Mohamed Kordofani both wrote and directed the film, which is a collaborative effort among talents from Sudan, Sweden, Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, and Egypt.
The Malmo Arab Film Festival (MAFF) has announced that Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s acclaimed film Goodbye Julia will open its 14th edition, slated to run from April 22 to April 28, 2024.
Goodbye Julia clinched the Development Award at MAFF Industry Days 2021 and has garnered widespread acclaim throughout its international screenings. Notably, it is the first Sudanese feature film to earn a spot at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Freedom Prize following its historic world premiere. The film has since amassed an impressive array of accolades, including the Best African Film award at the Septimius Awards, the Roger Ebert Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Cinema for Humanity Award, among others. Mohamed Kordofani, the visionary behind Goodbye Julia, was honoured as Variety’s MENA Talent of the Year.
Lupita Nyong’o, the Academy Award-winning actress serves as the executive producer of Goodbye Julia. The film also holds the distinction of being Sudan’s official submission for Best Foreign Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
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.
The film is a co-production involving Sudanese, Swedish, German, Saudi, French, and Egyptian collaborators.
The film features Eiman Yousif, Siran Riak, Nazar Goma, and Ger Duany. Written and directed by Mohamed Kordofani, Goodbye Julia is produced by Amjad Abu Alala of Station Films in collaboration with Mohamed Al-Omda. MAD Solutions manages worldwide sales and distribution.
Co-producers of the film include Baho Bakhsh and Safei Eldin Mahmoud (Red Star Films), Michael Henrichs (Die Gesellschaft), Khaled Awad and Mohamed Kordofani (Klozium Studios), Marc Irmer (Dolce Vita), Faisal Baltyuor (Cinewaves Films), Ali El-Arabi (Ambient Light), Adham El-Sherif (CULT), and Issraa Elkogali Häggström (RiverFlower).
