Samia | Screening

Based on the true story of Samia Yusuf Omar— who inspired the bestselling book DON’T TELL ME YOU’RE AFRAID — a young Somali athlete boldly moving towards her future and becoming a symbol in the fight for freedom and women’s rights worldwide; defying taboos by racing through the streets of Mogadishu in a society where a woman is not supposed to run. Her passion will one day take her to the Olympic Games.

About the Director
Yasemin Şamdereli is a German actress, screenwriter, and film director of Kurdish descent. Graduating from the University of Television and Film in Munich, she later worked as a freelance collaborator for Bavaria-Film. Her graduation film, KISMET, was shown at several major film festivals and won the Short Tiger Award. She previously worked as a directing assistant on two renowned Jackie Chan flicks; SPY AGAINST WILL and JACKY CHAN IS NOBODY, as well as the Turkish TV classic TURKISH FOR BEGINNERS. Şamdereli also directed the acclaimed German dramedy ALMANYA: WELCOME TO GERMANY, which world premiered at the 61st Berlinale before going on an extensive tour of the festival circuit that netted 12 awards, including the 2011 German Filmpreis.

About Cinema Akil
Cinema Akil is the arthouse cinema dreams are made of —cosy, quirky, and a pioneer in bringing critically-acclaimed films from around the world to UAE audiences. Founded by Butheina Kazim, Cinema Akil promotes the goal of education and awareness-building around film and the cinematic arts. After years of hosting nomadic pop ups in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, Cinema Akil established itself as the first arthouse cinema in the GCC in 2018, quickly becoming a fan favourite.