RESS. TALKS. PANELS
Defence Extradition Lawyers Forum
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
INTERPOL injustices: 100 not out, what next for the organisation?
In conversation with Bill Browder - head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign and author of Red Notice and Freezing Order, and Edward S. Grange - Extradition law specialist & Business crime lawyer. Co-author of leading guide on Extradition law.
2023 - Panelist
Sky News Daily
INVESTIGATING INTERPOL
Niall Paterson welcomes the team behind a new Sky News podcast onto the Daily.
Reporter Sahar Zand and producer Heidi Pett have been investigating Interpol red notices for the series “Dirty Work”.
2023 - Interview
The National News
WORLD
Interpol red notices systematically abused for malign purposes, says British Conservative MPAlicia Kearns, to Sahar Zand for Sky News Dirty Work podcast.
The podcast highlighted the case of Bill Browder, an American-born UK citizen who is a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and has been targeted by Russia with red notices….
2023 - Featured
Red Notice Monitor
BLOG
With expert analysis from Rhys Davies and Ben Keith - authors of Red Notice Monitor - Sahar Zand’s latest investigation into the abuse of Interpol’s notice system takes a look at the worst case scenarios for being on the wrong end of a Red Notice.
2023 - Featured
Sky
NEWS
In conversation with Sky’s Samantha Washington; what do women in Iran want the world to know? Do they feel neglected by the international community? And finally what can the world do to support the Iranian Protesters?
2023 - Live TV Interview
Sky
NEWS
Six months after the largest and most radical anti-regime movement in Iran, the street demonstrations have subsided. But in conversation with Sky’s Samantha Washington, Sahar explains this doesn't mean an end to the movement, and the flames of the unrest still flicker below the surface.
2023 - Live TV Interview
Sky
NEWS
In conversation with Sky’s Samantha Washington, about the deeply rooted misogyny within the Iranian culture and politics, expanding on the continuation of the nationwide anti-regime protests in Iran, despite the brutal and deadly crackdown.
2023 - Live TV Interview
Iran International TV
NEWS
On the flagship news programme of the Farsi-speaking Channel, discussing results of a recent investigation into the current state of the anti-regime unrest in Iran.
2023 - Live TV Interview
Ted Talk
TEDX LONDON
Growing up in Iran, British-Iranian journalist and filmmaker Sahar Zand dreamed of being a man. Her childhood logic told her that was the only way to escape the restrictions that women in Iran face. She’s on a mission to uncover why hope is dangerous to authoritarian regimes, like the Islamic Republic of Iran. The answer? “Hope is angry; it’s defiant; it’s dangerous. Hope is right now, firmly standing its ground on the streets of Iran, chanting “women, life, freedom”.
2023 - Speaker
Passion & Hustle Podcast
WESTMINSTER ENTERPRISE NETWORK
A Podcast series that speaks with a range of successful entrepreneurs, self-driven freelancers and motivated individuals, with the aim encouraging listeners to hustle and turn their passion project into reality. Sponsored by the University of Westminster.
2023 - Podcast Interview
Freeda Media
@Freeda_En
On #InternationalWomensDay, we look to women around the world who continue speak out on gender-based violence, on bodily autonomy and the right to live free and full lives. As this powerful speech by @saharzand5 reminds us, hope can be a dangerous and powerful force.
2023 - Digital Interview
Sky
NEWS
In conversation with Sky’s Jonathan Samuels about the recent poisonings of hundreds of girls at over 30 schools in Iran.
"Because of the lack of freedom of press in Iran, we are not really able to get any reliable statistics or scale of the problem"
2023 - Live TV Interview
Al Jazeera English
NEWS
In conversation with Lauren Taylor discussing Iran’s Supreme Leader’s response to the poisoning of girls in Iran’s schools, which come on the heels of the biggest anti-regime movement since the formation of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
2023 - Live TV Interview
IKWRO
TRUE HONOUR AWARDS
Hosting the ‘True Honour Awards’ ceremony celebrating incredible individuals and organisations that have taken a stand against “honour” based abuse. The True Honour Awards also commemorate those whose lives have been stolen by “honour” based abuse, who despite the intention of the perpetrators, will never be forgotten.
