Women and teenagers appear on screen one by one, answering the same question: “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?”
They list insecurities: things they wish were different, better, smaller, bigger.
Then, a young girl is asked a similar question: “Is there anything that you would change about yourself?”
She pauses, smiles and answers simply: “No.”
“The film, [titled “Define Beautiful”], was about how we, as little girls, start out thinking we are beautiful, ... and you watch how, as the girls get older, ... they don’t see themselves as beautiful,” ConnectHER board member Fayruz Benyousef said.
Moments like these don’t just tell a story; they stay with viewers.
That kind of impact is what ConnectHER is built around; it’s a nonprofit organization that uses film to amplify the voices of women and girls, while supporting emerging filmmakers and the causes their stories highlight.
A festival that brings stories to life
At the center of that mission is the annual ConnectHER Film Festival. This year, it will be held May 1 and 2 at The State Theater in Austin. The two-night event brings filmmakers, community members and advocates together through storytelling.
The festival opens with a showcase of short films from around the world. After that, there are Q&A sessions, where audiences hear directly from the filmmakers behind the work.
“Many of them are first-time filmmakers, which makes it even more powerful,” said Anabella Funk, filmmaker and founder of Armadillo Films.
The second night shifts into a celebratory awards ceremony, recognizing standout films across 11 categories tied to global issues, from gender equity to environmental challenges, many of which align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The winners receive cash awards, which help them invest in equipment, pay for college or bring new ideas to life.
This year’s festival will include appearances from film producer Elizabeth Avellán, actress Avantika Vandanapu, award winning artist and activist Emi Mahmoud, and a live performance by singer-songwriter Victory Boyd, along with additional spoken word and artistic performances woven throughout the event. The festival’s longtime sponsor, Eloise DeJoria, will also be in attendance.
“[DeJoria] has been so instrumental in making sure the festival returns every year,” founder Lila Igram said.
For longtime supporters like Benyousef, who has been attending the festival since 2013, the experience is something that never loses its impact.
“It’ll make you laugh, and it’ll make you cry; you’ll get goosebumps,” Benyousef said. “It never ceases to amaze me.”
Stories that span the globe
Each year, ConnectHER receives film submissions from around the world, creating a collection of stories that are both deeply personal and globally diverse.
Some films highlight universal experiences, such as confidence, identity and belonging. Others shed light on challenges unique to specific regions or cultures, offering perspectives many audiences may not otherwise encounter.
“Film helps connect us and build bridges that we otherwise couldn’t,” Benyousef said. “It’s very deeply moving.”
One past film, titled “Mother’s Football Team,” showed girls pushing back against gender stereotypes in soccer.
Another film, titled “One Clean Beach,” followed a woman who turned daily walks into a four-year effort to clean Southern California coastlines. She removed more than 10,000 pounds of trash, demonstrating how small, consistent actions can create meaningful change.
Together, the films reflect both shared struggles and distinct realities, bringing global issues into focus through personal storytelling.
From festival recognition to real-world impact
For many filmmakers, that support becomes a launching point.
Funk first connected with the organization five years ago when her documentary “The Girls of the Desert” received the EducateHER award at the festival.
“ConnectHER really believed in me, and they helped launch my career,” Funk said.
Since then, she has gone on to direct "Price of Paradise," with distribution partner Austin PBS, which aired nationally across 44 PBS channels. Today, she remains involved with ConnectHER, supporting emerging filmmakers and giving back to the community that helped shape her path.
"ConnectHER was the foundation. Being part of the festival now feels like opening a door for the next generation of women in film,” Funk said.
Funk’s experience reflects a broader pattern: many filmmakers stay connected to the organization long after their first submission. For example, filmmaker Halimah Tariq returns yearly to mentor others and speak about how ConnectHER was the platform that catapulted her growth.
Beyond the festival: creating ongoing opportunities
In addition to ConnectHER’s Film Festival, the organization provides year-round opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
Through initiatives like Pitch Fest and fellowships, ConnectHER offers mentorship, funding and access to resources that help young creators continue telling impactful stories.
“ConnectHER is a platform. ... It builds the infrastructure and the community that the film industry has historically not provided to young women,” Funk said.
For many participants, those opportunities open doors that might not otherwise exist, turning a single film into a long-term creative path.
How to get involved
At its core, ConnectHER is about more than film. It’s about creating space for stories that might not otherwise be heard and giving the people behind them the tools to keep telling them.
“[ConnectHER] is about using [film] to create social change. ... It's about the filmmakers who are so brave to go out there and tell their stories,” Igram said. “[These filmmakers] already have a voice. All we're doing is providing a platform where they can share their stories with the world.”
Programs like Pitch Fest and other initiatives offer ways for these aspiring filmmakers to create and pitch new projects, and connect with a global network of creators.
For those interested in watching, previous film submissions can be found here.
Community members can experience this year’s films live and meet the storytellers behind them by attending the ConnectHER Film Festival.
Tickets and additional details are available at www.connecther.org, and updates can be found across the organization’s social media channels.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.