25th Women’s Worlds Film Festival Impressions

On 4th of November 2025, the 25th Women’s Worlds Film Festival came to a successful close, and we look back with pride on an anniversary edition that moved, inspired, and provoked thought. The festival week was marked by intense discourse, intercultural exchange, and powerful cinematic messages. In addition to an international film program from over 20 countries with 13 Berlin and 6 German premieres, the warm-up with GIRLS & GODS and Femen activist Inna Shevchenko, the opening with THE BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD, and the two panel discussions on social impact filming and cinema against forgetting – Afghanistan in Focus provided lasting inspiration and in-depth discussions.

Other cinematic highlights thrilled audiences: the Berlin premieres of BILLIE, GIRLS DON’T CRY, KICKOFF, and the screenings of TWENTY-EIGHT, DESPITE ALL THIS sparked lively discussions about film, while the German premiere of IMPURE and the award-winning film NAWI – DEAR FUTURE ME offered exciting insights into how films are made and how they have an impact. The Sunday matinee in honor of Christa Stolle, with a surprise appearance by Côr Lumina and the retrospective film THE DAY I BECAME A WOMAN, made for a particularly emotional morning. The anniversary exhibition also captivated several hundred visitors, and the women’s tours through Prenzlauer Berg attracted great interest on two days.

With 3,250 visitors and many sold-out screenings, we have sent a strong signal for women’s rights and at the same time provided the impetus to continue giving FrauenWelten a platform in the future and to resolutely continue our commitment to women’s rights. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the 25th FrauenWelten Film Festival possible: to the filmmakers for their powerful messages, to our guests for their expertise and personal insights, and to the audience—together, you made the festival an unforgettable experience!

Special thanks to three outstanding women who honored us with their presence this year: Ambassador Manizha Bakhtari, who works tirelessly for the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan and received a standing ovation at the panel discussion “Cinema Against Oblivion – Focus on Afghanistan”; our patron Jasmin Tabatabai, who once again supported us with her strong feminist stance and confidently moderated this panel; and Inna Shevchenko, activist and protagonist of GIRLS & GODS, who encouraged us and reminded us how important it is to keep talking, even when positions are controversial.

And last but not least, a big thank you to our sponsors and partners of the 25th Women’s Worlds Film Festival. Without their support, the festival would not have been possible.