Making the world a better place has always been Malala Yousafzai’s active mission. A globally recognized girl and human rights activist since the age of 12, the Nobel Peace Prize winner – the youngest recipient in history – is no stranger to the lens of her own life. Following the critically acclaimed 2015 documentary He named me Malalainspired by her best-selling memoir I am Malalashe produced the Oscar-nominated short film stranger at door. Yousafzai premieres Apple Docs at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival the last sea womanfrom her production company Extracourse, premieres on Apple TV+ on October 11.
hollywood reporterScott Feinberg spoke with 27-year-old Yousafzai as part of the annual TIFF industry conference’s Visionary Conversation Series. Focusing on what TIFF industry programmer Jane Kim describes as “the transformative power of storytelling to make the world a better place,” Feinberg delves into how storytelling shaped Yousafzai and how she uses storytelling to continue her work as a producer She’s done it since before she was a teenager.
The activist said Extracurricular Activities took its name from Yousafzai’s educational mission and that she took a very pragmatic approach to the industry. “When I started working at this production company, I was looking at different projects that were happening and how I could support them as an executive producer,” she recalls. “Happy Paradise [the 2015 drama that was briefly banned in Pakistan for its story about a man who falls in love with a transgender erotic dancer] It stands out because it was written and directed by this amazing Pakistani director [Saim Sadiq]which tells a very important story in a very powerful way. I think it was also the first Pakistani film to be shortlisted for an Oscar. I was honored to be a part of it and it also won an Independent Spirit Award.
Serve as Executive Producer stranger at doorThe short film tells the story of a former Marine’s targeted bombing of a Muslim community center in Indiana, an event that so profoundly transformed her humanity that it earned her an invitation to last year’s Academy Awards. “It was amazing,” she said of her experience meeting various stars. Oscar-nominated movies are also inspiring.
“We still need more representation,” she learned. “We need more women, more people of color to have the opportunity to tell their stories, and we need more Muslims to tell their stories. I think storytelling can really help us change perspectives in a way that a lot of other things can’t. It does. I think it takes time, but human connection helps us see the world in a more human way.
Yousafzai said that in Apple, she has found a great partner: “I hope to continue to work with amazing female directors, writers and storytellers, and I hope to work with those who bring different perspectives to our own.” perspectives. So we work with Apple because Apple shares the same values. We talk about the importance of connecting with people through these documentaries or TV shows, and we talk about the entertainment of it. Sex and the fun side, it helps people have fun moments, makes people laugh, brings people together, it really connects people no matter where they live in the world.
She was immediately attracted to director Sue Kim the last sea woman She shared that this was because “I was so shocked that I didn’t know the story.” “There are very few matriarchal societies in the world. Haenyeo is one of them [few] In the matriarchal societies of the world, women are effectively the breadwinners, they lead the community, and they work in a very cooperative manner.
Yousafzai elaborates: “You can learn a lot from them – their relationship with the ocean. In the documentary, you will learn how climate change affects their lives. You also learn that some of these women Many are in their 60s, 70s and 80s, and some are in their 90s and are still doing this work, but they may be the last ones. Therefore, we also show some young haenyeo (young ones). Ocean women) are interested in this, they’re more like the TikTok generation who are diving under the sea and making TikTok videos. They’re super cool, so hopefully this story will inspire more people to protect that.
Yousafzai also discussed bread and roseswhich she executive produces. The documentary, which premiered on Apple TV+ in June, explores the impact of the fall of Kabul on women’s rights (Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence is a co-producer). “I am honored to be a part of this documentary as it shares the stories of three Afghan women since Afghanistan fell to the Taliban,” she explained. “These women started documenting their lives on their phones, and they show you how their lives were gradually changing because of these new Taliban restrictions. [imposes]”.
She reflects on a female dentist who was forced to conceal her achievements because the Taliban prohibited women from achieving them. “Afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not allow girls to complete education beyond sixth grade. It is shocking that we live in this time,” she lamented.
When asked which US presidential candidate would better serve women’s rights, Yousafzai responded: “It’s a simple question.”
“Just listen to these two questions and you will find the answer,” she continued. “One tells you explicitly that they are going to take away women’s rights, and one tells you that they want to protect [them]. So go, Kamala Harris, go.
At age 11, Yousafzai said her dream was to become prime minister and now she works as a producer. While her activism today looks different than what she imagined then, her commitment has never wavered.
“It starts with my story. I’m lucky that people follow it, but I always [told] People, even in my interviews, I’m not a lone voice. There are many, many girls there,” she said. “So I hope that through production, [along] Through the other work I will do, I will help empower more girls.
