The Berlin Film Festival 2026 will kick off with the world premiere ofNo Good Men, the third feature film from Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat, on Feb. 12 at the Berlinale Palast.
“Shahrbanoo Sadat is one of the most exciting voices in world cinema, andNo Good Menreally delivers on the promise of her first two features,” said Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle. “Sadat continues her vital work spotlighting Afghan women’s lives, here bringing romance and touches of humor to a rousingly political story. That it is based on real events, and the director risked so much to get this film made, makesNo Good Meneven more meaningful as our opening gala of the 76th Berlinale.”
No Good Menfollows the filmmaker’sWolf and Sheep(2016) andParwareshgah(The Orphanage, 2019), both of which screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, with the first claiming the top prize.The Orphanagewas supported by theBerlinale World Cinema Fund.
One of Afghanistan’s best-known film directors, Sadat spoke to The Hollywood Reporterfrom the capital Kabul in 2021 when she, like tens of thousands of others, hurried to escape Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Now, Berlin will screen her new film.
“Sadat continues her unique cinematic journey as a director, writer, and actor with a film that is both personal and political,” the Berlin fest said. “The film is also the third of five planned films based on the autobiographical writings of author and actor Anwar Hashimi.” In fact, Hashimi stars in the film alongside Sadat, who is playing the lead role.
“Naru (Sadat), the only camerawoman at Kabul TV, is convinced that there are no good men in Afghanistan,” reads a synopsis of the movie. “But when the reporter Qodrat takes her on assignment just before the Taliban’s return, sparks fly – and she begins to question this belief.”
Said Sadat: “Growing up in Afghanistan’s deeply patriarchal society, I believed there were no good men–until I found out another reality exists, and I hope this film offers young women hope and young men an example.”
No Good Menwas produced as an international co-production between Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan. The production companies are Adomeit Film, La Fabrica Nocturna Cinéma, Motlys, Amerikafilm and Wolf Pictures. Filming took place in locations across Germany.
The Berlin festival runs Feb. 12-22.