Guests
Guests Film Festival Women's Worlds 2025
Protagonist KICKOFF
Gazi Babaiarova is a human rights specialist from Kyrgyzstan with expertise in labor migration and workers’ rights in the European road transport sector. She holds an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from the University of Vienna (2024) and currently works as a Field Officer at the Road Transport Due Diligence (RTDD) Foundation in the Netherlands. Her research and professional work focus on combating labor exploitation and improving due diligence practices in cross-border employment.
She is also actively involved in the protection of women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan as the founder of the Kyrgyz Korgon Institute, an NGO dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women. Every summer, she organizes community-based projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s voices through education, advocacy, and sports activities, while also working to eliminate practices like bride kidnapping.
Panelist Cinema Against Forgetting – Afghanistan in Focus.
Shikiba Babori was born in Kabul and has been living in Europe since the late 1970s. In 2003, she returned to her home country for the first time as a journalist and ethnologist to report from there and to train Afghan female journalists. She is the founder of the Afghan-German reporter network Kalima-News and the author of the book Die Afghaninnen – Spielball der Politik (Campus Verlag). Through her work, she amplifies the voices of Afghan women and addresses how war, power politics, and patriarchy continue to shape their lives today.
Protagonist THE LAST AMBASSADOR
Manizha Bakhtari is a distinguished diplomat, lecturer, and author whose career bridges diplomacy, literature, and advocacy. As Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Austria, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna, she has become a leading voice for Afghan women and girls, representing Afghanistan before key multilateral institutions such as the IAEA, the CTBTO, and the OSCE. With a background in journalism and literature, Ambassador Bakhtari brings to diplomacy the perspective of a writer and the empathy of a social reformer. Since the Taliban’s return to power, she has been one of the few remaining voices of democratic Afghanistan, raising global awareness about the regime’s gender apartheid policies. In 2024, she received the White Ribbon Award from the OSCE. She is a founding member of the Dukhtaran Program, established in 2022, which provides mentorship, financial aid, and emotional support to Afghan girls who have been denied access to education. Her life and mission were also featured in the acclaimed documentary THE LAST AMBASSADOR.
Production manager GIRLS DON'T CRY
Amelie Bauer was born in 1991 in Stuttgart, Germany. After completing her studies in media sciences, she found her way into film and worked for several years as a producer for corporate and commercial projects. In 2023, she became a freelance production manager for documentary films. For her, documentary filmmaking is a place of truth – a medium that gives people, their voices, and their stories the space they deserve. Through her work, she aims to make the unheard visible and to capture life in all its authenticity and vulnerability.
Director KICKOFF
Roser Corella began her career as a video journalist before transitioning to self-produced documentaries. She is renowned for her visually compelling narratives centered on women, customary laws, labor, and migration. Her award-winning films — Machine Man, Prisoners of Kanun, Grab and Run, and Room Without a View — have been showcased at international festivals such as CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Shanghai IFF, Thessaloniki IFF, among others.
Host Opening Ceremony
Independent international moderator and journalist
Conny Czymoch moderates regularly for international organisations like the UN, ILO, FAO, OECD, World Bank as well as most German Federal Ministries.
Her core competence areas include climate change, sustainability, bioeconomy and biodiversity, human rights, labour and social relations, womens rights, equality, food and agriculture systems, health systems, resource efficiency, supply chains, corporate responsibility, mobility, migration and social integration, international relations and economics.
Her journalistic background is multi-facetted: for 14 years, she anchored news and current affairs programmes live for German TV station Phoenix; earlier, she worked as moderator and author for Deutsche Welle TV in German and English, Deutschlandradio, WDR, as well as Radio Television Hong Kong.
For the last 2 decades, Conny has been media coach for business, scientific institutions, as well as NGOs.
