'The Village Next to Paradise', a Cannes-selected poetic drama by Mo Harawe, centred on a family in a Somali village navigating life between hardship and hope.
As part of Arab Cinema Week Volume 4, Cinema Akil will host special screenings of The Village Next to Paradise on May 4 and May 9, with director Mo Harawe in attendance. Presented by Fujifilm in collaboration with Alserkal Avenue and supported by Soul Communications, the event highlights a landmark in Somali cinema.
Directed and written by Mo Harawe in his feature debut, The Village Next to Paradise transports viewers to the serene backdrop of a Somali village, where a family recently brought back together must navigate the fragile balance between personal aspirations and societal pressures. The film offers an intimate portrayal of life in the village, capturing the everyday struggles and dreams of its residents.
The cast includes Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mahmoud Suleiman and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim. Joana Scrinzi handled the film’s editing, while Noor Abdulkadir served as production designer. Egyptian cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef made his feature debut on the film, earning the Best Cinematography award at the Diagonale Austrian Film Festival. The film also won Best Feature Film at the same festival.
The Village Next to Paradise holds the distinction of being the first Somali film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival. El Kashef, who gained acclaim for his work on the project, will return to Cannes this May with his latest film, Aisha Can’t Fly.
International sales are handled by Totem Films, with Jour2Fête managing French distribution and MAD Distribution covering the MENA region.