2023 - MC Host
MicroLoan Foundation
WHEN WOMEN LEAD CAMPAIGN
Featured in the campaign that celebrated leading women from across the globe, to share key pieces of wisdom on International Women’s Day.
2023 - Featured
VICE
TWITCH CHANNEL
On the show that highlights Vice News’ biggest exclusives and investigations, in the segment which features producer and correspondents behind some of the most impactful and memorable stories, talking about the making and featuring behind-the scenes of Nepal’s Child Labourers documentary.
2023 - Live Interview
Iran International TV
NEWS
On the flagship news programme of the Farsi-speaking Channel, discussing the significance of Iranian actors and directors boycotting Iran’s Fajr Film Festival, and the importance of celebrities continuing to express their support and solidarity with the protestors of the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement.
2023 - Live TV Interview
BBC World Service
PICK OF THE WORLD
Sahar’s documentary ‘Becoming Dragon’ selected.
A programme where, each week, the BBC celebrates the most engaging audio and video from programmes and podcasts.
2022 - Featured
Iran International TV
FARDA
Panel discussion on the Farsi-speaking channel, about the role of women and youth in Iran’s protests, with Melika Balali, Omid Shams and Safoora Mashayekhi.
2022 - Live TV Panel
Iran International TV
NEWS
On the flagship news programme of the Farsi-speaking Channel, discussing Khamenei’s response to student strikes in Iran’s protests.
2022 - Live TV Interview
Iran International TV
NEWS
On the flagship news programme of the Farsi-speaking Channel, discussing the significance of the women-led protests in Iran, following the death of Mahsa Amini.
2022 - Live TV Interview
The Frontline Club
SCREENING & PANEL DISCUSSION
The Bafta-winning ITV Exposure strand examines the lucrative trade capitalising upon myths surrounding women's virginity and goes undercover to investigate the clinics making money from so-called virginity testing and repair procedures that campaigners condemn as a violation of human rights. Reporter Sahar Zand, campaigner Payzee Mahmod, and moderator Mellissa Fung discuss how this documentary has played a part in changing the law.
2022 - Panelist
Amnesty International
MEDIA AWARDS
Gaby Rado Award: Open to journalists reporting on human rights issues who have been working for five years or less in paid employment as a journalist. This award was established with the help of the family, friends, and colleagues of the journalist Gaby Rado, who died in Iraq in 2003.
2022 - Jury Member
Iran International TV
Farda
Panel discussion on the Farsi-speaking channel, on democracy and freedom of expression, with Melika Zaar, Iqan Shahidi and Safoora Moloud Hajizadeh.
2022 - Live TV Interview
Oxford Against Cutting
Web Cafés
An Oxford-based charity working to end harmful practices suffered by girls and women living in the Thames Valley. These include female genital mutilation (FGM), ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and early and forced marriage (EFM) and female cosmetic genital surgery.
2022 - Speaker
Leeds City Collage
Diploma in Creative Media Production
Teaching different stages of multimedia documentary making.
2022 - Guest Lecturer
IKWRO
A Turning Point
Alongside speakers including Nicole Jacobs - Domestic Abuse Commisioner, Pauline Latham OBE MP, Richard Holden MP, Diana Nammi, Executive Director, IKWRO, and Mr Ashfaq Khan, leading gynaecologist and obstetrician, Sahar Zand gives a passionate talk at the UK’s historic moment in the movement to end “honour” based abuse, as we are on the verge of banning the harmful practices of child marriage, virginity testing and hymenoplasty.
2021 - Speaker
Amnesty International
MEDIA AWARDS
In the judging panel for Gaby Rado Award for Best New Journalist. The award celebrates journalists who began working in the profession in the last five years. It was established with the help of the family, friends and colleagues of the prominent and highly-respected journalist Gaby Rado, who tragically died in Iraq in 2003.
2021 - Jury Member
ODI
A LEADING GLOBAL AFFAIRS THINK TANK
For its 60th anniversary, ODI invited Sahar Zand, alongside other prominent activists, politicians and experts, including the former prime minister of New Zealand, the Mayor of Freetown in Sierra Leone, and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, to explore and share ideas around the practical steps required to create more resilient and equal societies.
