Press Release: September 25, 2025
The war in Sudan is one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our time – and yet it remains largely invisible. With the two-day event “Khartoum Calling – Voices for Sudan” on 14 and 15 October, the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin (HRFFB) and Action Against Hunger, together with Reporters Without Borders and Niddal Salah-Eldin, are sending a strong signal for visibility, solidarity, and political impact.
The opening evening on 14 October will bring together around 250 guests from politics, culture, media, and civil society, drawing public attention to Sudanese voices and stories through personal insights and artistic expressions.
At the heart of the event is the award-winning documentary KHARTOUM. The film powerfully portrays the lives of five people from the Sudanese capital who share their stories of war, resistance, and hope. When the war breaks out, both protagonists and filmmakers are forced to flee. In exile, they find new ways to continue telling their stories.
The film screening will be accompanied by personal reflections from:
- Snoopy Ibrahim, Sudanese filmmaker & Co-Director of KHARTOUM
- Yousra Elbagir, Sudanese-British journalist, Sky News
- Samy Guessabi, Country Director Sudan, Action Against Hunger
Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan will open the event with a video message. The evening will also feature a live performance by Sudanese musician Zeyo Mann and will be moderated by Anna Dushime.
Time & Place: Reception from 6:00 p.m. | Stage programme at 7:00 p.m. | silent green Kulturquartier, Berlin
On 15 October, a panel discussion will follow at the German Bundestag. Sudanese voices will meet political decision-makers to discuss the dramatic humanitarian crisis in Sudan and explore concrete courses of action.
In the Shadow of Global Attention: Humanitarian Aid under the Harshest Conditions
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is dire and represents one of the forgotten crises of our time. Around 30 million people are in need of assistance, with 25 million affected by acute food insecurity. As early as 2024, the UN warned of famine in Samsam (Darfur) – the first reported in more than seven years.
Action Against Hunger has been active in Sudan since 2018, providing support in areas where humanitarian aid is insufficient and where access is severely hindered by ongoing violence, mass displacement, heavy rains, and funding cuts.
Between April 2023 and December 2024, Action Against Hunger reached more than 1.2 million people in Central Darfur, South Kordofan, White Nile, Blue Nile, and the Red Sea State with programmes in nutrition and health, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as gender-based support.
About the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin
The Human Rights Film Festival Berlin was founded in 2018 by Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust, Managing Director of the humanitarian and development organisation Action Against Hunger. Today, it is regarded as Germany’s most important human rights film festival with international reach. The festival presents films from around the world that powerfully tell stories of human rights violations and resistance. With a comprehensive accompanying programme, the festival also provides a unique platform for exchange and networking between NGOs, filmmakers, activists, policymakers, and the public.
The next edition of the HRFFB will take place from 10 to 18 April 2026.
Further Information:
- Attendance: A limited number of places are available for media representatives at the event on 14 October. Please contact us directly if you wish to attend.
- Interviews: For interviews with our Country Director for Sudan or other guests (also in advance), please send us a short request.
- More Information: Additional press materials can be found in our press folder.
Press Enquiries
Vassilios Saroglou / Markus Winkler
presse@aktiongegendenhunger.de
030 279 099 776
