Documentary Feature
GIRLS DON´T CRY
Directed by 
Sigrid Klausmann, Lina Lužytė
AFIN 2026 Nominee
- 2026
- 1h 29m
-
Germany - English, German, Korean, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili
- M
- Documentary
Stills
10 frames Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
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Credits
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Production Company
- Schneegans Production
Synopsis
What does it mean to be a girl in the world today? How do they fare in a restrictive world? The documentary “Girls Don’t Cry” is about the longing of six girls from six countries, longing for a self-determined life in freedom, their desire to fall in love, without paternalism, without others having power over their bodies, with equal rights. We see Nancy, Sheelan, Selenna, Nina, Paige and Sinai deal with the crisis of puberty, their self-confident decisions in difficult situations, their courageous fight against brutal traditions such as circumcision, against social constraints and pressure, against beauty mania and prejudice. Being young and cool, even in the face of trauma and loss.
On the nomination
With our film, we want to empower girls around the world. The award will help us do that. We are incredibly grateful.
Director's Statement
“Women constantly remind me what exactly our talents are in all endeavors: our caring and compassionate nature, our empathy towards others and our ability to lead by example. Our part in and leadership in building resilient societies and nations has long been proven, but now it needs to be recognized by those who still cling to an unequal distribution of power that only benefits themselves. It is high time to admit that many more of these feminine qualities are needed in the field of international politics and development if we truly want to create a diverse, just and inclusive world,” (Nadja Murad, Nobel Peace Prize 2018) While researching “GIRLS DON'T CRY”, I found this text by Nadja Murad. It became a guideline for me in this project In view of the diversity of our society, we need to discuss at an early stage how we can live together in solidarity and understanding and what contribution we can make to make girls strong and self-confident, to empower them, to use their talents, ideas and strengths for a more peaceful world which would function differently under their leadership. The gender issue is being discussed worldwide today, often heatedly and controversially. In some places, the wheel of achievements is being turned back. I wanted to engage with this exciting topic and show how girls' issues are interlinked in different countries and how they affect young people in our culture. Since 2018, “GIRLS DON’T CRY” has been on my mind and in my heart. Corona and the rejection of funding have had a negative impact on the pace of development. The birth of my first granddaughter, who has her life as a girl and woman ahead of her, gave me strength and the final determination to fight for this project. I dedicate this, my last movie, to her.
What makes this one special
- Australian PremiereThe filmmaker tells us this is where it happens
- Nominated for Best Documentary Feature
Directors' Biography
Sigrid Klausmann Lina Lužytė Directors
Sigrid Klausmann, born in Furtwangen in the Black Forest, grew up as the third of seven children. Her childhood, she says, has been the cornerstone for her activities as an adult and her great interest for art and children. At first, she worked as a sport teacher, she was a dancer and modern dance teacher and choreographed and staged several full-length plays with young people. She has received the cultural prize of the town of Ludwigsburg, has been working since 2003 as a documentary film maker and founded jointly with her husband Walter Sittler Schneegans Productions. Most themes of her films are the affairs of adolescent. Since 2011 Sigrid Klausmann works as the leading director of the short film series “199 LITTLE S*HEROES” The documentary film “NOT WITHOUT US!”, which is part of this project, has won several awards, as have several of the shorts. The most personal of her films is a documentary about her mother's life “LEONIE AND THE WAY UP”. Sigrid Klausmann will complete her career as a filmmaker with “GIRLS DON’T CRY”. Her great wish is to empower girls with this latest work, motivated by the birth of her first granddaughter, whom she dedicates the film to.
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GIRLS DON´T CRY was an official Nominee for Best Documentary Feature at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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