2021 - Speaker
Voice of America
World Press Freedom
“Our work is about giving a platform to the voices that wouldn’t otherwise be heard. If we don’t have the tools to deal with and identify our own issues, how can we do that with others?”
Sahar Zand expands on the importance of trauma support for freelance journalists and filmmakers.
2021 - Featured
Identity International
MENA REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA
As part of a special series of interviews with artists, journalists, actors, directors and photographers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Sahar was asked about her thoughts and experiences concerning the demographic’s representation within the media.
2021 - Interview
Manoto TV
NEWSROOM
At the newsroom of Manoto TV, Sahar Zand discusses the Covid-19 restrictions imposed in the UK, and the potential consequences of UK politician Dominic Cummings breaking them.
2020 - Live TV Interview
Podcast
MY FIGHT, MY STORY
Interview with the Persian-language podcast which features successful Iranian women to talk about their journey.
2021 - Interview
Medium
A JOURNALIST WHO TRAVELS THE WORLD - HER STORIES MAKE HISTORY
An interview for Medium, an online open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking.
2020 - Featured
Ariana Magazine
ISSUE 2
London-based magazine, exploring the beautiful side of Afghanistan.
2020 - Featured
Manoto TV
NEWSROOM
Sahar Zand was invited to provide commentary on the BLM movement in London and the US for the Iranian audience of Manoto TV - the London-based Persian-speaking channel with over 50 million viewers worldwide.
2020 - Live TV interview
Ariana Magazine
DEFENDING MEDIA FREEDOM
A panel discussion - Staying Independent, Impartial and Free. Threats to media freedom are increasing worldwide and journalists and filmmakers are facing the risk of imprisonment for holding power to account. With hundreds of reporters currently in prison, we will hear first-hand about the fight to release them, as well as setting out what needs to happen to protect other reporters navigating restrictions and threats.
2019 - Panellist
BBC Radio 4
For the first time in its 14 year history, the Afghanistan TV talent competition Afghan Star has been won by a woman. Journalist Sahar Zand discusses the status of music and women in a country still recovering from the authoritarian rule of the Taliban, who banned music and severely restricted women's rights.
2019 - LIVE interview
RTS
TV JOURNALISM AWARDS 2020
Network presenter of the year - Winner, Emily Maitlis.
2019 - Jury Member
The Frontline Club
SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION
Nicaragua’s president Ortega has launched a crackdown on the independent media in a country gripped by civil disruption and economic chaos. Sahar Zand meets the journalists risking a beating or worse to get their stories out, and others who have decided the only way to survive is to flee.
2019 - Panelist
Channel 4
UNREPORTED WORLD PODCAST
In a conversation with the podcast host Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Sahar Zand talks about the making of ‘Censored’, her documentary filmed in Nicaragua, where journalists risk their lives in the midst of President Daniel Ortega's crackdown on the media and opposition.
2019 - Interview
The Independent
VOICES
“The memory of what it feels like to cry out for help only for your voice to disappear has stayed with me for years. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to amplifying the voices of people who don’t get to tell their stories.”
2019 - Featured
BBC Radio 4
PICK OF THE WEEK
We visit an Afghan version of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and we hear how a royal baby creates a right royal stir live on air. We find out how music offers release for prison inmates, and gives a voice to Afghani women silenced by the Taliban. Louis Theroux finds himself at the other side of the microphone, we get tucked up for a late night chat with Jane Horrocks.
2019 - Interview
VidCon UK
MAKING FACTUAL TELEVISION
At the world’s largest multi-genre video event, which gathers thousands of online video viewers, creators, and industry representatives from all over the globe. Sahar Zand spoke to hundreds of attendees about the process of making documentaries, from idea development and pitching, all the way through to the final broadcast.
2019 - Panellist
UAL
BROADCAST JOURNALISM
Lecturing masters students about broadcast journalism, with a focus on the art of storytelling and documentary-film making.
