The film is set to have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.
Sudanese film Goodbye Julia, written and directed by Mohamed Kordofani, will have its MENA premiere at the sixth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), which is scheduled to take place from October 12 to 20, 2023, in the resort town of El Gouna, Egypt.
Goodbye Julia follows the story of Mona — a northern Sudanese retired singer in a tense marriage — who is wracked by guilt after covering up a murder. In an attempt to make amends, she takes in the deceased’s southern Sudanese widow, Julia, and her son, Daniel, into her home.
Unable to confess her transgressions to Julia, Mona decides to leave the past behind and adjust to a new status quo, unaware that the country’s turmoil may find its way into her home and put her face to face with her sins.
Speaking about the film premiere, festival director Intishal Al Timimi said: “We are thrilled to have Goodbye Julia at the festival this year. Mohamed Kordofani is a talented filmmaker who has created a powerful and thought-provoking film that will resonate with audiences worldwide. We are honoured to have been a part of the film’s journey and can’t wait for our audiences to experience it.”
Amjad Abu Alala is the producer of Goodbye Julia, his directorial feature debut, You Will Die at 20, had its MENA premiere at El Gouna Film Festival where it won the El Gouna Gold Star for Best Film.
Abu Alala said: “I am thrilled to return to El Gouna Film Festival with Goodbye Julia. Mohamed Kordofani is a very talented director, and his film is a compelling narrative that speaks to the human experience. We appreciate the festival’s backing and eagerly look forward to sharing the movie with audiences in the area.”
MAD Solutions has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Goodbye Julia.
Alaa Karkouti, founder and Managing Partner of MAD Solutions, stated “We are proud to be associated with Goodbye Julia and are excited to bring this exceptional film to audiences around the world. Mohamed Kordofani’s vision and storytelling are truly remarkable, and we believe the film will strike a chord with viewers everywhere.”
