Herat International Women’s Film Festival (HIWFF)
(HIWFF) Festival News
Herat International Women’s Film Festival (HIWFF) – In Exile
Prepared by: Roya Film House (RFH)
Founded in 2013, the Herat International Women’s Film Festival quickly became the region’s leading platform for women’s cinema, presenting films on human rights, gender justice, identity, and women in conflict. After 2021, as Afghan women were banned from education, culture, media, and artistic work under gender apartheid, the festival was forced into exile.
But its mission has only become more urgent. HIWFF in Exile protects the creativity and freedom of expression of Afghan women while amplifying universal stories of women’s resilience around the world. It brings global filmmakers, artists, activists, and audiences together, creating a shared space for dialogue on justice, identity, and the power of women’s voices.
Through screenings, panels, workshops, and international collaborations, the festival supports emerging talent, connects cultures, and builds solidarity across borders.
More than a festival, HIWFF in Exile is a global cultural movement—preserving threatened voices, celebrating women’s stories everywhere, and uniting the world around the belief that women’s creativity and freedom are essential to a just and inclusive future.
HIWFF was founded by Roya Film Houses and Armanshare Foundation in 2013
Impact:
HIWFF in Exile is more than a festival—it is a global cultural movement. It preserves threatened voices, celebrates women’s stories everywhere, and unites the world around the principle that women’s creativity and freedom are essential to a just and inclusive future. Through art, education, and workshops, the festival empowers Afghan women and girls to learn, create, and amplify their voices-ensuring that even those forced into hiding (like Afghan aritest inside of Afghanistan)can document their experiences, share their stories, and participate in shaping their society and the global narrative. By combining physical screenings with international outreach, the festival demonstrates that cinema and art are powerful tools for education, resilience, and solidarity, inspiring action and hope for women everywhere.
Festival Program
Main Progeram:
International film screenings, competitions in documentary, fiction, and shorts, country/region spotlights, retrospectives, master screenings, and masterclasses on directing, producing, storytelling,and the events, opening and award ceremony.
Panels & Dialogues:
Topics include women in conflict, cinema and human rights, freedom of expression, diaspora storytelling,in this part we can selected an urgent matter like Gender aparted and may more…
Workshops:
Film literacy, scriptwriting, and filmmaking sessions for emerging filmmakers, including dedicated workshops for audiences and artists inside Afghanistan.
Education & Outreach:
Screenings at universities and schools, Youth Jury Program, and other educational initiatives.
Digital Components:
Festival website, online archive, VOD platform, digital marketing campaigns, online catalogue, and press/media kits for global reach.
20: International Women’s Film Festival - Hera
Detailed Brochure of the Festival
