The Cannes Film Festival reveals new cinematic voices through its Un Certain Regard selection. Mo Harawe's The Village Next to Paradise, a Somali drama, finds its place there this year.
In a remote village in the middle of the Somali desert, Mamargade, a single father, takes on a series of odd jobs to survive. His sister Araweelo has taken refuge in his home after a turbulent domestic dispute. The potential of Mamargade's son, Cigaal, is ignored because of the situation at the heart of this fragile family's intimacy. Mamargade and her sister trust each other, but wouldn't have chosen to live together if circumstances hadn't forced them to. The daily life of this family is inextricably linked to the socio-political situation of a country plagued by political unrest, natural disasters and the legacy of colonialism.
Mo Harawe, an emerging director on the Somali film scene, signs his first feature film with The Village Next to Paradise. The film stars Axmed Cali Faarax, Canab Axmed Ibraahin and Cigaal Maxamuud Saleebaan, talented actors representing the new generation of Somali cinema.
Thierry Frémaux declared:"The Village Next to Paradise is a Somali film by Mo Harawe, and here again we know thatWest Africa,sub-Saharan Africa,North Africa and the Maghreb are already very strong sub-continents for cinema, andEast Africa too. We've welcomed films from Kenya, Sudan and now Somalia, and suddenly, as in the case ofSaudi Arabia, new voices are being heard. Voices of filmmakers, it's an extraordinarily convincing film, in terms of its pre-visual parts, in terms of its narrative, in terms of the way this film tells its story, which is not an overblown New York film, no, it's a Somali film. Mo Harawe's Village Near Paradise is a first film.
Cannes Film Festival 2026: The Latest News and Updates on the 79th Edition
The Cannes Film Festival makes its return to the Croisette for its 79th edition from May 12 to 23, 2026. Click here for the latest updates and news! [Read more]
Discover the official lineup for the 79th Cannes Film Festival, set on the Croisette from May 12 to 23, 2026. [Read more]
The Un Certain Regard selection at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival comprises 19 films, including five directorial debuts. [Read more]
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Cannes Film Festival 2026: The Latest News and Updates on the 79th Edition
Festival de Cannes 2026 : The Films in the Official Selection
Cannes Film Festival 2026: The films selected for Un Certain Regard
