Afghan Female Director Shahrbanoo Sadat Opens Berlin Film Festival with "No Good Men"
The film No Good Men, directed by Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, has been selected as the opening film of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2026). The festival will take place from 12–22 February in Berlin, Germany, and annually hosts some of the most significant works in world cinema.
According to Cineuropa, Sadat said, “Growing up in Afghanistan’s deeply patriarchal society, I believed there were no good men – until I found out another reality exists. I hope this film offers young women hope and young men an example.”
The film will be presented out of competition in the Berlinale Special Gala section and will premiere worldwide on 12 February 2026 at the Berlinale Palast, the festival’s main venue.
The story follows Naru, the only female camerawoman at Kabul TV, who believes there are no good men in Afghanistan. When a reporter named Qodrat takes her on an assignment just before the Taliban’s return, her perspective on love and human relationships begins to change.
Sadat herself plays Naru, while Afghan writer and actor Anwar Hashimi portrays Qodrat. This film is the third of five planned films based on Hashimi’s autobiographical writings.
Sadat previously received international acclaim with her films Wolf and Sheep and The Orphanage, screened at Cannes and other global events. The Orphanage was also supported by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund.
Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle told reporters, “Shahrbanoo Sadat is one of the most exciting voices in world cinema and No Good Men really delivers on the promise of her first two features.” She added, “Sadat continues her vital work spotlighting Afghan women’s lives, here bringing romance and touches of humour to a rousingly political story. That it is based on real events, and the director risked so much to get this film made makes No Good Men even more meaningful as our Opening Gala.”
No Good Men is a co-production between Afghanistan, Germany, France, Norway, and Denmark, with filming conducted across multiple German cities. The German theatrical release is scheduled for 27 August 2026.
