Azita Ghanizada

Azita Ghanizada was born with an incredible story of cultural backlash. Her family fled her native Afghanistan as the Soviets were invading and landed in the suburbs outside the US Capitol as political asylum seekers. Her childhood wasn't easy. The next several years following their displacement, her family would try their best to assimilate and resettle while working tirelessly on getting their immediate family out of various refugee camps, out of war and hostility and close to them in Northern Virginia. Having learned English on TV, she dreamed of being on television. After graduating University with a focus in Journalism and Communications, she bought a one-way ticket to Hollywood, landing shortly before 9/11 and somehow found her way to becoming one of the first women from Afghanistan to lead a series on television in the US on "Alphas". Crediting only instinct and naivete, Azita has continued to work consistently on film and television, holding her own opposite Academy Award-winners and nominees such as Rachel Weisz, Mahershala Ali, David Strathairn, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Casey Affleck and others. She was named one of the "Seven Sundance Breakout Actresses You Must Know," for her work in "Complete Unknown" (2016). She recently recurred on both HBO's "Ballers," and Freeform's "Good Trouble," and will next be seen in the three feature films, including a role in "Our Friend," which had its world premiere at TIFF (2019). Azita is also the Founder and President of MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition (MAAC). An organization that she launched after building the first new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hiring category into the entertainment business in 37 years. Middle Eastern North African, MENA, was drafted into the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contracts in 2017. She has advocated tirelessly for the advancement of MENA creatives in Hollywood, including presenting the first ever study on MENA performers on television and film. She has lobbied for inclusion across all major research, works as an educator in the industry on the MENA experience, has helped other MENA affinity groups launch at various guilds, companies, universities and beyond. A leading advocate for her diaspora, Azita actively speaks out on representation and inclusion issues in the media, in business environments, industry panels, and most recently gave her first TEDxTalk.