Director TORN - AUS DER MITTE GERISSEN
Gonca de Haas was born in Mannheim in 1985 as the daughter of a Turkish working-class family—a background that has had a lasting influence on her artistic voice. After studying acting at the Otto Falckenberg School in Munich (graduating in 2010), she was honored as a Berlinale Talent in 2015 and participated in the Sarajevo Talent Campus. Since then, her works have been screened at international festivals such as Locarno, Sarajevo, and the Berlinale.
For her screenplay Anna, Vater, Kind, she received a scholarship from the HFF Munich in 2019/2020, followed by further funding for Malina and Rüzgar Baba. In 2023, she and the ensemble of Im Feuer – Sisters Apart and Rohbau were awarded the Grimme Prize and the New German Cinema Prize at the Hof Film Festival.
She lives in Munich and tells authentic, emotional stories about cultural identity and cohesion in her works. With AUS DER MITTE GERISSEN, she makes her directorial debut and expands her filmmaking spectrum with a new, personal dimension.
Expert MANAS
Sophia Dykmann studied social work, peace and conflict studies, and international cooperation for sustainable development. During her studies, she spent an Erasmus semester in Spain and completed a research stay in Albania. For many years, she has been working on issues related to human trafficking, human-environment conflicts, and climate justice. Since 2024, she has been working as a consultant on prostitution and trafficking in women at TERRE DES FEMMES, where she campaigns against sexual exploitation and for the rights of those affected. Her work focuses on political lobbying and international networking as well as preventive education in schools.
Expert CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS
Faravaz was born in Tehran and now lives in exile in Berlin. In a country where women are not allowed to sing, she found her voice in resistance. Her music combines pain and hope, oriental sounds and modern pop – a call for freedom and equality. With her association The Right to Sing e.V., she fights for the rights of women and queer people. Her debut album Azadi (Freedom) was released in 2025 and represents her journey from silence to self-determination.
Host Panel Talk Social Impact Filming
Dafne-Maria Fiedler has been working as a moderator at numerous national and international festivals since 2009. She began her career at the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival (MOP) and went on to host events such as the Munich Film Festival (FFM), achtung berlin – new berlin film award (moderating the awards ceremony for seven years), and the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), where she hosted for six years. She is particularly passionate about engaging in direct exchanges with filmmakers.
In addition to her work as a moderator, she is also active as a coach and has founded her own coaching program, ALLOW YOURSELF. Through this program, she primarily supports creative women in strengthening their presence – both in their personal lives and on their respective “stages” – so that they can become visible and impactful with what they want to bring into the world.
Cornelia Grünberg: Director TWENTY-EIGHT
Since her award-winning diploma film PAUL IV., Cornelia Grünberg has been continuously creating films in both fictional and non-fictional formats. She is fascinated by extraordinary people, such as the young women Lisa, Steffi, Laura, and Fabienne, whom she was able to portray in her cinema documentaries VIERZEHN – Erwachsen in neun Monaten (premiered at the Berlinale 2012) and ACHTZEHN – Wagnis Leben (Germany, 2014). These two films are part of her long-term project 14-18-28, which now concludes with ACHTUNDZWANZIG – Der Weg entsteht im Gehen.
Cornelia Grünberg served on the board of the German Directors Association (Bundesverband Regie) from 2018 to 2024 and, since 2022, represents the interests of directors on the administrative board and presidium of the FFA (German Federal Film Board).
Andreas Grünberg: Producer ACHTUNDZWANZIG – DER WEG ENTSTEHT IM GEHEN
After the adaptation of his screenplay ZEIT DES SCHWEIGENS (directed by Cornelia Grünberg), Andreas Grünberg founded Grünberg Film GmbH in 1997. Shortly thereafter, he wrote and co-produced the feature film ZWEI IN EINEM BOOT (directed by Cornelia Grünberg), which premiered in 1999 in the 14plus section of the Berlinale. Since then, he has contributed as a writer, associate producer, co-producer, or executive producer to numerous national and international film projects. Most recently, he produced the documentary ACHTUNDZWANZIG – Der Weg entsteht im Gehen, for which he was also a co-writer. He is a member of AG DOK.
