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Hanna Azoulay-Hasfari (born June 29, 1960) is an Israeli actress, screenwriter, playwright, film director and two-time winner of The Ophir Award. She is a women’s rights activist, and has dedicated her career to help promote awareness regarding social justice issues, and cultural diversity. In 2015, she was invited to speak at the United Nations headquarters in New York, in honor of International Women’s Day, where she presented a screening of her film “Orange People” in order to condemn child marriage.

Early Life
Azoulay- Hasfari was born on June 29th, 1960 in Beersheba, Israel. She grew up as first generation Israeli, as both of her parents immigrated to Israel from Morocco. During her youth she studied and lived at a boarding school called “Mae Boyar”, in Jerusalem. Once she completed her high school education, Azoulay- Hasfari served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Theatre. It was at this time that she began to develop her acting skills and grow an interest in performing arts. Once she completed her military service she went on to begin her studies at Tel Aviv University within the acting department. After attending Tel Aviv University, she kept her career focus on theatre and was one of the founding members of a unique group called the "Simple Theater Group". This group specialized in plays designed to deliver stories that diverged from western media. She later entered into mainstream theatre, where her career continued to flourish. Azoulay – Hasfari finished writing her first screenplay called Scho'r, in 1992. After celebrating its large success, she founded an NGO called The Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow New-Discourse, which works on social justice issues through the means of media and alternative performances. Azoulay- Hasfari later returned to university where she studied sociology and anthropology. Yet, after a year of coursework, she was inspired to create new performances that reflected untold stories, drawing attention to social justice issues, while utilizing new methods that disconnected story telling and cultural relativism. Azoulay- Hasfari continues to write screenplays, act, produce and direct in numerous Israeli films and television series. She has also made appearances in the international film industry, acting in German T.V. series, as well as films from the United States. In addition to her work in theatre and cinema, Azoulay - Hasfari is also currently serving as a pro bono chairperson for the “Beit Ruth” for girls and young women at risk.

Theater
At the beginning of the 1980's, Azoulay- Hasfari withdrew from the Tel Aviv University where she was studying acting and film. She took on a new initiative and became one of the founding members of the "Simple Theater Group". The theatre group was developed as a collaborative effort with a multi-cultural team that would allow the artists and their cultural worldview to become the central focus of their projects. The overall objective of this group was to ensure that diversity was expressed and included on the Israeli stage. The theatre was the first of its kind to create plays that were not focused on western culture, but rather focused on representing the real experiences of eastern history, such as the first generation holocaust survivors, and second generation Mizrachim. Azoulay- Hasfari worked on all aspects of this theatre group. She participated in funding acquisition, screen writing, production and acting. While working with the theatre group, Azoulay- Hasfari performed in many plays, including the play "Tashmad" (1983). This play was highly successfully and won first place at the Acre Festival. During this festival Azoulay - Hasfari was also recognized for her outstanding performance and was awarded "Best Actress". However, after many years of success, The Simple Theatre Group later dissolved, and Azoulay - Hasfari moved on to enter mainstream theatre and cinema. Azoulay- Hasfari has made appearances in several theatres, including, the Cameri Theater, the Haifa Theater, Be'er Sheva Theater and Beit Lessin Theater. She has taken on many key roles including: Alma in "Tsma"d" (Samuel Hasfari); Julie in " pack of Lies" (Hugh Whitmore); Amelia in “House of Bernarda Alba" (Garcia Lorca); Mary & Huda ״A Trumpet in the Wadi " (an adaptation of Sami Michael's book by Samuel Hasfari); various roles in “Yellow Time" (adaptation of David Grossman’s project); various roles in “The King" (Samuel Hasfari); Puck in “Midsummer Night's Dream" (Shakespeare); Miranda in “The Tempest" (Shakespeare); Shulamit in “Nathanya” (Shmuel Hasfari); and Rachel in “Valentine” (Rami Danon and Amnon Levy). She has also written numerous playwrights such as: "Match Void" presented at the Cameri Theater; "The Red Lion" Theater in London; The "Yom Kippur" " presented at Beit Lessin, the Jewish Theatre, the NOTTARA theater in Bucharest, Romania; the “Satu Mare” theater in Romania; and "Mimuna" was also presented at the Beit Lessin.

