Nexus Studios Announce 'She Creates Change'

March 8 is International Women's Day. And to mark the occasion Nexus Studios has announced a new empowering six-part series titled She Creates Change. The series is directed by six diverse female filmmakers with creative direction by Emmy Award winner Martha Adams, known for Girls Rising and We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World.

The series, which is out in October, is funded by the charity Room To Read. Originally established to fight illiteracy in children, it has gone on to become a powerhouse for change, particularly in issues affecting young women and girls.

Each episode will feature an animated short, paired with a live-action mini-documentary. The episodes will each highlight an inspiring young woman from historically low-income countries Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Vietnam.

The episodes will depict how each girl confronts challenges that are unique to her life, along with the life skills she uses to advocate for herself and her future. The series will cover topics such as discrimination, sexual harassment, menstruation, climate justice and financial literacy.

The series will feature voice-over from Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, Bridgerton's Charithra Chandran, YouTube star Prajakta Koli and more.

Nexus Studios curated a selection of women directors and artists from diverse backgrounds and from around the world, to produce animated shorts in a wide range of visual styles. They include Oscar-nominee Siqi Song, Hannah Lau-Walker, Bonnie Forsyth, Claudia Chinyere Akole, Neeraja Raj and Prashanti Aswani. Martha Adams serves as series director and producer. The Executive Producers are Brenda Chapman (co-director of Brave) and Jill Culton (Abominable).

Writers include London’s first Young Poet Laureate Warsan Shire, whose poetry was adapted for Beyonce's Lemonade.

"The work that Room to Read is doing is evident in the stories we have told, and the impact on the girl's lives shared through authentic voices was as moving as it was uplifting. To collaborate with the team at Room to Read and Martha, and to have the opportunity to curate a diverse and (mostly) female team of global talent, including directors, writers, actors, musicians, composers and producers, was a huge privilege... The results of this endeavour paint a truly emotional picture that binds the directors with their subjects to tell stories that resonate universally. I'm so glad we were able to do this using a variety of animation styles that elevated it and brought joy" says Julia Parfitt - Executive Producer, Nexus Studios.

"For too long, the stories we have seen and heard through global media have not represented the voices of so many young women in the world. The practice of sharing stories by women, about women and for women is an undeniably powerful way to help girls advocate for themselves and their rights," added Martha Adams. "“It is an honour for me to help share the diverse stories featured in She Creates Change. Though each girl’s individual circumstances may be unique, the courage and skills demonstrated are universal and exemplify how the rising generation of girls can use their voices to change their circumstances and societies."

The series will be accompanied by books and audio stories in a multi-media initiative that ambitiously hopes to reach all 432 million adolescent girls (aged 12-18) in the world.  The series will be released to general audiences in October, to coincide with the International Day Of The Girl.