World Woman Foundation to Present Global Leadership and Storytelling Programme during Venice Film Festival
Photo - HeartEmpowerments Judith Horvath/Pixabay
World Woman Foundation will present World Woman Venice Agenda during the Venice Film Festival on September 7th, 2026, at The Home of The Human Safety Net, located in the historic Procuratie in Piazza San Marco, Venice.
The day-long gathering will bring together filmmakers, actors, producers, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers for a series of conversations exploring how storytelling, creativity and leadership can inspire social change, strengthen communities and advance a more inclusive future.
The programme will open with remarks from Rupa Dash, CEO, World Woman Foundation; and Alexia Boro, Director Procuratie, The Home of The Human Safety Net, followed by discussions spanning storytelling, cinema, women’s leadership, investment in human potential, cultural exchange and creative leadership.
Participants throughout the day will include acclaimed writer and screenwriter Ilaria Bernardini; award-winning actress, singer and producer Manasi Parekh; filmmaker and documentary director Michela Scolari; award-winning director and producer Maria Soccor; filmmaker and director Sophie Venecia Reyes; Rashaana Shah, film producer and founder of Mulberry Films; Javier Garcia Puerto, South Europe Cinema Programmer at Soho House; Claudia Cattai, Head of Ceremonies at Balich Wonder Studio; entertainment lawyer Divya Shahani; Joseph Gulino, Vice Chair International at the National Italian American Foundation; Gianluca Bisol, of Venissa and a 28th-generation winemaking family; Jane Owen, CEO of Jane Owen Public Relations; and Ilaria D’Uva, CEO of D’Uva.
Conversations will include “Storytelling for a More Human Future,” “From Screen to Society: How Stories Shape Culture,” “The Future We Imagine: Creating New Narratives,” “Investing in Human Potential,” “Stories That Move Humanity — Art Across Borders,” “Women Leading the Next Chapter” and “Creative Leadership — Where Culture, Commerce & Equality Converge.”
The gathering will also advance World Woman Foundation’s EqualityMoonshot, an initiative seeking to invest in one million women and girls by 2030 by expanding access to capital, commerce, capacity-building and content creation.
Following the programme, guests will take part in an exclusive guided experience at The Home of The Human Safety Net, a global network with the mission to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable circumstances, including the interactive exhibition A World of Potential and the temporary exhibition We Rise by Lifting Others by Marinella Senatore, Italian artist of the year 2026, before an intimate closing reception for speakers, partners and invited guests.
Contessa Chiara Modica Donà dalle Rose a prominent Venetian art patron, curator, and cultural leader, will receive the World Woman Honoree Award 2026 in recognition of her work advancing equality, art and cultural dialogue on the global stage.
