The Berlin Film Festival 2026 will kick off with the world premiere of No 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, and No Good Men really 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, makes No Good Men even more meaningful as our opening gala of the 76th Berlinale.”
No Good Men follows Shahrbanoo Sadat’s acclaimed works Wolf and Sheep (2016) and Parwareshgah (The Orphanage, 2019). Both films screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and The Orphanage was supported by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund. Shahrbanoo Sadat continues her unique cinematic journey as a director, writer, and actor with a film that is both personal and political. The film is also the third of five planned films based on the autobiographical writings of author and actor Anwar Hashimi. Hashimi stars in the film alongside Shahrbanoo 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. But when the reporter Qodrat takes her on assignment just before the Taliban’s return, sparks fly – and she begins to question this belief.
“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,” says Shahrbanoo Sadat.
No Good Men was produced as an international co-production between Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan. Production companies are Adomeit Film, La Fabrica Nocturna Cinéma, Motlys, Amerikafilm and Wolf Pictures.