Expert WE BELIEVE YOU
Gerhard Hafner is a psychologist and specialist in working with perpetrators of domestic violence. Since the 1970s, he has been involved in projects working with men, particularly men who have been violent towards their (ex-)partners. He is an honorary HeForShe ambassador for UN Women Germany.
Director BILLIE
Sheri Hagen is a German director, screenwriter, and actress from Berlin. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in Hamburg, she trained at the Hamburg Stage School of Dance and Drama and at the Studio Theater an der Wien in Austria. In addition to numerous film and television projects (including Das Leben der Anderen, Baal, Tatort, Sperling, On The Inside), she has also appeared in various theater productions.
As a screenwriter and director, she first gained attention in 2007 with the short film STELLA UND DIE STÖRCHE. The children’s short was successfully screened at international festivals, including the mo&friese KinderKurzfilmFestival Hamburg and the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
At the 23rd International Film Festival Emden-Norderney in 2012, Sheri Hagen was awarded the Special Prize “Schreibtisch am Meer” for her debut feature AUF DEN ZWEITEN BLICK. In 2013, AUF DEN ZWEITEN BLICK won the 4th Church Film Festival Recklinghausen Prize. In the fall of 2013, Barnsteiner-Film released the feature in German cinemas.
In 2015, Sheri Hagen founded the production company Equality Film GmbH. Since then, her goal has been to tell films with relevant and powerful content that reflect a multi-layered and diverse society. In her feature film FENSTER BLAU (2016), Sheri Hagen adapted the play Muttermale Fenster Blau by the author Sasha Marianna Salzmann.
In 2023, she was recognized as a Culture and Creative Pilot by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) with Equality Film, and in 2024, her project MOTHERHOOD was part of the Berlinale Fiction Toolbox Program, selected by the Austrian Film Institute (ÖFI).
Expert
Lena Henke studied International Management and Sustainable Business in Leipzig and Kassel. After completing her studies, which she supplemented with stays abroad in Ireland, Great Britain, France, and Latvia, she initially worked in cultural education for children and young people before joining TERRE DES FEMMES in June 2022. As a consultant for sexual and reproductive rights, she is committed to the legalization of abortion and equal access to contraception. Another focus of her work is the critical examination of surrogacy and other reproductive technologies, as well as education about alternative family models.
Director and producer IMPURE and panelist Social Impact Filming
Rico Herre was born in 1986 in Jena, Germany. His passion for storytelling took root at an early age. With a vivid imagination and a natural eye for detail, he began capturing moments on camera, writing short stories, and immersing himself in the world of theatre. By the age of 15, Rico directed his first short film, "The Sandbox", which not only marked the beginning of his filmmaking journey but also earned him the TLM award for Thuringia’s Best Media Production. While being rejected from film school, but eager to further explore the art of cinema, Rico took on various jobs at leading TV production companies and theaters, and contributed to high-profile projects such as "Unknown", "The Guardian", and "Absolution".
He continued to work as a First Assistant Director on various film projects, including features, shorts, music videos, image films, and commercials. He also co-directed and served as a second-unit director on several corporate productions. His short film, "Worldquake," was met with international acclaim, winning awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director.
Now, with his feature film debut IMPURE, he’s challenging the audience to witness a story that needs telling. But this film doesn't just tell a story; it will call the viewer to action, invite for reflection, and certainly will leave a lasting emotional impact long after the credits roll.
His meticulous attention to detail in exploring the human condition through nuanced, often unexpected lenses made him push the boundaries of on-screen authenticity, knowing that the most compelling narratives come from a deep understanding of human nature. For him, the camera isn’t just a tool; it’s an extension of his vision, capturing the quiet moments between dialogue, the unspoken tension in a glance, and the atmosphere that lingers long after a scene ends.
