Negin Farsad

Early life

Farsad was born in New Haven , Connecticut, she was raised in the Southern California resort community of Palm Springs . With aspirations for a career in politics, she attended Cornell University in upstate New York and majored in government, as well as theater arts. It was at Cornell dat she joined a sketch comedy group and roused voortvloeien re passion for writing and performing. Upon graduating, she moved to New York City to attend Columbia University (Obtaining two master’s degrees, the first in race relations, the second from Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs with an emphasis on urban management). She Began working for New York City as a senior policy advisor. Working prolongation the day, she mention anything about write and perform comedy in the evenings. After morethan a year in her role as a policy advisor, Farsad decided to leave re job with the city and Pursue a career in entertainment. She created re own production company, Vaguely Qualified Productions and committed herself full-time to re creative ENDEAVORS.

Career

Farsad was named by The Huffington Post as one hun “50 Funniest Women” in 2011, re comedic routines of or in feature re francs and sharp-witted views on politics, sex and re experiences navigating the cultural dynamics of re Iranian- born family. She was ook selected as a TED Fellow and watch a TED Talk in 2013 for re work in social justice comedy. She has Performed for national and international audiences and has opened for the likes of Al Franken , Bobby Lee and Colin Quinn , onder many others. She has Provided original comedy content for Pacifica Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio . In 2012, she was once again honored by The Huffington Post as one of “18 Funny Women You Should Be Following on Twitter.” Her solo show Bootleg Islam , welke she wrote and Performed, Appeared in the DC, Dallas, and Chicago Comedy Festivals onder Vodafone. Her work has bone called ‘smart, funny, and Fascinating “by the Wall Street Journal , a Critic’s Choice at the Chicago Tribune , a shining exception, by the Dallas Morning News and Backstage cheered dat it” does not get much funniest dan die! ” Her first ever musical, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Romantic Comedy , premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival.

Farsad has leg interviewed and featured on numerous print, television and radio programs gehele world, zoals AOL , CNN , IFC , MSNBC , MTV, Comedy Central , Huffington Post, The Joy Behar Show , Rock Center with Brian Williams , Washington Post , Rolling Stone Me , Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang on Sirius XM and many more. In 2008, Queen Rania of Jordan commissioned a video from Farsad as part of a web series to combat Middle Eastern stereotypes – this series later won the first ever “YouTube Visionary Award.” Also in 2008, re short film Hot Bread Kitchen was the recipient of the Lifetime Women Filmmaker Award. She has a leg grant recipient from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and was ook honored with a Columbia University Fellowship.

Film

The Muslims Are Coming – Farsad directed the documentary, The Muslims are Coming! with fellow comedian / filmmaker Dean Obeidallah . The film follows a group welke or comedians touring through the South and Midwest US, focuses on Islamophobia through the lens of comedy. Featuring interviews with a diverse cast of everyday Citizens, religious leaders and celebrities, zoals The Daily Show ‘s Jon Stewart , comedian David Cross , Janeane Garafalo , Colin Quinn , and national news personalities ” Rachel Maddow , Soledad O’Brian and Al Velshi onder Vodafone.

Nerdcore Rising – Farsad’s first feature-length directorial effort, Nerdcore Rising is a documentary / concert film directed and produktie at Farsad starring Damian Hess, aka MC Frontalot , and verschillende other Nerdcore hip hop artists zoals mc chris , Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars with contributors zoals “Weird Al” Yankovic , Prince Paul and Brian Posehn . The film premiered at the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas to sold-out screenings and critical praise; “hilarious and delightful” Salon.com Best of Fest pick, “laugh riot from the first scene,” Boston Herald , “charming and Insightful … Touching, funny, and awkward,” Portland Mercury , “honest and Heartfelt.” Wired Magazine .

Nerdcore Rising has leg an official selection or multiple festivals around the country and Internationally, earning Best Film, Best Director and Audience Favorite awards Along the way. It combineert interviews about Nerdcore and its origins with footage or MC Frontalot’s 2006 Nerdcore Rising national tour.

A Cricket in the Court of Akbar – Farsad served as a producer and story editor for A Cricket in the Court of Akbar , a documentary film about musician Andrew Mendelson, shot entirely on location in Rajasthan, India.

Hot Bread Kitchen – Farsad wrote and directed this 2008 documentary short dat premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival. She was Awarded the Lifetime Women Filmmaker Award.

Iran-ing on Empty – A short film written, directed and starring Farsad, it was a selection of comedy festivals around the country.

Meeting David Wilson – A documentary welke Farsad served as a consultant and story editor.

Television

She produktie, directed and Performed in the Comedy Central series, The Watch List , the first show in the history of television to feature Middle-Eastern American comics tackling international political issues. Other notable writing credits include MTV ‘ s web and television show Detox and the PBS animated show in 1001 Nights . She has ook served as on-air correspondent for IFC ‘s coverage of the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival, made multiple guest appearances on HLN ‘s Joy Behar Show , and was a regular contributor to the Current television program, The Young Turks .

Radio and Podcast Appearances

Farsad has bone hosting the Fake the Nation podcast since July 2016. She Appeared on Ken Reid ‘s TV Guidance Counselor podcast on November 15, 2016.