Muna is determined to go on the school trip. She wants to escape the monotony of home, have fun with her friends and, of course, compile the greatest playlist of all time. But her parents are uncertain whether to let her go. Then the news reaches this UK-based family that Muna’s grandfather back in Somalia has died. Muna must navigate a confusing mourning period for a man she never really knew – all the while still desperately hoping to persuade her mum to change her mind about the trip. As events collide at the wake, Muna reflects on her own and her grandfather’s life and discovers that more connects the two of them than she ever realised.
by Warda Mohamed
with Kosar Ali, Raha Isse Farah, Elmi Rashid Elmi, Ahmed Nur, Meena Mohamed, Osman Omar
United Kingdom 2023 English, Somali 19’ International premiere recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Kosar Ali (Muna)
  • Raha Isse Farah (Yasmin)
  • Elmi Rashid Elmi (Abdi)
  • Ahmed Nur (Ali)
  • Meena Mohamed (Aunty Mariam)
  • Osman Omar (Awoowe)

Crew

Director Warda Mohamed
Screenplay Warda Mohamed
Cinematography Olan Collardy
Editing Mdhamiri Á Nkemi
Music Cassie Kinoshi
Sound Design Alex Bird
Sound Miguel Rodriguez Puente
Production Design Elena Isolini
Costumes Natalie Roar
Make-Up Karla Quiñonez Léon
Casting Hannah Marie Williams
Producers Angela Moneke, Simon Hatton
Executive Producers Claudia Yusef, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Sajid Varda, Claire Wilson, Kosar Ali
Co-Production BBC Film London
Pink Towel Productions London
Rendition Films London

Produced by

Monegram

Warda Mohamed

The filmmaker and screenwriter began her film career assisting on the 2019 production of Rocks by Sarah Gavron, where she consulted on elements of Somali representation. Her experimental short Sorry My Somali Is Not Very Good screened at BFI Southbank and at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival. She has also worked as a co-director in the theatre. An alumna of the BFI Network @ LFF talent programme, she participated in the writers’ room for the British TV comedy series We Are Lady Parts by Nida Manzoor. Muna was nominated for Best British Short at both the British Independent Film Awards and the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards and won Best Short Film at the British Short Film Awards.

Filmography

2021 Sorry My Somali Is Not Very Good; short film 2023 Muna; short film

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024