Rico will continue to push boundaries, refusing to rest on past successes. Each new project reflects his unwavering commitment to the craft and his belief that the most powerful stories are yet to be told.
Social Educator and Former Festival Director
Irene Jung was born in Tübingen. She lived for 20 years in Latin America, where she worked in adult education, led a community project with children’s centers, and began supporting women’s initiatives.
Since 1997, she has been working for TERRE DES FEMMES, initially in the area of “Social Rights of Textile Workers.” In 2001, she organized the TERRE DES FEMMES film festival FrauenWelten in Tübingen for the first time. The festival focuses on women’s human rights and has taken place annually ever since, moving to Berlin in 2020. She also advised the FrauenWelten film events in Bielefeld, Stuttgart, Konstanz, Leipzig, and Vienna, and published the festival book on the Afghanistan focus, as well as a DVD edition for international film schools on the extraordinary film work of Samira Makhmalbaf.
Expert MOOLAADÉ
Susanna Keim has been working in the International Cooperation Department at TERRE DES FEMMES since September 2021. Among other things, she is responsible for cooperation with TDF partner organizations in Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which are working in a variety of ways to combat female genital mutilation (FGM) on the ground. She also played a key role in developing the multimedia and interactive digital exhibition “Unversehrt” (Unharmed), which highlights a variety of protection concepts successfully implemented in Sierra Leone and Germany to combat the human rights violation of FGM.
Director GIRLS DON'T CRY
Sigrid Klausmann was born in Furtwangen in 1955, the third of seven children. She first worked as a physical education teacher for 11 years, followed by over 20 years as a dance teacher and choreographer. Twenty years ago, the mother of three (now a grandmother), married to Walter Sittler, entered a new field as a documentary film director.
Her films from the 199 LITTLE HEROES series, including NOT WITH US! (Cinema Documentary 2027), have been screened at over 90 film festivals worldwide and received numerous awards. Her new and last, award-winning documentary GIRLS DON'T CRY is on a worldwide festival tour and will be released in cinemas in 2025.
Social Impact Consultant IMPURE
Naisula is a Gender Integration Specialist with a focus on Women, Wealth, and Education. She currently consults with the Global Center for Gender Equality (formerly under Stanford University) and Future Female Africa. She is also the founder of BigSis4SmallSis, a network of women supporting girls’ education through mentorship and menstrual hygiene projects. Through this network, she led the first school test screenings of the film Impure in Northern Kenya and now serves as a Social Impact Advisor for the Impure global campaign.
Expert TROTZ ALLEDEM
Irit Neidhardt works as an independent film scholar and curator, focusing on cinema and the Middle East, and also runs the international film distribution company mec film. She is a co-producer of various Arab documentary films and has worked as a mentor for institutions both in Germany and abroad. Irit Neidhardt is also a lecturer at the Babelsberg Film University KONRAD WOLF.
Director WRITING HAWA and panelist Cinema Against Forgetting – Afghanistan in Focus
Najiba is a Hazara director from Afghanistan. She’s been a journalist for Agence France Press from 2019 to 2021 until she was forced to leave Afghanistan for France, where she currently lives and works. Najiba’s first feature documentary Writing Hawa has premiered at IDFA 2024 in the international competition and has been selected so far to more than 40 film festivals around the world and has won prestigious awards. Najiba is the first woman from Afghanistan, who sailed worldwide with an all-female crew on Maiden’s historic boat in 2023-2024, winning the Ocean Globe Race among the thirteen other international boats. Her role was to make a documentary about this journey of 8 months at sea. This film is currently in production.
Director KICKOFF
Stefano Obino is a screenwriter and filmmaker recognized for his work across various formats, including independent films and docu-series. His debut feature, The Gospel According to Precario, received critical acclaim in Italy, and he later directed Nel paese dei Coppoloni, a finalist at the David di Donatello Awards. His most recent documentary, War Is Over, won an award at the Nastri d’Argento 2022. His upcoming projects continue to reflect his creative evolution.
