In a cotton-farming village in Sudan, 15-year-old Nafisa has a crush on Babiker, but her parents have arranged her marriage to Nadir, a young Sudanese businessman living abroad. Nafisa's grandmother Al-Sit, the powerful village matriarch, has her own plans for Nafisa's future. But can Nafisa choose for herself?

A film by Suzannah MIRGHANI

starring Mihad Murtada, Rabiha Mohammed Mahmoud, Mohammed Magdi, Haram Bashir, Alsir Mahjoub

Sudan, 2020, short drama, 20 minutes, drame

Tags: Drama, arranged marriage, Youth, Woman Filmmaker, Tradition
Project Type: Short
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 20 minutes
Completion Date: November 19, 2020
Country of Origin: Sudan
Country of Filming: Qatar, Sudan
Filming Locations: Khartoum and Aezzazh village, Sudan
Language: Arabic
Shooting Format: RED
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Film Color: Color
First-time Filmmaker: No
Student Project: No

Director Statement
This is a story from Sudan about women, both powerless and powerful. In many Sudanese villages, the matriarch is revered and respected and gains social power through experience and age. Young girls, on the other hand, are the most vulnerable. This film explores both ends of the social chain and how these roles might be changing in a modernizing world.
Everyone has their own selfish reason for why 15-year-old Nafisa's arranged marriage should or should not happen, everyone apart from the bride-to-be. In Sudan, I met many young girls like Nafisa: teenagers living on the margins of their own lives, watching silently as others make important decisions on their behalf. Many girls do not stand up for themselves because they believe they have no option. In this film, I explore the possibility of a young girl making a statement against all odds. That is a seemingly simple statement: choosing who to love. This film gives voice to young girls like Nafisa.
Filmmaking in Sudan is finally beginning to flourish after decades of prohibition and neglect. Sudan is overflowing with talent, but there is little opportunity to show it. We made this film with a 99% Sudanese cast and crew (and 1% Lebanese). Many of the cast members (including Mihad Murtada who played Nafisa, and Mohammed Magdi who played Nadir) are first-time actors.

Producers: Suzannah Mirghani, Eiman Mirghani
Associate Producers: Rodney Sharkey, Julietta Mirghani, Maysaa Almumin (AKA Maysaa Al Mumin)
Line producers: Enan Mohammed, Abdalla Osman, Rodney Sharkey

Director/ Réalisatrice : Suzannah Mirghani
Screenwriter: Suzannah Mirghani
Director or Photography: Khalid Awad (AKA Khaled Awad)
Art Director: Sara Awad (AKA Sarah Awad)
Editors: Abdelrahim Kattab, Suzannah Mirghani
Makeup artist: Rayan Ibrahim
First assistant director: Salwa Al Khalifa
Gaffer: Almoez Hagar
Wardrobe: Mohamed Elmur
Continuity: Atif Elaraky

CAST
Mihad Murtada ("Nafisa")
Rabiha Mohammed Mahmoud AKA Rabeha Mohammed Mahmoud ("Al-Sit")
Mohammed Magdi AKA Mohammed Magdi Hassan ("Nadir")
Haram Bashir AKA Haram Basher ("Nafisa's Mother")
Alsir Mahjoub ("Bilal")
Murtada Eltayeb ("Driver")
Talaat Farid ("Babiker")
Fatma Farid ("Faiza")
Intisar Osman ("Faiza's Mother")
Abdalla Jacknoon ("Babiker's Father")

Production companies:
Suzannah Mirghani Films
Doha Film Institute /// www.dohafilminstitute.com/films/al-sit

Distribution:
MAD Distribution Films (Rights: WORLDWIDE)
http://mad-distribution.film/movies/movie1115306.php

