102', Feature Film - Italy, Germany, Belgium, 2024
SAMIA
Based on the novel Don't Tell Me You're Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
Directed by:
Yasemin Şamdereli, in collaboration with Deka Mohamed Osman
Screenplay:
Yasemin Şamdereli, Nesrin Şamdereli, Giuseppe Catozzella
Director of Photography:
Florian Berutti
Produced by:
Indyca with Rai Cinema, Neue Bioskop Film, Tarantula
In coproduction with:
BIM Produzione, MOMENTO FILM, VOO, BeTV and Shelter Prod
Cast:
llham Mohamed Osman, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Fatah Ghedi, Elmi Rashid Elmi, Waris Dirie, Ryan Roble, Zakaria Mohamed
Produced by:
Simone Catania, Dietmar Güntsche, Anja Karina Richter, Francesca Portalupi, Michele Fornasero, Martin Rohé, Joseph Rouschop, David Herdies, Christoph Fisser, Riccardo Russo
Co-produced by:
Isabelle Georgeaux, Matteo Bianco, Kristina Börjeson
Music:
Rodrigo D'Erasmo
With the support of:
EURIMAGES, CREATIVE EUROPE, MIC – ITALIAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE, APULIA FILM COMMISSION, MIBACT, FFA DEVELOPMENT FUND, FILM COMMISSION TORINO PIEMONTE, FILMFERNSEHFONDS BAYERN, FILMFÖRDERUNGSANSTALT, MITTELDEUTSCHE MEDIENFÖRDERUNG, MEDIENBOARD BERLIN-BRANDENBURG, DEUTSCHER FILMFÖRDERFONDS, TAXSHELTER.BE, ING, TAX SHELTER OF THE BELGIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FILM I VAST
With the participation of:
WALLIMAGE (WALLONIA)
In collaboration with:
CINEPOSTPRODUCTION, THE PIRANESI EXPERIENCE, PONT NEUF PRODUCTIONS
Samia was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a terrible civil war. She was only 9 years old when she discovered 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.
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.
