50th ABS Annual Conference: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

How Trust Became Equated with Truth in Modern Media

Saturday August 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Skepticism of mainstream media and uncertainty about which publications are reliable have reshaped how people understand government, society, and community in the modern age. As a result, the media itself is in the midst of a radical transformation in how journalists tell stories and how audiences consume them. The Bahá’í writings offer a variety of insights into the challenges facing the media and how journalists can secure their audiences' trust.

Speakers

Jason Hiner

Jason Hiner is an award-winning journalist and editorial leader who has been running newsrooms for over two decades. He has been at the forefront of digital journalism at leading media organizations, including CBS Interactive and Ziff Davis.

Saturday August 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
205

Media, Breakout

9:00am EDT

The Power of Youth (Cast Aside the Clouds discussion)

LIMITED

Saturday August 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

213

Limited Capacity seats available

This talk examines the film, Cast Aside the Clouds as a compelling portrayal of youth as agents of change. The film highlights how young people can challenge inherited assumptions, seek truth independently, and overcome entrenched prejudices. Through its depiction of the Bahá’í community in Iran, it reveals the damaging impact of religious persecution—one of the most destructive barriers to building a just society. At the same time, it emphasizes resilience, moral courage, and unity in the face of injustice. Ultimately, the film calls on audiences to reject bias, think critically, and recognize the power of youth to contribute to a more just and compassionate world.

Speakers

Mary Darling

Director, Writer, Producer, Owner, WestWind Pictures

I'm interested in how film can elevate a conversation, belief or idea. Through story, film can help us connect emotionally with complex social issues, investigate reality for ourselves, and challenge our own assumptions. What interests me most is its ability to foster hopefulness... Read More →

Clark Donnelly

Shahin Sobhani

Sutherland Darling-Donnelly

Saturday August 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
213

Media, Breakout

2:00pm EDT

The Forbidden University: Film screening and discussion

LIMITED

Saturday August 8, 2026 2:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

210

Limited Capacity seats available

The Forbidden University is a feature documentary exploring the constructive resilience of the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) in Iran. Produced by 1844 Studios with Companion Arts and Interdimensional VFX, and developed in consultation with Bahá’í Institutions at every phase, the film weaves interviews with BIHE alumni and scholars with dramatic recreations to illuminate a community-run response to systemic exclusion from higher education. The screening is followed by a moderated discussion on education access, human rights, collective action, and BIHE’s enduring model of constructive resilience.

Speakers

Nauzanin Knight

Producer, 1844 Studios Inc.

Nauzanin Knight is a Canadian writer, director, and producer of Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern descent whose work bridges social justice and cinematic storytelling. A former academic with an MSc from University College London, she transitioned from publishing State Terrorism i... Read More →

Mitra Knight

Producer, 1844 Studios

Mitra is an Iranian-Canadian Bahá’í and an international film producer with over 20 years of leadership experience across the Caribbean, Africa, and Canada. She brings strategic vision and operational execution to her work as Co-Director of 1844 Studios alongside Nauzanin Knight... Read More →

Saturday August 8, 2026 2:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
210

Media, Breakout

9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

2:00pm EDT

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