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Afghan Filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat Debuts at Berlin Festival

2/12/2026

31 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Shahrbanoo Sadat, Afghan filmmaker, sees No Good Men open the Berlin Film Festival, a milestone for Afghan cinema.
The romantic comedy is set in Kabul before the Taliban's return and explores love amid repression.
Sadat wrote, directed, and stars in the film, portraying Naru, a camerawoman navigating challenges.
European institutes initially hesitated to fund a comedy during a crisis, but Sadat secured support and filmed with an all-Afghan cast.

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Story summary

Shahrbanoo Sadat, Afghan filmmaker, sees No Good Men open the Berlin Film Festival, a milestone for Afghan cinema.
The romantic comedy is set in Kabul before the Taliban's return and explores love amid repression.
Sadat wrote, directed, and stars in the film, portraying Naru, a camerawoman navigating challenges.
European institutes initially hesitated to fund a comedy during a crisis, but Sadat secured support and filmed with an all-Afghan cast.