DEEYAH KHAN

DIRECTOR, ACTIVIST

Deeyah has been expressing her activism through filmmaking for more than a decade. Her films have bravely investigated issues like racism, human rights, violence against women and domestic terrorism – and often involve her sitting down with individuals she is ideologically opposed to.

 For White Right: Meeting The Enemy, Deeyah filmed with prominent neo-Nazis and white supremacists to understand the growth of far-right movements in the United States. Incredibly three high-ranking figures left the movement after filming with her, crediting Deeyah as the reason for their change of heart. Other unlikely groups that Deeyah has filmed with include jihadists, American domestic terrorists, and armed militia: earning her a BAFTA, two Peabody Awards, and two Emmys. She is also the first UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for artistic freedom and creativity.

Deeyah also actively advocates for women’s rights, informed by her experiences as a child of Muslim immigrants in Norway. She runs digital magazine sister-hood, which highlights women of Muslim heritage – and is the founder of Fuuse, a media and arts company that centres women and other marginalised groups. Her radical empathy and listening skills are also highly sought after on panels and stages, including TED.