Help Hira continue Classes at AFI Conservatory

From Hira:

Dear Everyone!

On August 21, 2023, I joined AFI Conservatory as a fellow and it was possible with your support. I wouldn't be here without your donations. The donations helped me make my first payment of $10000 to AFI, it helped me get to LA and finally begin classes. Your support changed my life. I got to sit in the same space as other incredibly talented filmmakers from all around the world.

Even though I got to LA and began classes from August 21, I still have not reached my tuition goal yet. I have been given 10 days to pay my remaining tuition or I risk getting dismissed from the program. I believe you can help to keep me here and reach the goal of representing me and my people in a place where I am getting the best education possible. Please continue to help me to keep me enrolled at the prestigious AFI Conservatory.

Edited from:

Hi, my name is Hira Sheraz, and on the 15th of March, I received the biggest news of my life. I was accepted into my dream school, American Film Institute Conservatory. For a girl like me, who grew up in a conservative household where women were discouraged from watching movies, my acceptance to AFI means everything to me. I grew up with a large family in Peshawar, Pakistan. At the time in Peshawar, it was taboo for girls to watch films. The small local cinemas were made only for men, so late at night, when the world was asleep, my five sisters and I would tune into the “Films On Demand” channel on our family’s small TV. We would call the cable operator and plead with him to play our favorite movies. This little ritual felt rebellious and liberating. And at a time when there was a scourge of terrorism in Peshawar, films whisked me away to magical worlds that I never wanted to leave.

I always knew that I wanted to be a filmmaker even though films were considered "haram" in my household. However, my love for films only grew stronger as I got older. I learned about AFI at a very young age, but I could only dream of applying there–let alone being accepted. AFI is internationally renowned for its celebration of cinema and the success of its alumni, including such revolutionary filmmakers as David Lynch, Patty Jenkins, and Darren Arronofsky.

I finally have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to realize my dreams as a filmmaker by attending the prestigious AFI Conservatory, but I still face some obstacles along the way. The cost of tuition and student housing is one major obstacle that I cannot overcome alone. Despite working multiple jobs, I am still far from meeting my financial requirements. Being from a developing country, there are no scholarship resources for me to pursue a degree abroad. Cinema in Pakistan has a weak infrastructure which makes it difficult for filmmakers to thrive.

This is where I need your help. Your contribution can help me turn my dreams into reality. I promise to give back to the film community by telling stories that matter, that come from the unique South Asian lens and honor my culture and the women of my community. I have until June 15 to make the $25,000 deposit for my first semester! If there is anyone who can help me achieve my dream, it is YOU!

As a filmmaker from Pakistan, I plan to use my skills and platform to shed light on the issues faced by my country and to share the beauty of its culture and people with the world. I believe that storytelling is a powerful tool that can create empathy and understanding. I want to use it to bridge the gap between cultures, and tell stories that need to be told. My previous films were made with that purpose.

Please help me make my dreams come true and make a difference in the world. Your support can go a long way in helping me achieve my goals and give back to my country.

Thank you for considering supporting me in this journey. Any amount, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. To learn more about me and my journey, please visit my website at hirayousafzai.com.

Please stop by and watch one of my short films!

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Where exactly will your donations go?

On its website, AFI lists a comprehensive breakdown of the costs associated with enrollment, including expected costs of items like housing. These costs include, per academic year:

Tuition: $49,221 ($64,221 - $15,000 scholarship)

Materials and fees: $3,882

Room & board: $15,500

Supplies: $4,500

Transportation in Los Angeles: $2,700

Personal expenses: $6,000

In addition, I am responsible for paying the following expenses to travel to the US:

Flight from Pakistan to California: $1,800

Visa Application Fee: $160

The total estimate comes to $83,763.

Right now, I am asking only for $51,000 to cover tuition alone. GoFundMe takes about 3% off each individual donation, so I expect the platform to take about a $1,500 deduction from my goal of $51,000, leaving me with approximately $49,500--just enough to cover the tuition above! Whatever extra money I raise through this fundraiser will be saved to cover my other costs as well as my tuition for the following academic year.

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Jonathan Sonnenberg is a friend and colleague of Hira Sheraz. An American writer and editor, he collaborates with Hira on multiple projects including series, short films, and features.

In helping her organize this fundraiser, Jonathan has agreed to transfer all donations directly to Hira.