Samia

This biographical film retells the heartbreaking story of Somalia's representative at the Beijing Olympics, Samia Yusuf Omar.

Samia Yusuf Omar is an assertive and independent girl who grew up in Mogadishu during a civil war that ravaged Somalia. Despite harassment from local militias who believe that women should not be involved in sports, running is the highlight of her turbulent life. Her dream is to participate in the Olympics like her role model, Mo Farah, and at the age of 17, this dream is fulfilled when she is selected to represent her country in the Beijing Olympics. 

The story is based on the popular novel Don’t tell me you’re afraid by Guiseppe Catozzella, which was written after extensive research and long conversations with Samia’s sister, Hodan. 

Director Yasemin Şamdereli brings Samia’s life to the screen with a warm, inspiring, and empathetic approach. Lead actress Ilham Mohamed Osman impresses greatly in the role, which is her acting debut.

Director

Yasemin Şamdereli (b. 1973) is a German director, screenwriter and actress. She studied at the University of Television and Film in Munich from 1993 to 2000. Her film Almanya - Welcome to Germany won the Deutscher Filmpreis in the categories Best Script and Best Film in 2011.

This film is part of