About Awni
Awni began telling stories at 5 years old. In Iran, her parents worked in their own medical offices downstairs of their home. They would often leave Awni all to herself watching Farsi dubbed Disney movies. After a long day's work, they would come back upstairs and relax with TV. Awni always loved hearing them laugh and watching them get transported by the different characters they'd see. Soon enough, Awni began to try to do the same by becoming the entertainer of the household, crafting skits with her friends and toys.
At 6 years old, she and her family uprooted and immigrated to the United States. In an effort to have her practice her English, Awni's parents signed her up for acting classes. To them, it was an extracurricular activity. To Awni, it became serious business. In university, Awni got bachelor degrees in Drama and Public Health Sciences, with a minor in Anthropology. This scholastic combination shaped Awni's professional purpose: to use art as a means of healing, by chronicling human experiences in an effort to raise awareness and encourage empathy. It also further propelled Awni to pursue higher education in storytelling. She went on to pursue an MFA in Acting from Columbia University. Today, Awni's mission is to make art that unapologetically holds a mirror up to society and sheds light on Middle Eastern communities. In an effort towards this purpose, Awni often recalls the memory of seeing her parents watch TV at the end of a hard day... and the fiery passion she developed to make her parents smile, too. That same flame to create and evoke joy burns bright within her still. |