No Good Men
2026 Afghan drama film
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No Good Men is a 2026 autobiographical drama film written and directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat, based on Anwar Hashimi's writings.[2] Starring Sadat and Hashimi, it follows Naru, the only female camerawoman at a Kabul TV station, who is convinced there are no good men in Afghanistan.[3][4]
- Katja Adomeit
- Balthasar Busmann
- Maxi Haslberger
- Shahrbanoo Sadat
- Anwar Hashimi
- Liam Hussaini
- Torkan Omari
- Fatima Hassani
- Yasin Negah
| No Good Men | |
|---|---|
Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Shahrbanoo Sadat |
| Screenplay by | Shahrbanoo Sadat |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Virginie Surdej |
| Edited by | Alexandra Strauss |
| Music by | Therese Aune |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Eksystent Filmverleih |
Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | Dari |
The film had its world premiere as the Opening Film of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 12 February 2026.[5] It is scheduled to be theatrically released in Germany on 27 August.
Synopsis
Naru, a 30‑year‑old camerawoman in Kabul before the 2021 Taliban offensive, feels trapped in a marriage to an unfaithful husband and unable to seek divorce without losing custody of her young son. After he publicly confronts her during a live broadcast, she cuts the transmission and is removed from the show. Reassigned to the news department, she begins working with Qodrat, a 50‑year‑old married reporter. As their relationship deepens, Naru is forced to reconsider her belief that there are no good men left in her world.
Cast
- Shahrbanoo Sadat as Naru
- Anwar Hashimi as Qodrat
- Liam Hussaini as Liam
- Torkan Omari as Anita
- Fatima Hassani as Layla
- Yasin Negah as News Manager
Production
A co-production between Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, and Afghanistan, in 2021, the film was selected at the 18th edition of the Berlinale Co-Production Market as part of 35 new feature-film projects, which is an integral part of the European Film Market. In the program the film was first presented at Rotterdam's CineMart and later it was included as part of the special Rotterdam-Berlinale Express programme.[6] In February 2021 the film also won Filmmore Post-production Award at The IFFR Pro awards of the 38th edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam’s CineMart co-production market.[7]
In June 2024, the film project was selected at the 11th edition of the Venice Gap-Financing Market, which ran during the 81st Venice Film Festival, to round off their financing.[8]
In January 2025, it was selected at The Göteborg Film Festival’s Nordic Film Market in the Works in Progress category.[9] In April 2025, the film was considered in the hunt for young talents in the official selection, the Directors’ Fortnight and the Critics’ Week at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.[10]
Principal photography began on 25 September 2024 on locations in Germany - Hamburg, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Lower Saxony. Filming ended on 5 March 2025.[11] The districts of Wilhelmsburg and Rothenburgsort were depicted as backdrops of the Afghan capital, Kabul.[12]
Release
No Good Men had its world premiere on 12 February 2026, as part of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, in Special Gala as opening film.[13][14]
The film will be released in German theatres on 27 August 2026.[15]