Film
One of Azoulay first movie scripts was "Sh'Chur" (1994), which was directed by Shmuel Hasfari. It was a semi-autobiographical story of a Moroccan family immigrating to Israel, and it received several international awards and recognitions. “Sh’Chur” has also been recognized in more ways than just awards, as it’s value has been recognized by its use in academia. It is has been used as required literature for film studies, as well as anthropology and sociology coursework, and women studies. After the successful completion of her work writing the screen play Sh’chur”, she founded The Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow New-Discourse, and then later took a year to return to her studies, where she focused on sociology and anthropology. It was at this time she found an interest in her own heritage, and she came to the realization that the roles she was required to play in mainstream cinema didn’t necessarily represent real characters. As a result, she decided to learn about her own family history. Through learning about her heritage, Azoulay - Hasfari realized the importance of her family’s story and those who had similar hardships. She took this passion and new inspiration, applied it to her career, and began writing screenplays regarding the lives of invisible women and incorporated untold stories that revolved around social justice issues. She has since worked on numerous films that have found great success through her efforts of unique story telling through a gendered lens. Most recently, Azoulay Hasfari produced, wrote, directed and acted in her film called “Orange People”. This film was based on the biography of Azoulay’s mother, and was awarded the “Judges Awarded” in the 2013 at the International Women’s Film Festival, in Rehovot. As a result of the success of this film, Azoulay was asked to speak at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in honor of International Women’s Day. Azoulay - Hasfari has had a very successful career in the film industry, and has made appearances in many Israeli films, including: "Rage and Glory" (the role of Daphna) "Nadia" (the role of Nadia), "Dead End Street" (the role of Ilana), "The Quarry" (the role of Esther), "Girls" (the role of Shuli Hazan), "Sh'Chur" (the role of Heli),"Lovesick on Nana Street" (the role of Levana),"Schwartz dynasty" (the role of Ronit),"Shiva’a" (Simona)׳ with Ronit Elkabetz). Hanna also played in American films "Delta Force 3" and “Human Shield

Television
Azoulay- Hasfari not only writes screenplays for films, but she is actively creating documentaries and television series. She was the main creator for the documentaries series "Proletariat" and “My little Empire", which encourages the empowerment of women through entrepreneurship. Furthermore, she has also written the scripts for several episodes of the TV series of the "Jerusalem Mix". Azoulay- Hasfari many appearances in Israeli television series include: "Ugly Esti" (in the role Michal Katzav), "First degree love" (the role of Nava Cohen), "Braids" and "The Arbiter " “Polishok” (the role of Soli Barzel). She has also acted in several German Television series.

Awards and Nominations

 * Ophir Award for Best Actress in “Nadia” (1987).
 * Ophir Award for Best Actress in "Lovesick on Nana Street" (1995).
 * Ophir Award for Best Film for “Sh’chur” (1994).
 * Best Screenplay at the Trulia Film Festival for her film “Sh’chur” (1995).
 * Best Actress at the Jerusalem Film Festival for her role in "Shiva’a" (Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz) (2008).
 * Chamber of Critics Award for her role in "Shiva’a" (2008).
 * Judges Award at the International Women’s Film Festival held in Rehovot (2013).

Social Activism
Azoulay is a Mizrachi artist and self-proclaimed social activist. She utilizes issues concerning gender, identity and social status from the Israeli society to inspire unique characters, and develop stories that reflect real lives and social injustices. Examples of her work that bring light to social justice issues are films such as “Sh’chur”, “Orange People”, "Proletariat", and “My little Empire", which highlight struggles experienced by marginalized women. In March 2015 the film “Orange People” was screened at the international conference for women's status at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Azoulay delivered a speech addressed to the international community condemning the phenomenon of young girls being forced into marriage around the world. She continues to work on social justice issues as a pro bono chairperson for the “Beith Ruth”, an Israeli organization focused on providing at risk girls and young women opportunities to excel academically, emotionally and physically. She is responsible for campaigning, fundraising, and negotiating financial and policy agreements with the public and private sector.

Personal Life
Azoulay - Hasfari is currently living in Jaffa, Israel. She is married to the playwright, screenwriter and director, Shmuel Hasfari, with whom she has three children.