Have you heard of Lichen Sclerosus? Affecting around one in 50 women, it is still too often misdiagnosed, misunderstood and left unspoken.
A young Munich-based film team, together with international Soroptimists, is working to change that. “An Itch to Scratch” is a short feature film about Heidi, a 23-year-old kindergarten teacher who quietly struggles with a severe and persistent vulvar itch. Afraid of what it might mean, she hides her symptoms—mirroring the experience of many women facing this condition. The film follows her emotional, professional and medical journey, shedding light on a widespread yet taboo subject.
“Break the silence before it breaks you,” says director Louise Zenker, who developed the project at the renowned Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film in Munich. Drawing on her own experience with LS, she leads an almost entirely female team. The film combines clarity, humor and an unexpected genre mix and has already gained support from the German Dermatological Society, the Swiss LS Society with Soroptimist Bettina Fischer and the SI STAR team of SI Club Mainz.
SI Mainz has championed female filmmakers since 2015 through the SI STAR Film Award, presented biennially at the Berlinale. With €22,000 in prize money (2026) and a total project volume of around €30,000, funded by 33 German SI clubs and supported by actress and producer Veronica Ferres, the initiative has become a recognised platform in the German film industry.
“An Itch to Scratch” is the second film in production supported directly by SI Mainz, with €2,500 awarded at the 2026 SI STAR gala to help fund an international version.
Currently in post-production, the film will soon be shared at medical conferences, international festivals and in cinemas, helping to break the silence around a condition that affects far too many, yet remains far too hidden.
By Susanne Becker von Dadelsen
SIE Communications Officer 2026-2027