Date: December 4, 2025 Time: 10:10am - 11:00am Location: Haas Conference Center 3

Storytelling Against the Odds: Entertainment-Education in Challenging Contexts

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Panel

The panel focuses on the development of authentic, co-designed entertainment education that addresses the needs of marginalized communities in challenging environments, such as prisons in the US and the socio-political landscape of Afghanistan. It aims to inspire audience members to recognize the importance of incorporating diverse voices in storytelling and to learn strategies for co-designing impactful narratives that resonate with key audiences. Participants will engage in reflection questions to explore how they can deepen co-design elements in their own work, ultimately fostering dialogue and driving measurable social change.

Panelists include **Roya Sadat**, a visionary female filmmaker who has transformed Afghan cinema and gained global recognition for her fearless storytelling; **Aziz Dildar**, an award-winning researcher and screenwriter known for creating impactful series and documentaries addressing social issues in Afghanistan; and **Graciela Leal**, a Social and Behavior Change specialist with over 15 years of experience in co-designing media strategies that spark dialogue and shift norms. The panel will be moderated by **Caroline Jacoby**, SBC Lead at the Social Impact Entertainment Society, who will guide the discussion on the value of audience voice in entertainment education.