2019 - Guest Lecturer
Manoto TV
DIGE CHE KHABAR
In the Iranian version of ‘Have I Got News for You’ for one of the most-watched Persian-speaking channels in the world, celebrity contestants find themselves in the hot seat as they are quizzed on the latest news.
2019 - Panellist
Iran International
SADEGH SABA SHOW
In the weekly arts and cultures program for London-based Persian speaking channel Iran International, Sahar Zand talks about some of her latest projects.
2019 - TV Interview
Yorkshire Voice
FEATURES
Alice Young speaks to Sahar Zand about her journey from refugee to award-winning reporter.
2019 - Featured
Manoto TV
SAMTE NO
Appearing as a guest on the Iranian version of ‘Loose Women’ for Manoto TV, Sahar Zand speaks about working as a female journalist in conflict zones around the world.
2019 - LIVE TV Interview
MBN - South Korea
Y FORUM
Hosted by Maeil Broadcasting Network (MBN) under Maekyung Media Group, one of South Korea's leading economic media groups, MBN Y Forum is a platform to discuss the major issues, ideas, and trends of politics, economy, technology, leading industries, and media. As a guest speaker, Sahar Zand spoke to over 6,000 attendees about her career in journalism, and the diverse challenges she has overcome in her personal life.
2018 - Speaker
BBC News
GLOBAL
Matthew Amroliwala and Sahar Zand discuss the making of her documentary Madness of War, exploring the mental health crisis in a country that has been at war for over 40 years.
2018 - LIVE TV Interview
Channel 4
UNREPORTED WORLD PODCAST
In a conversation with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Sahar Zand takes the audience behind the scenes of her film in Mauritania, where some communities believe that the fatter girls look, the wealthier and more attractive they appear to men.
2018 - Interview
National Public Radio
HERE & NOW
The BBC's Sahar Zand has visited Afghanistan's only high-security psychiatric facility, and she speaks with Here & Now's Lisa Mullins about how constant conflict has taken a terrible toll on the state of mental health in the country. This BBC interview can be heard in the Here & Now podcast or with the WBUR app.
2018 - Interview
Daily Mail
MAIL ONLINE
The West African nation where girls are forced to consume up to 16,000 calories a day by their mothers during 'feeding season' – to make them 'beautiful' for men. For Channel 4's Unreported World, Sahar Zand travels to the West African nation of Mauritania and discovers how girls have to partake in a 'feeding season'.
2018 - Featured
National Public Radio
HERE & NOW
The BBC's Sahar Zand has visited Afghanistan's only high-security psychiatric facility, and she speaks with Here & Now's Lisa Mullins about how constant conflict has taken a terrible toll on the state of mental health in the country. This BBC interview can be heard in the Here & Now podcast or with the WBUR app.
2018 - Interview
Daily Mail
MAIL ONLINE
The West African nation where girls are forced to consume up to 16,000 calories a day by their mothers during 'feeding season' – to make them 'beautiful' for men. For Channel 4's Unreported World, Sahar Zand travels to the West African nation of Mauritania and discovers how girls have to partake in a 'feeding season'.
2018 - Featured
The Sunday Times
Critic’s Choice
Sahar Zand travels to Mumbai to witness the effects of #MeToo on Bollywood. She meets the superstar Richa Chadda, who has spoken out against sexual assault in the film industry, and follows a young actor who feels that by going public about a casting director’s predatory behaviour she has damaged her career. There are signs the silence and shame are lifting, however, not least through a TV show called Troll Police.
2018 - Featured
MBN - South Korea
BE A NEW CHAMPION
As part of the annual MBN conference held in Seoul, Sahar Zand chairs this panel delivered to luminaries from around the world, from footballers and actors to philosophers and former politicians.
2018 - Panelist
The Soulfuls
A JOURNEY HOME
The woman-focused NGO, based in Copenhagen, held an event aimed to spread awareness on the experiences of refugee women, influential woman from a range of professional backgrounds spoke to the audience about their experiences as refugees, and their hard-trodden roads to success.
2018 - Speaker
National Public Radio
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FUELED BY WAR
Afghanistan has only one high-security psychiatric facility, where many of the patients are often chained and sedated. The Red Crescent Secure Psychiatric Institution houses almost 300 patients considered to be the "most dangerous," says Sahar Zand, a reporter for the BBC who reported from the facility in Herat, the third-largest city in the country.
