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102’, 2024

SAMIA

Based on the book Don't tell me you are 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

Production country:

Italy

Germany

Belgium

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

Samia was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the 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 following the dream to compete at the London Olympics in
2012. 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.

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 association with

CINEPOSTPRODUCTION, THE PIRANESI EXPERIENCE, PONT NEUF PRODUCTIONS

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