Fabia Mendoza is a young director who tells a story that is socio-political, multi-layered, funny, sad and everything in between with a natural ease.

The red carpet at the annual Cannes Film Festival is known for many things. Above all for the extremely glamorous and extravagant moments. All eyes are on the fancy, stylish and glitzy actors. Yes, Cannes is not exactly known for simple and understated appearances. More is more here!

During the 12-day festival, not only half of the international film world was in the French coastal town, but also a whole host of celebrities from other industries. And because everyone is there anyway and there are heaps of topics to discuss and films to celebrate, that’s what they did.

Fabia Mendoza is one of those cosmopolitans who caught our eye. She came. She saw. She crashed – with “Disaster Girl“, not just on the red carpet.

We reveal what “Disaster Girl” is all about. What to expect:

When the renowned fortune teller Madame Medusa prophesies eternal misfortune in love, family and career for a young woman (Nell Pietrzyk, lead actress and co-creator of the project and the character), Mendoza and Nell create the alter ego of the supposedly unlucky woman, namely the Disaster Girl – fearless, authentic, unstoppable.

This mockumentary deliberately breaks with traditional narrative forms and opens itself up to reality as a co-creator. Dramaturgically guided by intrusions of the real, the work eludes classic genre templates and has a steadily growing cast such as Martin Eder, Fabrice de Rohan Chabot, or Balthazar and Gisela Getty.

Photo credit Oksana Pidlisna

“Disaster Girl” thus becomes a dialogue between fiction and fact – a game with truths. It is about identity, courage, the pressure of expectations – and the power to reinvent oneself. A departure that appeals to everyone who longs for a different narrative. It is the powerful, bitter and at the same time liberating story of a 42-year-old actress who reinvents herself. It is more than just a film project; it is a captivating social experiment and a mirror of our time – radically open, radically honest. The film is not just a story, but a feeling. It is a call to reflect on the challenges and beauties of our world!

With a 90-minute feature release in 2026 (Cinema.one with special thanks to Executive Producer Dr. Alexander Loch – actor, producer, doctor – cool!), “Disaster Girl” is not just a film, but a statement that gives hope!

Photo credit Oksana Pidlisna

Cannes unites us storytellers, filmmakers and film enthusiasts, an exquisite orchestration of creativity, passion, inspiration and making people happy. It is much more than just a festival; it is an incomparable experience that rekindles our love for film and takes us on a journey together full of emotions and dreams. Dear Fabia, we wish you every success!

3, 2, 1 … action! Set your eyes on Disaster Girl, 90 min. set for release in 2026 is her first feature movie. WHAT WOULD DISASTER GIRL DO?

“The world is as you are.“ – David Lynch

Fabia Mendoza is a true native Berliner. Her self-ironic art column Berlin Art Diary for EXBERLINER has been described as Berlin’s Sex and the City.

With an interdisciplinary background in film, art, and activism, she has a keen sense for relevant topics and is the director of the Award winning documentary about the Rosa Parks House Project, which was featured three times on the cover of The New York Times.

During her years abroad in Italy and the U.S., she had the honor of collaborating with David Lynch, Rose McGowan, Steve Shapiro, and Giovanni Gastel.

She is a single mother and lives between Berlin and Sicily.

Nell Pietrzyk (*1983) is an actress with German-Slavic roots. She has lived in Egypt, St. Petersburg, and Berlin, and brings bold, versatile characters to life across stage, screen, and audio. In Disaster Girl, she plays a modern heroine on a fearless quest for self-determination. She voices lion princess Wuk Lamat in Final Fantasy and has appeared in a range of TV productions — including SOKO Leipzig, Der Kroatien-Krimi, and most recently on stage in Rosa von Praunheim’s Die Bettwurst.

All photos courtesy Fabia Mendoza / Disaster Girl