The film is also set to hit screens in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain on December 7, followed by its release in the UAE on December 14 at Vox Cinemas.
Mohamed Kordofani’s debut Sudanese feature film, Goodbye Julia, which was honoured with the Un Certain Regard Freedom Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has clinched yet another Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature from the Leeds International Film Festival in the UK.
This latest accolade marks the third award within a week and the fourth Audience Award for Goodbye Julia during its festival circuit, where it has consistently captivated audiences with its storytelling and cinematic excellence.
In upcoming events, Goodbye Julia is set for its Asian premiere at the esteemed Horizon Section of the Singapore International Film Festival, scheduled to run from November 30 to December 10. Additionally, the film will be featured at the Africa Rising International Film Festival.
Looking ahead to its Gulf release, Goodbye Julia is set to hit screens on Thursday, December 7, screening in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, before reaching the UAE on December 14.
The film’s success extends to Egypt, where it has recorded the highest revenues for an Arab film at the Egyptian box office, amassing over EGP 2.5m within the initial three weeks of its commercial release on October 25. Notably, it has outperformed major blockbusters like Martin Scorcese’s Killers of the Flower Moon in the country’s box office.
Adding to its list of accomplishments, Goodbye Julia recently secured an Audience Award at the Mostra De Cinema Arab, Best Film at the 2023 Belfast Film Festival’s International Competition, and Excellence and Best Actress Awards at Canada’s Muslim International Film Festival. The film also earned Best Director and Best Leading Actress in a Debut Feature Film at the 18th Cyprus International Film Festival.
With a total of 15 accolades, Goodbye Julia is Sudan’s official submission for Best Foreign Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. It recently premiered in 51 arthouse theatres across France, introducing French cinephiles to a vital new voice in global cinema.
Adding to the film’s prominence, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o announced her role as the film’s executive producer. Egyptian critic Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rahim, a member of the 2024 Golden Globe Awards’ Voting Committee, revealed that Goodbye Julia has been selected to compete for the Best Non-English Language Film Award, ahead of the shortlist’s announcement in December.
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).
