Samia

Genre: Drama, Biography

Language : Somalian

Subtitles: French, English

Duration: 102′

Countries: Italy (Indyca), Germany (Neue Bioskop), Belgium (Tarantula)

Year : 2024

SYNOPSIS

Samia was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the civil war. She was only 9 years old when she discoverd her special talent: she was faster than all the other boys and girls. With the help of her best friend Ali, Samia will turn this talent into a dream: to represent Somalia at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. She came in last during the women’s 200 meter race, but the world cheered her on in a truly magical moment. Upon returning to Somalia, Samia was immediately victimized by the reprisals of the Islamic rulers of the country, she had run without a headscarf – an unforgivable mortal sin. Samia now, risking her life, decides to undertake “the journey” to reach Europe following the dream to compete at London Olympics in 2012. Her amazing and inspiring story is the story of a young athlete who defied the odds, but more importantly, is a global story of hope for the many who cross our seas looking for freedom and a better life.

CREDITS

Director: Yasemin Şamdereli

Script: Yasemin Şamdereli, Nesrin Şamdereli, Giuseppe Catozzella

Image: Florian Berutti

Sound: Antoine Vandendriessche

Art designer: Paola Bizzarri

Costume designer: Sophie Oprisano

Editing: Mechtild Barth

Music: Rodrigo D’Erasmo

Casting : Ilham Mohamed Osman, Fatah Ghedi, Riyan Roble, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Elmi Rashid Elmi, Zakaria Mohammed, Waris Dirie

Italy Distribution : Fandango

Benelux Distribution : O’Brother

International Sales : MK2

FESTIVALS

DIRECTOR

A graduate of the Munich Film and Television College, Yasemin directs the television films Alles Getürkt and Ich Chefe, du nix and works as a coscripter on the Turkish for beginners series. Her debut feature film, the family comedy Almanya written with her sister Nesrin, enjoyed enormous success and received numerous prizes and awards. She also has vast experience assisting international productions directed by Jackie Chan, Teddy Chan and Stanley Tong.