Expert WE BELIEVE IN YOU
Stefanie Ponikau is a business economist with roots in healthcare and heads the office of a member of the Berlin House of Representatives. She is the mother of a son and has first-hand experience of family court proceedings. For over eleven years, she has been volunteering to help women, especially mothers, who are often overlooked in such proceedings. As an expert advisor on domestic violence for the Association of Single Mothers and Fathers and team leader for Berlin at the Women for Protection Against Violence association, she is committed to ensuring that those affected are heard and given a voice.
Director NAWI – Dear Future Me und panelist Social Impact Filming
Toby Schmutzler is a writer-director based between Munich and Cape Town.
His first feature film „Robin – Watch for Wishes“ accomplished several festival selections and awards (www.watchforwishes.com) and is distributed worldwide by Electric Entertainment.
Toby produced the documentary “Biking Borders” (www.biking-borders.de) which can be seen on Netflix. “Lockdown Movie” (www.lockdown-movie.de), developed and shot during the first wave of the COVID pandemic, is being distributed by Buffalo 8 in the US.
His most recent film is “Nawi – Dear Future Me”, a critically acclaimed and widely awarded drama about child marriage in Northern Kenya (www.nawi.film).
Together with his brother, Toby heads the Social Impact Film production company FilmCrew Media (www.filmcrew.media)
Protagonist GIRLS & GODS
Inna Shevchenko is a Ukrainian-French activist, writer, and filmmaker. She rose to international prominence through her bold feminist campaigning as a leader of the FEMEN movement. A vocal advocate for women’s rights and free speech, she has contributed to Charlie Hebdo and served as an advisor to the G7 Gender Equality Council under the French Presidency. Her work spans books, keynote speeches, and films addressing themes of gender, war, and resistance. Her latest film Girls & Gods continues her artistic exploration of the sacred and the defiant in the female experience.
Patron und Host Panel Talk Kino Cinema Against Forgetting– Afghanistan in Focus
Jasmin Tabatabai is a German actress and jazz singer with Iranian roots. She celebrated her breakthrough in 1997 with her leading role as Luna in Katja von Garnier’s music film “Bandits”, for which she also composed a large part of the soundtrack. Her most important film works include “Gripsholm”, “Vier Minuten” and “Fremde Haut” and and “Mitra”. She has also made a name for herself in the world of television, appearing in numerous TV films. From 2011 to 2024, she played Mina Amiri, the first female detective of Iranian origin on German television, in the series “Letzte Spur Berlin”. She is also a successful dubbing actress and has lent her voice to prominent characters: Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose” and Chiara Mastroianni in “Persepolis”. Her versatility is also evident in her recordings of numerous audiobooks, including “Reading Lolita in Tehran”. In 2012, she was awarded the Jazz-ECHO as Best Female Vocalist National. In May 2020, she released her third jazz album “Jagd auf Rehe”.
Expert CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS
Stephanie Walter studied peace and conflict studies and worked in humanitarian aid and development cooperation in the Middle East and South Asia. In Germany, she supported refugees in acquiring professional skills and converting precarious residence permits into permanent residency. At TERRE DES FEMMES, she has been working as a consultant for equality and integration since June 2022, promoting free and self-determined upbringing. In particular, the public education system should encourage girls to think freely and reflectively and to question traditional role models in the classroom. In addition to her work, she volunteers for the FRAU LEBEN FREIHEIT (WOMEN LIVE FREEDOM) movement.
Expert WE BELIEVE YOU
Since June 2023, Johanna Wiest has been working as a specialist on domestic and sexualized violence at TERRE DES FEMMES. For many years, she has also been volunteering with the advisory council for survivors at Traumanetz Berlin. She is particularly committed to violence prevention among young people, raising awareness about domestic and sexualized violence, and supporting mothers affected by violence. In May 2024, she conducted TERRE DES FEMMES’ first nationwide survey on post-separation violence and institutional violence in custody and visitation matters.