Mo Harawe's "The Village Next To Paradise" Brings Somalia to Paris and Lebanon

Mo Harawe’s "The Village Next To Paradise" is set to make its French debut in Paris on April 9th at Cinéma l'Écran de Saint-Denis and Le Figuier Blanc.

Already a standout on the international film festival circuit, the film recently won two prestigious awards at the Diagonale Austrian Film Festival: Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography, the latter of which MAD Crew Celebrity’s mesmerizing Egyptian DOP Mostafa El Kashef.

"The Village Next To Paradise" takes viewers to the idyllic setting of a Somali village as a recently reunited family must navigate between their dreams and the complexities of societal expectations. 

They are treated to the village's charming heart, immersed in the lives of the residents as they pursue their hopes against the rolling tides.

Written and directed by Mo Harawe, "The Village Next To Paradise" marks his feature directorial debut, offering a powerful portrayal of Somali life.

The film stars Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mahmoud Suleiman, and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim. 

Alongside its release at France's Ecrans du Sud, "The Village Next To Paradise" will be screened from April 10-19 at Metropolis Cinema in Lebanon.

"The Village Next To Paradise" is scheduled for a screening on April 13th at 8 PM, further enhancing its collection of international honors. 

The festival will present 22 films from 35 countries, many of which have been recognized at major global festivals.

"The Village Next To Paradise" is an international co-production involving Maanmaal ACC (Somalia), Freibeuter Film (Austria), Kazak Productions (France), and Niko Film (Germany). International sales are handled by Totem Films, with distribution managed by Jour2Fête. MAD Solutions oversees the film’s distribution and sales rights in the MENA region.

Mo Harawe, a graduate of the Berlinale Talents program, is known for several acclaimed short films, including "Life In The Horn Of Africa" and "Will My Parents Come And See Me?", which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.