Mervat Fares Shehadeh is a Syrian journalist and media professional from Damascus, currently based in Cologne, Germany. A graduate of the Faculty of Journalism at Damascus University, her professional experience spans written journalism, cultural media, visual reporting, and documentary work.

She worked for four years as editor of the Arabic section of Sindbad Magazine, published in Germany, and currently works with the media team of Ebdaa Platform. She also produces visual journalistic reports covering cultural activities and events across Germany and Europe, alongside her work in documentary filmmaking.

Alongside her media career, she is involved in several civil society networks and initiatives, including the media office of the Massar Coalition, which focuses on forcibly disappeared persons in Syria, as well as the Syrian Feminist Lobby and the Syrian Women’s Network.

Her relationship with the Kobani International Film Festival extends across several editions. She previously served on the Documentary Films Selection Committee in 2023, 2024, and 2025, bringing continuity and accumulated experience in viewing and evaluating documentary films.

At the 7th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2026, Mervat Fares Shehadeh serves as a Selection Committee Member – Documentary Films Section, contributing her experience in journalism, media, and documentary storytelling.