Eloise has been the presenting sponsor of the ConnectHER Film Festival for the last 12 years. Why does she love the fest so much? To date, there have been 2,250 films submitted from young creatives in 93 countries around the world. $332,000 has been given away in prize money to winning filmmakers in categories like Women & the Environment, Women & Health, and our very own Global Impact Award.
This year’s fest at State Theatre brought together up-and-coming filmmakers from the U.S., Canada and Brazil (many more were unable to attend, unfortunately, but joined online), local Austin female filmmakers like Elizabeth Avellán, Kat Candler and Chelsea Hernandez as well as special performances by Texas Mohini, Ballet Folklórico, poet Emi Mahmoud and singer-songwriter Victory Boyd.
To get an idea of how powerful these stories are, just watch these two winning films below. We love that young creatives get to make art and then go on to use their films to advocate for a better world. Films change lives! ConnectHER Film Fest is the best example of that we know. Can’t wait till next year!
A Safe Haven, winner of the 2026 ConnectHER Film Fest Global Impact Award, presented by our foundation:
HELADO, winner of the 2026 ConnectHER Film Fest AUDIENCE Award and 1st RUNNER UP Judges’ Prize:
