Opening (Focus: Sudan)
Goodbye Julia
Mohamed Kordofani | 2023 | Sudan | 120 min | Sudanese, Arabic Sub: English | 17+
Goodbye Julia ( وداعاً جوليا) is the debut feature by Mohamed Kordofani, a Sudanese film director and screenwriter based in Bahrain. It was the first film from Sudan to be presented at Cannes' Un Certain Regard section. Further, the Sudanese National Committee, operating in exile, selected it to compete for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards. Amid the tumultuous backdrop of North and South Sudan's pre-secession tensions taking place in Khartoum, Mona, a retired Muslim singer from the North, grapples with guilt after covering up a murder committed by her husband. In a bid for redemption, she takes in Julia, the Christian widow of the deceased, and her son, Daniel. Mona tries to hide her dark secret as she struggles to adjust to this new life.
Filmography:
NYERKUK (2016) won the Black Elephant Award for Best Sudanese Film in 2017. He also won the NAAS Award at the Carthage FF and the Pellegrini Award at FCAAA, Milan. KEJER’S PRISON (2019) was screened during the Sudanese revolution at the sit-in square in front of thousands of protesters. His documentary, LOVE REPUBLIC (2020), was broadcast on national television.
AWARDS:
- Nominee Un Certain Regard Award - Cannes Film Festival 2023
- Nominee Golden Camera 2023 - Cannes Film Festival 2023
- Winner Un Certain Regard Freedom Prize - Cannes Film Festival 2023
- Audience Award - Paysages de Cinéastes
- Youth Jury Award - Paysages de Cinéastes
- Women's Jury Award - Paysages de Cinéastes
- Best African Film - Septimius Awards
- Press Jury Award - War on Screen Film Festival
- Audience Award - War on Screen Film Festival
- Roger Ebert Award - Chicago International Film Festival
- Best Film - Belfast Film Festival
- Best Director in a Debut Feature Film - Cyprus International Film Festival
- Best Leading Actress Award - Cyprus International Film Festival
- Best Actress Award - Muslim International Film Festival
- Excellence Award - Muslim International Film Festival
- Audience Award - Mostra de Cinema Arab
- Audience Award - Leeds International Film Festival
- Cineclub Jury Award, Audience Award, and Special Mention - the Youth Jury, Tarragona International Film Festival
- Variety’s MENA Talent of the Year for Mohamed Kordofani & Cinema for Humanity Audience Award - El Gouna International Film Festival
- Best Feature Film - Afrykamera Film Festival
- Best Feature Film - Luxor Film Festival
- Best Feature Film - Baghdad Film Festival
- Distribution Award, Critics Award, and Audience Award - Ibiza International Film Festival
- Golden Horizon Award - Hollywood Arab Film Festival
- Best Screenwriter Award and a Special Mention for Siran Riak - Malmö Arab Film Festival
- Audience Award - Afrika Film Festival"
Screenwriter based in Bahrain. It was the first film from Sudan to be presented at Cannes' Un Certain Regard section. Further, the Sudanese National Committee, operating in exile, selected it to compete for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Amid the tumultuous backdrop of North and South Sudan's pre-secession tensions taking place in Khartoum, Mona, a retired Muslim singer from the North, grapples with guilt after covering up a murder committed by her husband. In a bid for redemption, she takes in Julia, the Christian widow of the deceased, and her son, Daniel. Mona tries to hide her dark secret as she struggles to adjust to this new life.
Madani International Film Festival 2024 mengundang Anda untuk hadir di Malam Pembukaan - Madani International Film Festival 2024 : Marwah
