“One of the Most Innovative, Interesting, and Purpose-Driven Women Led Startups to Watch.” —Inc. Magazine
Women Rising® is an 11x award-winning production company, founded in 2013 by entertainment industry executive Sara Hirsh Bordo with the mission of creating content and experiences to empower women and girls.
In film production, Women Rising set out to explore social narratives while championing female heroes. With a world premiere at SXSW Film Festival, “A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story” went on to win awards at all 10 festivals it played, qualified for the Academy Award, secured domestic distribution through LifetimeTV and international through the National Geographic Channel, became an envoy for the U.S. Department of State’s American Film Showcase, and became a double honoree by the Webby Awards. In a second venture into championing female heroes, Women Rising proudly produced “Tightly Wound,” a brave and personal exploration of chronic pelvic pain authored by Shelby Hadden which was acquired by Conde Nast. As a third production, combining film and experience, Women Rising directed and produced “ProtectHer,” featuring Alexis Jones, in a first-of-its-kind documentary aimed at helping prevent sexual assault on campuses by empowering male athletes, acquired by Amazon Prime.
Women Rising has led several high-profile events such as the first TEDxAustinWomen in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, the 2017 Women’s March on Austin rally, which became the largest gathering of women in Texas History, as Executive Producer of March for Our Lives NYC, as Director and Executive Producer for the United State of Women Summit in Los Angeles, Prevention Magazine’s National R3 Summit, and the Official Women in Football Party at Super Bowl LIII.
In 2024, Women Rising releases its premiere, proprietary docu-study, with AUTOIMMUNITY AND THE “GOOD GIRLS”™. The research is the first sociological survey at the intersection of female empowerment and autoimmunity in American women.
With award-winning storytelling work for clients including Toyota, ESPNW, Sony, Marvel, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Farmhouse Fresh Goods, TriDelta Sorority, and ConnectHer International Film Festival, Women Rising® represents a new kind of purpose-based, female focused production company.
