No Beast So Fierce

2025, Germany, 120 min., Feature, Drama, Thriller

Director: Burhan Qurbani
Script: Burhan Qurbani, Martin Behnke (based on Richard III by William Shakespeare)
Director of Photography: Yoshi Heimrath
Cast: Welket Bungué, Albrecht Schuch, Jella Haase, Nils Henrik Bertelsen
Producer: Sommerhaus Filmproduktion

The director Burhan Qurbani, reimagines Shakespeare’s Richard III in the heart of modern Berlin. Amidst a brutal feud between the York and Lancaster clans, lawyer Rashida ends the conflict with a ruthless strike. Yet, she remains undervalued in a cutthroat patriarchal underworld. Determined to claim absolute power, Rashida begins a lethal game of manipulation and seduction to lead the criminal hierarchy, while battling both her enemies and the trauma of her past. A visually stunning reflection on the nature of evil and ambition that outweighs blood ties.

Burhan Qurbani

Burhan Qurbani (born 1980 in Germany to Afghan political refugees) is one of the most prominent names in contemporary German cinema. He gained international acclaim with his bold adaptation of “Berlin Alexanderplatz” (2020), which earned him several Lola Awards. Qurbani’s style is characterized by visual opulence and an interest in themes of identity, faith, and the individual’s clash with the system. His films are regular fixtures in the competition programs of festivals such as the Berlinale and Venice.

FILMOGRAPHY

2025 – No Beast So Fierce (Kein Tier. So Wild.)
2020 – Berlin Alexanderplatz
2014 – We Are Young. We Are Strong. (Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark.)
2010 – Shahada

FESTIVALS, AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

2026 – German Film Award (LOLA) Nominations – Best Director, Best Film, Best Actress
2025 – Venice International Film Festival – Golden Lion Nomination (Official Competition)
2025 – European Film Awards (EFA) Nomination – Best Cinematography