2018 - Featured
Screen Space
BA (Hons) Content, Media & Film Production
Over a 12-week course, Sahar Zand teaches undergraduate students the process of documentary-making. ScreenSpace is a partnership between MetFilm School and the University of West London, delivering industry-led, practical undergraduate degree courses. Immersed in creative industry practice, the course is taught by tutors who are working as media professionals.
2018 - Guest Lecturer
The Hindu
WHAT REMAINS OF WAR
Filmmaker Sahar Zand heads into Afghanistan to explore how its citizens are coping with mental traumas after decades of violence.
2018 - Featured
The Quint
WORLD
Scars Visible & Invisible: Journalist Sahar Zand recounts her experiences in war-ravaged Afghanistan, where she made the documentary ‘Madness of War’, in which she explores the country’s mental illness epidemic.
2018 - Featured
BBC World Service
NEWSHOUR
There is a tradition in Nepal of worshipping young girls who are believed to be the living manifestation of Hindu gods, and the most recent to be anointed is three-year-old Trishna Shakya. The girls, known as Kumaris, are usually selected between the ages of two and four, and are considered divine until they reach puberty. The BBC's Sahar Zand made a documentary about the Kumaris, and explained more about the practice.
2017 - Interview
Sat7 Pars
KHODEMOONI SHOW
A Persian-speaking channel broadcast from London, Sahar is a regular guest discussing social and political topics on the show.
2017 - Live TV Interview
The Independent
WORLD NEWS
The Indonesian village treating relatives' corpses as if they’re alive.
2017 - Featured
The Huffington Post
THE BLOG
Most of us don't like to think or talk about death, but there are some people who do. In the Toraja region of Sulawesi, in Indonesia, the dead are a constant part of day-to-day life. Sahar Zand has visited this extraordinary place, where the line between this world and the next is blurred.
2017 - Featured
IFC - Stockholm
RADIO FEATURE AWARD
The International Features Conference is held across the world, and brings together talented feature makers to discuss each others’ work, and to share ideas, experience and expertise, as well as to showcase the finest feature-making from around Europe and the world.
2017 - Jury Member - Long-form Radio Documentaries
The Indian Express
FEATURES
A new BBC World documentary throws light on the Torajan tradition, where families live with the corpses of their loved ones.
2017 - Featured
BBC
ACADEMY
In conversation with Sahar Zand about documentary production.
BBC Academy is the educational arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation which trains current and prospective broadcasting employees in the skills of the Broadcasting industry.
2017 - Interview
DNA India
TRENDING
An ethnic group in Indonesia has conversations with the embalmed bodies of their loved ones. BBC’s Sahar Zand has been to the villages scattered around Rantepao, the capital town of Toraja, to find out more.
2017 - Featured
BBC
PERSIAN SERVICE
As part of the 100 Women season, Sahar Zand travels to Nepal to find out if the practice of worshipping pre-pubescent girls as goddesses empowers women or demeans them.
2016 - Featured
AWNA
AFGHANISTAN: WOMEN NEWS AGENCY
With the aim of inspiring young aspirational women in Afghanistan, Sahar Zand was interviewed about her journey in overcoming diversity.
2016 - Featured
BBC
CREATIVE CHALLENGE
As a past winner, Sahar Zand elaborates on the process behind developing an abstract brief into a engaging story that achieves viral success across different platforms.
2016 - Speaker
The Global Herald
NEWS DESK
For centuries the Berber men of North Africa have proved their worth in the high octane, dangerous sport of Fantasia. But now for the first time, women have been taking them on… and winning! Sahar Zand travelled to Morocco to meet the girls of Fantasia.
2016 - Featured
BBC
MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION
A masterclass on multimedia journalism and storytelling across television, radio, text and digital, by reporter Sahar Zand and Steve Titherington, Senior Commissioning Editor at the BBC World Service.
2016 - Speaker
BBC
WORLD NEWS TODAY
The legacy of Zaha Hadid, in conversation with Sahar Zand.
2016 - Live TV Interview