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 We need to raise $18,000 in the next 9 days for my nonprofit, Women's Voices Now, and we absolutely need your help!
Many thanks to everyone who has already funded our Kickstarter campaign. We've raised a substantial portion in just one month and already have 40 new funders! It's incredibly inspiring to see so many people support us. We need to organize visas and travel arrangements for many of our courageous filmmakers so they can attend the Festival in LA on March 17-19 and share their experiences with one another and our audiences. This is where the funds will be applied. If you have already donated - please keep spreading the word!
More information is below, but the most important things is to please to donate and spread the word:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/womensvoicesnow/womens-voices-from-the-muslim-world-a-short-film-f
A Refresher:
As many of you know, one year ago I developed an idea that was germinating for years and founded (as well as funded) a women's equal rights (not-for-profit) organization called Women's Voices Now (www.WomensVoicesNow.org). Its mission is to empower women in areas where they are denied equality and give voice to the struggle for civil, economic and political rights. It's first project, run by a team of brilliant and talented young women, is Women's Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival.
The past year has been an incredible journey of unbelievable growth, energy and potential. What started as a one-page idea has become a unique collection of short films from 40 countries, which is currently being viewed in 139 countries. The films are all personal stories told by women of all faiths living in the Muslim world. They fill a void left by traditional media, news and art sources, and their voices inspire others to take action in the global struggle for gender equality, human rights and the freedom of expression. The Festival has the potential to change oppressive societies through its women, thus enhancing prospects for a more stable Middle East and a safer America.
98 films have been selected from many hundreds to compete in the Festival and all are viewable on-line at www.womensvoicesnow.org/watch, where audiences can watch, vote, rate and comment on the films. The top films in the competition - chosen by our panel of esteemed Judges - will be screened at the Festival on March 17-19, 2011 being held at the Los Angeles Film School.
We have gained a lot of traction in the past months, much of it due to the expansive press we've been receiving from around the world (http://womensvoicesnow.org/press). Please also see a short snippet from our Executive Director's talk at American University in Washington DC where Women's Voices Now was invited to speak to the student body about Women In Conflict, a focus on Iraq and Afghanistan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFfnz3EjChQ&feature=related).
Below is a selection of our short films for your reference so you can gain a better understanding of the scope and quality of the Festival. Please take a few moments out of your pressured schedule to view these films and decide for yourself whether this is a project you would like to support. There are so many powerful and effective films.
In The Morning, USA (10 min) http://womensvoicesnow.org/watchfilm/in_the_morning/
We Are Postmodern, Afghanistan (5 min) http://womensvoicesnow.org/watchfilm/we_are_postmodern/ Is This Honor, Jordan (9 min) http://womensvoicesnow.org/watchfilm/is_this_honor/ It is Written, Netherlands (5 min) http://womensvoicesnow.org/watchfilm/it_is_written/ Again, these funds will be used to bring the winning filmmakers to the Festival so their stories may inspire others to take action in the global struggle for women's rights.
Sincerely, Leslie Sacks
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