YouTube Celebrates International Women's Day by Spotlighting Diverse Women

In celebration of International Women's Day, Youtube has unveiled a slate of female-focused programming including a new short film, "Brave Girl Rising," written and performed by refugees, and a new animated series, "Sherwood" starring Anya Chalotra, Tyler Posey, Jamie Chung, Aneurin Barnard and guest starring Joseph Fiennes) which casts Robin Hood as a girl who uses code to right the wrongs of the world in the 23rd century. Additionally, Youtube today debuted the trailer and announced the premiere date for the highly-anticipated Youtube Original Special "If I Could Tell You Just One Thing." Based on the best-selling book where award-winning actress Priyanka Chopra-Jonas meets three inspiring women from different worlds - Diane Von Furstenberg, Awkwafina, Simone Biles - to find out what they have learned from facing adversity, embracing their flaws, and how to find balance with traditional expectations. The special will premiere exclusively onPriyanka Chopra's Youtube Channel on March 27th.

"YouTube Originals is dedicated to delivering diverse female focused stories to our global audience," said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube. "This International Women's Day, we are proudly partnering with amazing women- in front and behind the camera- for truly empowering and inspirational stories."

YouTube is partnering with Girl Rising, the non-profit behind the campaign for girls' education and empowerment, for the global premiere of the short film, "Brave Girl Rising." The 20-minute film, written by a refugee, performed by a cast of refugees, and made in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee in one of the largest refugee camps in the world, is about how hope and love can propel us BEYOND even the bleakest of circumstances. Poet laureate Warsan Shire, the social media phenom behind Beyoncé's Lemonade, wrote the screenplay and Tessa Thompson (Creed 2, Westworld, the upcoming Men in Black) and Golden Globe winner David Oyelowo (Selma, Gringo, Queen of Katwe) voiced the story. The film anchors a social-action campaign for refugee girls' education and empowerment and the premiere also marks the worldwide debut of the complete Girl Rising 10-part series, which features stories voiced by renowned actresses like Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett.

YouTube Original If I Could Tell You Just One Thing follows Priyanka Chopra-Jonas on her journey to meet three women who have achieved so much in their lives - Diane Von Furstenberg, Awkwafina and Simone Biles. Priyanka is at a crossroads - the world may see her as one of Indian cinema's biggest stars, the first South Asian star of an American TV Show, a successful producer, humanitarian, investor, and fashion icon - but she is also newly-married, in her 30s and wondering where the next chapter of her life will take her. Check out the trailer here. In this new special premiering on Priyanka's Youtube channel on March 27th, Priyanka and these inspirational women share some of their own stories and give Priyanka one, actionable piece of advice that can help guide and inspire her. If I Could Tell You Just One Thing, based on the best-selling book of the same name by Richard Reed, is produced by award-winning Sundog Pictures with Chopra, Johnny Webb, Rob Bagshaw, and Sally Freeman as EPs with Freeman directing.

Building on the work of their Family series 'Hyperlinked', which revealed that girls who watched the series were 11% more likely to consider careers in computer science, Youtube is also launching "Sherwood'" .

SHERWOOD, is an animated series set in the dystopian future of 2270. Based on the mythology of Robin Hood, the series follows 15 year-old Robin and her friends' battles with the wealthy Upper City in their efforts to overcome inequality and fight for justice. SHERWOOD will be available on Youtube Premium on March 6, 2019.

The all-star voice cast features Anya Chalotra (The Witcher, The ABC Murders, Much Ado About Nothing), Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf, Truth Or Dare), Aneurin Barnard (Credits), Jamie Chung (The Gifted, Big Hero, Gotham), Neneh Conteh (Credits), Rachel House (Credits), Ade M'Cormack (Credits) and Darrill Rosen (The Misogynists, Richards Wedding, First Person Singular) with Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid's Tale, Elizabeth, Shakespeare In Love) guest starring.

The ten episode series is produced by Baby Octopus, Toybox (New Zealand) and Giant (Ireland). SHERWOOD is written by Justin Trefgarne, Craig Martin, and Shea Fontana. Diana Manson and Megan Laughton serve as executive producers. Jan Stebbins and Nanette Miles also serve as producers. Jonathan Clarke serves as the animation producer.

About Baby Octopus

For over a decade Diana Manson and Megan Laughton have collaborated to deliver hit animated tv series for preschoolers based on successful children's picture books. Manson & Laughton founded Baby Octopus in 2015 to develop and deliver differentiated media content for teens and young children as well as preschool. Previous productions include Max & Ruby, now in its 16th year on Nick Jr.; Olivia, Gaspard and Lisa, Peter Rabbit, Mr. Men and Little Miss and others.

About Toybox

Toybox is a boutique production studio based in Auckland, New Zealand. We work with a roster of national and international clients and provide services for all stages of production including design, concept art, motion-graphics, pre-visualisation, 3D & 2D visual effects, animation and live action. Our designers, animators, and FX artists use the latest digital tools to blend visual arts and technology to create innovative and compelling stories. We believe in the power of story to define and shape experiences. It is through storytelling that we connect with others to understand more about our world and ourselves.

About Giant

Giant is one of Europe's leading animation production and development studios based in the thriving city of Dublin, Ireland. Established in 2011, the studio has earned a reputation for high quality work across our award winning short films, commercials, and exciting TV shows for kids. The creative ambition of the studio has allowed us to grow an exciting artistic culture around our projects, which has attracted some of the best talent in the world to our growing team. We are an international team of artists, storytellers and technical wizards that are creating high end content for the world stage.

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