships through filmmaking in an effort to raise awareness and create opportunities.

Umaimah Mendhro is the Founder & CEO of VIDA, a global ecommerce platform connecting designers and makers to create original, quality apparel and accessories, each with a unique story. Umaimah grew up in rural Pakistan and Saudi Arabia - with no access to formal education most of her life - but a deep passion for design and art and a drive to make a difference in the world. She paved her way to Cornell University and later Harvard Business School, and built a career in technology, working with a highly select portfolio of game-changing tech companies, including Square, Twitter, and Dropbox and managing and growing million dollar businesses at Microsoft and more. In 2014, Umaimah’s strong belief that fashion can be responsible and accessible got her to take the leap and found VIDA - a global platform that brings together creatives and manufacturers from around the world to create unique, original, art inspired apparel and accessories. VIDA today has over 125,000 artists on the platform representing over 150 countries around the world.

Performers:

ABIR has been prepping for this moment—the release of her debut EP MINT and her first national tour—since the fourth grade.The Morocco-born vocalist came to the U.S. at six. Her father owned a limousine business. Her earliest memories of digesting music come from riding in the back of his cars, intrigued by the jazz albums he bought to play for his clients during rides. Starting October 29, she’ll support Kiiara on a 16-city tour. As anxious as she is to get this fresh batch of music out, she’s even more amped to hit the road. “I’ve never been on tour,” she explains. “I’m going to create some dope memories. So I’m super excited.”

Just like she knew back during those talent show days, being a performing singer-songwriter is who ABIR was born to be. The grind of late Manhattan nights and early mornings has only strengthened her- ABIR is not at all weary. Instead she beams as this roller coaster ride continues its ascent. “This is just the beginning!”

When it comes to harmonies, Much 2 Much is more than enough. They are an indie-folk collaboration by longtime friends and local Austinites Erin Thelen and Angie Holliday. What started as an acoustic duo rooted in folk and classical trainings has metamorphosed into a 4-piece project that is guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings. Much 2 Much is folk music, it’s soul, it’s pop, but it’s also greater than the sum of its parts. Layering haunting vocal harmonies on top of mellow instrumental grooves, their music is a mirror. They sing and play what you feel - joy, pain, connectivity, tranquility - in an arrangement of both acoustic and electric instruments.