Director’s Profile

Sahra Mani received her bachelor’s degree in film and master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from the University of Arts London with high distinction. Sahra produces and directs films that have a huge impact on women rights, equality and justice.

Her first feature documentary, A Thousand Girls Like Me (2018), about an Afghan woman who opposed the will of her family and the traditions of her country to seek justice for years of sexual abuse from her father, was screened at top film festivals like HotDocs, Sheffield and IDFA. It won over 25 awards worldwide; among them are at Full Frame Film Festival, San Francisco Film Festival, One World Media Award, and New York Festivals TV & Film winning three Gold Medals. It was aired globally on networks like BBC Farsi, Aljazeera, Sweden’s SVT, and Switzerland’s RTS. More importantly, the film inspired changes on women’s rights in her region.

As a lecturer at Kabul University, she organized film festivals and training and mentoring opportunities in Afghanistan. Her work as an impact campaign producer raises awareness and promotes action for issues and causes that demand social changes. She was also invited as a juror for several film festivals. She recently had to leave Kabul and is temporarily living in Iran.

Programmes & Awards

2018 Close-Up Initiative
2022 IDFA Producers Connection
2022 EAVE Producers Workshop
2023 EURIMAGES European Cinema Support Fund 2023 Nipkow Residency