WHY EMPWRNG VOICES?
Jina Mahsa Amini was killed on September 16, 2022, because she did not wear her veil as the Iranian morality police required. After her death, a wave grew into a movement that has almost become a revolution.
This movement is called Zan.Zendegi.Azadi, which means Woman.Life.Freedom.
We are a group of artists and curators who want to create a festival in solidarity with women who are fighting for their freedom. We invite you to a festival from October 3 to October 13, where we focus on the topics courage, freedom, and democracy.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE FESTIVAL
Sherry Hakimnejad
Born in Iran and came to Norway as a 5-year-old. She has been involved in the Women.Life.Freedom movement since the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in 2022. She is the initiator of EMPWRNG VOICES, has the overall project manager responsibilities together with Helen, and is responsible for the children’s activities during the festival. Her dream for Iran is for people to live in a free, secular, and democratic society.
Nadina Helen Bakos
Helen is the initiator of EMPWRNG VOICES together with Sherry. She is a filmmaker, photographer, and artist based in Gamle Munch. She has worked with topics like misogyny, sisterhood, and feminism for many years through film projects and photography. She has the primary responsibility for the festival program, the technical aspects, and marketing.
Annicken Dedekam Råge
Annicken is an editor, journalist, designer, and art student. She is also the curator of the festival and holds the main responsibility for designing the art exhibition. She has been an editor and journalist for the culture magazine PLNTY. Actively involved in defining Norwegian culture, she plays a key role at a time when it is shaping Norwegian identity.