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PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM COME TOGETHER AT RCNV

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Senses Cultural’s traveling photography exhibition, Enduring Power: The Middle Eastern and Iranian Woman’s Story, will be paired with a strong collection of films during its residency at the Resource Center for Non-Violence in Santa Cruz, CA starting December 1st.  With photography curated by Sina Araghi, a Los Angeles-based photographer, and an accompanying film collection curated by Anita Heckman, RCNV’s administrator, the events in Santa Cruz promises to be an insightful and perspective-changing look into the world of Middle Eastern and Iranian women.

Ms. Heckman’s first film choice, “Into The Sea”, will screen on Tuesday, December 1st at 7:30pm at RCNV (612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA).  “Into The Sea” follows Irish champion surfer Easkey Britton as she connects with two pioneering Iranian women who use surfing “as a tool for empowerment, self-expression, and bridging barriers.”  This film was an official selection at the 2014 London Surf Film Festival, the Tehran International Cinema Verite, and the San Diego International Surf Film Festival, and is sure to be a great supplement to the stories already told in the photos of Enduring Power.

On Friday, December 4th, RNCV will host a First Friday screening and reception from 6pm-9pm, featuring a collection of short films entitled “The Trials Of Spring”.  With two screenings scheduled at 6pm and 8pm, “The Trials Of Spring” will provide insight into the lives of nine courageous women from Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Tunisia and Syria who are fighting for peace.  Between screenings, Senses Cultural’s founder, Tata Monfared, will speak about the photography collection. This combination will prove to be eye-opening when paired with the many images of Yemen and Egypt in Enduring Power, and this event should not be missed.

In honor of International Human Rights Day, RCNV will screen “The Trials of Spring” full-length feature on Thursday, December 10th in conjunction with the ongoing exhibit of Enduring Power at RCNV. “The Trials of Spring” feature film follows the courageous journey of an Egyptian woman who is imprisoned after she chooses to speak out for freedom and social justice.

These events are excellent opportunities to further the understanding of the Middle East and Iran through the eyes of these female film makers and photographers.   The Enduring Power collection is presented by Senses Cultural and RCNV, with the co-sponsorship of WILPF Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz United Nations Association.  For more information, please contact RCNV: 831-423-1626, rcnv.org

By Silvana Gargione

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Location: Virtual Conference
Date: December 18, 2015
Duration: 3 Days

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Senses Cultural is a nonprofit organization and has received its 501c3 nonprofit approval, which allowing to receive tax-deductable donations, among other benefits. Please make out your tax-deductible contributions to Cultural Media/Senses Cultural or make your donation through our website and Facebook page. WAYS YOU CAN HELP We want to hear about your thoughts on what we are presenting to you. Tell us about innovative ideas for promoting our rich Iranian culture. We want to share these ideas and spark conversation about how to create opportunity and prosperity for everyone.
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Read more about Dr. Hagerman here.
Randi J.Hagerman
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Read more about Dr. Hagerman here.
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Ludovic Robert
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Negar Yazdanpanah
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Negar Yazdanpanah
Negar is a graphic designer based in Toronto, Canada. She has been working with Senses Cultural since 2017.
Graphic designer
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Sina Araghi
Sina Araghi is a commercial and documentary photographer based in Los Angeles. Born in Tehran and raised in California, Sina has been photographing everything around him since the age of thirteen. In 2006, Sina completed his studies in Print & Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Sina’s clients have included Giorgio Armani Corp, Elle Décor, Time Inc., La PrensaGrafica, WGSN,SoCiArtsProductions, Vision& Hope, and ChicPeek.com. His work has been exhibited in “Souvenirs From Iran” at Farmani Gallery, the “Flying with the Cage” at Phantom Galleries in LA, and the “heART of Iran” exhibition at the California State Capitol. Sina’s photographs can be found published in the book “Urban Iran” by Mark Batty Publishing and online at www.photobysina.com. Sina supports Senses Cultural mission to advance a peaceful and healthy world through the arts.
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Behrooz Badie
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Photographer
Behrooz Badie
As a young teenage amateur photographer, Behrooz landed the role of shooting and capturing his uncle’s wedding with an old-school Canon in 1984. Nearly three decades later, Behrooz continues to capture people’s powerful moments as a favorite hobby. With two sons away in college, photography has become his life’s focus and that of his wife’s. The couple is often in the midst of chaos on wedding days, though they love every second of it. As a very friendly cast, they share nothing but the utmost respect and love for Senses Cultural’s mission which they help advance through photography.
Photographer
Robert Miller
Robert Miller has over four decades of experience working with families of children with a wide variety of disabilities throughout the world. From 1999 through 2013, he served as Executive Director of the National Fragile X Foundation in the United States. Robert advises the Senses Cultural Academy of Health on matters related to serving families who have children with special needs. He helps organize and coordinate responses to families in need. Robert holds a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education – Services for Families, from San Francisco State University.
Human Service Consulting
Robert Miller
Robert Miller has over four decades of experience working with families of children with a wide variety of disabilities throughout the world. From 1999 through 2013, he served as Executive Director of the National Fragile X Foundation in the United States. Robert advises the Senses Cultural Academy of Health on matters related to serving families who have children with special needs. He helps organize and coordinate responses to families in need. Robert holds a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education – Services for Families, from San Francisco State University.
Human Service Consulting
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Derek Wilson
Derek Wilson is a writer and researcher based in Pennsylvania. He received a BS in Biology from Susquehanna University in 2016 and went on to work as a researcher in the biological sciences. During this time, he developed his skills in writing and raising funds for his lab/research. Always passionate about helping others, he now leverages his writing and research skills to raise money for non-profits and other worthy causes.
Content Author
Derek Wilson
Derek Wilson is a writer and researcher based in Pennsylvania. He received a BS in Biology from Susquehanna University in 2016 and went on to work as a researcher in the biological sciences. During this time, he developed his skills in writing and raising funds for his lab/research. Always passionate about helping others, he now leverages his writing and research skills to raise money for non-profits and other worthy causes.
Content Author