📅 Friday, May 1, 2026
📍 State Theatre, Austin
🎟️ Audience Choice Voting & Closing Celebration
6:00 PM Doors Open
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Remarks by: Lila Igram & Elizabeth Avellán
Remarks & Introduction of Showcase 1
Remarks by: Tara Pirnia
Showcase 1 – Finalist Films
Films screened:
A Requiem For School
Anybody
Find Me in the Void
Green Stitch
Helado
Ms. Marwa
Torn Homeland
Zom-Bea
Dance Performance
Texas Mohini
ConnectHER Programs Spotlight
Remarks by: Halimah Tariq
Remarks & Introduction of Showcase 2
Announced by: Anabella Funk
Showcase 2 – Finalist Films
Films screened:
Beyond Barriers
Dal-Roti
Director of My Life
In Her Shoes
Loud Whispers
Malkia Dawn at the Heart of Chao
Reshma: A Struggle For Identity
Seeds & Roots
Filmmaker Rapid-Fire Q&A
Moderator: Tara Pirnia & Elizabeth Avellán
Audience Award Voting
Spoken Word Performance
Performed by: Emi Mahmoud
A stirring, poetic performance by award-winning Sudanese-American poet and former UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Closing Remarks & Invitation to Saturday’s Events
Remarks by: Lila Igram & Dina Alkhateeb
📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
📍 State Theatre, Austin
🎟️ VIP Reception to follow
6:00 PM Red Carpet & Guest Arrivals
Guests arrive, walk the red carpet, mingle & take photos.
Spoken Word Performance
Performed by: Emi Mahmoud
Award-winning Sudanese-American poet and
former UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Welcome & Opening remarks
Remarks by: Taylor Ellison & Dina AlKhateeb
People’s Choice Award
Presented by: Emi Mahmoud
Judges’ Choice Finalist Clip:
Beyond Barriers
By Aryan Kumar, Shrikant Kumar and Aniket Kumar
Introduced by: Halimah Tariq & Anabella Funk MD
Best Animation Award
Presented by: Avantika Vandanapu
Women & Health Award
Presented by: Taylor Ellison & Simone Thomas Rowe
Sponsored by Invest in Her Foundation
Music Performance by Victory Boyd
Presented by: Shuronda Robinson
Judges’ Choice Finalist Clip:
Helado
By Sol Guerrero
Introduced by: Chelsea Hernandez
Educating Girls Award
Presented by: Nioma Narissa Sadler
Sponsored by WomenServe
Dance Performance by
Ballet Folkrórico de Texas
Presented by: Taylor Ellison
Women & Work Award
Presented by: Anjum Hanafi & Amaya Savoy Easton
Judges’ Choice Finalist Clip:
Torn Homeland
By Khawla Al Ashi and Mohammed Ghrab
Introduced by: Tara Pirnia
ConnectHER Global Impact
Remarks by: Lila Igram
Best Narrative Award
Presented by: Chelsea Hernandez & Kat Candler
Best Documentary Award
Presented by: Chelsea Hernandez & Kat Candler
Music Performance by Victory Boyd
Judges’ Choice Awards
Remarks by: Elizabeth Avellán & Avantika Vandanapu
Closing Remarks
Remarks by: Courtney Hawkins & Lila Igram
VIP Reception Invitation
All VIP ticket holders, filmmakers, sponsors, and presenters.