Dark humor, feminist horror and sociopolitical critique meet deeply personal storytelling.
Maïssa Lihedheb is a German–Tunisian writer and director. She holds an MFA in Writing and Directing from NYU Tisch, where she was an Ang Lee Scholar, served as Graduate Student President and received the Spike Lee Production Grant.
Her work has screened internationally at Tribeca, Palm Springs ShortFest, BFI London and Filmfest Dresden. Her short film Hundefreund won Best German Film at interfilm Berlin and was nominated for the German Short Film Award. In 2026, she received a Princess Grace Honoraria.
Moving across dark comedy, psychological drama and feminist horror, her films examine migration, power, intimacy, control, performance and the systems that shape our lives.
Alongside her independent films, Maïssa directed television episodes for ZDF and the feature documentary Ramadan in a Day for ARD in Germany. She is the founder of the BIPOC Film Society Berlin and co-founder of the SWANA Film Collective.