Official website:
https://filmfreeway.com/Al-Sit

SCREENINGS
- Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (Clermont-Ferrand, France): January 26, 2021 /// International Premiere /// Canal+ / Cine+ Award
- Ajyal Film Festival (Qatar)
- Tampere Film Festival (Finland)/ March 13, 2021 /// Grand Prix
- Aspen Shortsfest (United States): April 6, 2021
- Malmo Arab Film Festival (Sweden): April 10, 2021 /// Special Mention
- Seattle International Film Festival (United States): April 13, 2021
- European Independent Film Festival (Paris, France): April 11, 2021 /// Excellence in Women's Filmmaking Award
- San Francisco International Film Festival San Francisco (United States): April 9, 2021 /// California Premiere
- Busan International Short Film Festival (Republic of Korea): April 23, 2021 /// Jury Award
- Toronto Arab Film Festival (Canada): May 27, 2021 /// Audience Award
- Huesca International Film Festival (Spain): June 9, 2021 /// Best Script Award
- Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Japan): June 11, 2021
- Ismailia Film Festival (Egypt): June 21, 2021 /// Best Short Film
- Palm Springs Shortfest (United States): June 22, 2021
- Ischia Film Festival (Italy): June 26, 2021
- ShorTS International Film Festival (Italy): July 28, 2021
- Maine International Film Festival (United States): July 9, 2021
- LA Shorts (United States): July 13, 2021 /// Best of Fest
- Beirut Women International Film Festival (Lebanon): July 22, 2021 /// Best Director
- Zanzibar International Film Festival (United Republic of Tanzania): July 22, 2021 /// Best Short Film
- Universo Corto (Italy): July 22, 2021 /// Best Short Film
- Indy Shorts (United States): July 22, 2021
- Durban Film Festival (South Africa): July 22, 2021
- BlackStar (United States): August 6, 2021
- La Guarimba Film Festival (Italy): August 10, 2021
- Bronzelens Film Festival (United States): August 19, 2021
- DC Black Film Festival (United States): August 19, 2021
- Sidewalk Film Festival (United States): August 23, 2021
- Prishtina Film Festival (Kosovo): August 25, 2021
- Columbus Black Film Festival (United States): August 28, 2021
- Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (India): August 28, 2021
- Odense Film Festival (Denmark): August 30, 2021
- Encounters Film Festival (United Kingdom): September 1, 2021
- Minikino Film Festival (Indonesia): September 3, 2021
- Salento Film Festival (Italy): September 7, 2021
- Elba Film Festival (Italy): September 14, 2021
- Quibdo Africa Film Festival (Colombia): September 14, 2021
- Linz Short Film Festival (Austria): September 20, 2021
- Afrika Film Festival Koln (Germany)

won 16 international awards, including:
* the 2021 Best of Fest /// LA Shorts (Academy Award qualifying prize)
* the 2021 Grand Prix /// Tampere Film Festival (Academy Award qualifying prize)
* Canal+ Award (International Competition) /// Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (2021)
* Best Short Film /// Zanzibar International Film Festival (2021)
* Jury Award /// Busan International Short Film Festival (2021)
* Best Director (International Short Films Competition Award) /// Beirut International Women Film Festival 2021
* Jury Prize (International Competition) /// Busan International Short Film Festival 2021
* Excellence in Women's Filmmaking (Dramatic Short) /// ECU European Independent Film Festival 2021
* Best Film Script Award (International Competition) /// Huesca Film Festival 2021
* Special Mention (International Competition) /// Huesca Film Festival 2021
* Best Short Film /// Ismailia International Film Festival 2021 (Egypt)
* Best Short Film /// LA Shorts International Film Festival 2021 (USA)
* Special Mention (Short Film Competition) /// Malmö Arab Film Festival 2021
* The Fevoss Award (Best Film) /// San Gio Verona Video Festival 2021 (Italy)
* Grand Prix (International Competition) /// Tampere Film Festival 2021
* Best Short/Animation (Best Short Film) /// Zanzibar International Film Festival 2021
* ZIFF Chairman's Award /// Zanzibar International Film Festival 2021


______________

رتّبت عائلة نفيسة زواجها من نادر، رجل الأعمال السوداني الذي يعيش خارج السودان. ولكن تُحتّم تقاليد هذه القرية، التي تُعرف بزراعة القطن، على العائلة أن تأخذ المباركة من جدة نفيسة وزعيمة القبيلة المُلقبة بـ"الست". ولكن هل ستحظى نفيسة يوماً بفرصة اتخاذ قرارتها بنفسها بعيداً عن وطأة وبراثن التقاليد؟
نُشاهد هذه القصة من منظور نفيسة، الفتاة التي لم يتجاوز عمرها الخمسة عشر عاماً، والتي يُمزّقها صراعٌ مُحتدم بين رغبتها بالتجديد واحترامها للتقاليد السائدة في محيطها. رتّبت عائلة نفيسة زواجها من نادر، رجل الأعمال السوداني الذي يعيش خارج السودان. ولكن تُحتّم تقاليد هذه القرية، التي تُعرف بزراعة القطن، على العائلة أن تأخذ المباركة من جدة نفيسة وزعيمة القبيلة المُلقبة بـ"الست". ولكن هل ستحظى نفيسة يوماً بفرصة اتخاذ قرارتها بنفسها بعيداً عن وطأة وبراثن التقاليد؟

بالعربية
فيلم روائي قصير / سودان ،قطر / ٢٠٢٠ / ٢٠ دقائق
غير معروف

Source:
www.dohafilminstitute.com/ar/films/al-sit