Azita Ghanizada
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Azita Ghanizada is a political refugee and asylum seeker, who has broken many cultural barriers in Hollywood. She has worked consistently on both film and TV 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. In 2016 she was named one of the "Seven Sundance Breakout Actresses You Must Know" for her work opposite Rachel Weisz in "Complete Unknown." On television she has appeared on a number of hit TV shows, including CBS's "United States o f Al," HBO's "Ballers," Freeform's "Good Trouble," and Syfy's "Alphas". In 2022, she became the first woman from Afghanistan on Broadway, in her Broadway debut in the "The Kite Runner" at The Helen Hayes Theater.
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 a labor contract in 37 years. Middle Eastern North African, MENA, was drafted into the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contracts in 2017. Azita has served as the SAG-AFTRA National MENA Committee Chair, and a Global Ambassador to Women for Women International.
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 a labor contract in 37 years. Middle Eastern North African, MENA, was drafted into the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contracts in 2017. Azita has served as the SAG-AFTRA National MENA Committee Chair, and a Global Ambassador to Women for Women International.