Black Europe Film Festival

Echoes From the Horn: Somali Lives in Cinema. Short Film Program + Panel with Directors

Sunday, February 2 • 11:00am • Tickets: $10 General (+ $1.93 fee), $8 Cedar-Riverside Residents (+ $1.81 fee), $5 Youth under 21 years of age (+ $1.65 fee)

**Event Location: The Cedar Cultural Center • 416 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55454**

"Rag tashaday cir tararay wey toli karaan taako labadeede." / "If people come together, they can even mend a crack in the sky." - Somali Proverb

Taking place in the heart of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, this special Somali diaspora program presented by The Qalanjo Project showcases a powerful collection of films that explore themes of home, grief, and belonging, capturing the resilience and creativity of the Somali diaspora. From tales of migration and memory to narratives of hope, heritage, and the search for self, these films weave together intimate portraits of Somali lives across generations and geographies. Through the lens of talented filmmakers, we witness stories that reflect the beauty of cultural connection, the weight of displacement, the horrors of environmental degradation, and the enduring spirit of a people rooted in history yet constantly in motion.

Echoes from the Horn invites you to experience the journeys, dreams, and voices of Somali storytellers to honor the depth of our collective past and the possibilities of our future.

Post-Screening Panel: We will be joined in person by Abdulkadir Ahmed Said, Warda Mohamed, and Salad Hilowle. Additional workshops and community activities will be hosted by The Qalanjo Project with these incredible artists during and after the Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/Saint Paul.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Abdulkadir Ahmed Said is a celebrated Somali filmmaker known for his impactful work in directing, producing, and screenwriting. Beginning his career with the Somali Film Agency in the 1970s, he later served as the Director of Programming for Somali television. His acclaimed short films, including Geedka Nolosha (The Tree of Life) and La conchiglia (The Conch), explore themes of resilience and cultural identity, earning international recognition.

Warda Mohamed is a British-Somali filmmaker whose work examines themes of identity, grief, and diaspora. Her storytelling often captures the nuanced experiences of Somali communities navigating displacement and connection. Her film Muna sensitively portrays the struggles of a British-Somali teenager reconciling grief for a family member she never met, highlighting the complexities of heritage and belonging.

Salad Hilowle was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and moved to Gävle, Sweden, at the age of seven. Now based in Stockholm, he is an acclaimed multimedia artist exploring historical narratives and the African diaspora's influence on history and contemporary culture. Hilowle’s first major solo exhibition outside of Sweden opens at the American Swedish Institute in June 2025. More info: https://asimn.org/exhibition/salad-hilowle-inscriptions.

ABOUT THE FILMS

Aleel (Seashell/la Conchiglia) (Somalia, Italy • 1992 • 23 min • Director: Abdulkadir Ahmed Said)

A beautiful young artist walks along a deserted seashore to paint the ruins of a village on the edge of a cliff. She finds a seashell on the shore and playfully holds it to her ear to hear the sound of the sea. Instead, she hears the voice of a young girl saying, "You are my friend," and learns the story of the village.

Erinra (Sweden • 2015 • 8 min • Director: Salad Hilowle)

A collage of moving images where a man reflects on being born in one country but having roots in another. Provided by Filmform – The Art Film & Video Archive. Sponsored by the American Swedish Institute.

Life on the Horn (Somalia, Austria, Germany • 2020 • 25 min • Director: Mo Harawe)

For decades, toxic waste has been illegally deposited on the Somali coast. The 2004 tsunami damaged containers, spreading diseases. Some locals left their villages, while others stayed to live with the aftermath.

Muna (United Kingdom • 2023 • 19 min • Director: Warda Mohamed)

A film about teenage dreams, dislocated grief, and unexpected connection, following a British-Somali teen navigating a confusing mourning period for a family member she never met.

Somalinimo (United Kingdom • 2020 • 18 min • Director: Awa Farah)

Four British-Somali students reflect on navigating one of Britain’s most elite institutions: Cambridge University. Their identity is rooted in Somalinimo ("the essence of being Somali") and in this love letter to Somali culture, blackness, and Islam, they examine belonging and marginalization.

I’ll Wait For You By the Sea (Egypt • 2023 • 7 min • Director: Rasia Yusuf)

In Cairo, a 25-year-old woman writes a letter to her half-sister, recounting father-daughter memories and illustrating life in Cairo.

The Night Thief (Yövaras) (Finland • 2017 • 16 min • Director: Khadar Ayderus Ahmed

A Somali man’s car starts to disappear mysteriously at night. When he decides to catch the thief, things take an unexpected turn.

This special short film program is brought to you by The Qalanjo Project, a Somali cultural organization and creative arts studio based in Minneapolis, with the support from the American Swedish Institute.

ABOUT - BLACK EUROPE FILM FESTIVAL

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul is a groundbreaking celebration of Afro-European cinema, debuting in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Rooted in community collaboration and anti-racist organizing, BEFF MSP brings you a dynamic lineup of documentaries, fiction films, and shorts by Europe’s most acclaimed Afro-descendant filmmakers. This festival offers a space for artists to showcase their work and foster connections across the global Black diaspora and the international film community. At its core, BEFF MSP recognizes the intertwined legacies of racism, colonialism, and displacement while celebrating the vibrancy, creativity, and resilience of Black filmmakers. These artists challenge stereotypes, redefine narratives, and envision worlds beyond the limits imposed by whiteness, amplifying an authentic vision of Black Europe and Black Europeans. The festival experience is enriched by masterclasses, filmmaker encounters, workshops, lectures, and artist residencies, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and joy. Join us to celebrate the power of storytelling and the boundless creativity of Afro-European cinema while engaging diverse audiences, communities, and youth.