The Berlin Film Festival is showcasing a variety of international stories this year, with filmmakers overcoming challenges in shooting their films in their home countries. “No Good Men,” directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat, opened the festival, offering a rare perspective from Afghan cinema. Due to obstacles in Afghanistan, Sadat filmed in locations like Tajikistan, Jordan, and Greece as stand-ins for Kabul. Despite setbacks in Jordan and Greece, the film was ultimately shot in northern Germany with the support of the Afghan diaspora community.
Similarly, Lebanese director Danielle Arbid faced difficulties while shooting “Only Rebels Win” in her hometown of Beirut due to ongoing conflicts. To capture the essence of Beirut, the film was made in a studio in the Paris suburbs, with scenes from Beirut added in post-production. The film depicts an unconventional love story amidst challenging circumstances, reflecting Arbid’s passion to showcase Beirut’s resilience.
In contrast, German director Ilker Catak’s “Yellow Letters” explores the theme of artistic freedom through a story set in Turkey but shot entirely in Germany. Berlin and Hamburg were used to represent Ankara and Istanbul, emphasizing the universal nature of threats to artistic expression. Catak highlighted the importance of defending democracy and freedom of speech, noting that these rights are not guaranteed even in Western countries.