It is a story about two women who represent the complicated relationship and differences between Northern and Southern Sudanese communities.
Mohamed Kordofani’s debut Sudanese drama, Goodbye Julia, has continued to dominate the Egyptian box office, surpassing EGP 3m ($0.097m) over its impressive 12-week run. The film has solidified its position as the most successful Arab film in Egyptian box office history.
The multi-award-winning movie has also made a significant impact in the GCC, generating close to half a million dollars during its four-week screening in the UAE. It continues to attract audiences in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.
Building on its success in the Middle East and France, Goodbye Julia is set to grace screens across Europe, Oceania, and Asia. The film is scheduled for release in Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan in the upcoming spring season.
Beyond its box-office achievements, Goodbye Julia holds a remarkable list of accolades. It is the first Sudanese feature film selected for the Cannes Film Festival, where it earned the coveted Freedom Prize after its historic world premiere. The film has also secured honours such as Best African Film at the Septimius Awards, the Roger Ebert Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, Best Film at the Afrykamera Film Festival, Cinema for Humanity Award, and Variety’s MENA Talent of the Year for Mohamed Kordofani. The film has amassed a total of 22 awards, including six audience awards, and has participated in more than 20 international festivals and award ceremonies.
Lupita Nyong’o, the Academy Award-winning actress serves as the executive producer of Goodbye Julia. The film also holds the distinction of being Sudan’s official submission for Best Foreign Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Goodbye Julia follows the story of Mona — a northern Sudanese retired singer in a tense marriage — who is wracked by guilt after covering up a murder. In an attempt to make amends, she takes in the deceased’s southern Sudanese widow, Julia, and her son, Daniel, into her home.
Unable to confess her transgressions to Julia, Mona decides to leave the past behind and adjust to a new status quo, unaware that the country’s turmoil may find its way into her home and put her face to face with her sins.
The film features Eiman Yousif, Siran Riak, Nazar Goma, and Ger Duany. Written and directed by Mohamed Kordofani, Goodbye Julia is produced by Amjad Abu Alala of Station Films in collaboration with Mohamed Al-Omda. Worldwide sales and distribution are managed by MAD Solutions.
Co-producers of the film include Baho Bakhsh and Safei Eldin Mahmoud (Red Star Films), Michael Henrichs (Die Gesellschaft), Khaled Awad and Mohamed Kordofani (Klozium Studios), Marc Irmer (Dolce Vita), Faisal Baltyuor (Cinewaves Films), Ali El-Arabi (Ambient Light), Adham El-Sherif (CULT), and Issraa Elkogali Häggström (RiverFlower).
