Somali Film Festival: A Selection of Short Films + Q&A

Almas Art Foundation, in partnership with Kayd and with the support of SAAFI, invites you to an evening celebrating Somali storytelling on screen. Experience a curated selection of short films by talented filmmakers from the Horn of Africa and the global diaspora. Join us for an evening of powerful storytelling, community and cinematic voices from across the Somali diaspora, followed by a Q&A.

Whispers of a Burning Scent (2026) — Directed by Mo Harawe (28 min)

On the day of a decisive court hearing and an important wedding performance, a quiet wedding musician finds his private life exposed to public scrutiny. Accused of exploiting his marriage, he moves between the courtroom, city streets and stage, carrying the weight of judgement, loyalty and unspoken guilt.

Mo Harawe has previously written and directed acclaimed films including Will My Parents Come to See Me and Life in the Horn.

Woman Land (2025) — Directed by Yasmin Yassin (10 min)

Two young Somali sisters in Minneapolis balance rebellion with reputation when their secret matchmaking business attracts a client a little too close to home. Set in South Minneapolis, Woman Land follows Somali-American sisters Hafsa and Sumaya as they secretly run a matchmaking service called “Woman Land”, navigating ambition, sisterhood and cultural expectations. Hafsa, shy and introspective, spearheads the business, while her older sister Sumaya, practical and jaded, dreams of leaving town and exploring the world after graduating from college.

Yasmin Yassin is a Somali director and photographer based in Minnesota. Her artistic practice explores subcultures and the networks of connection people create. With a background in science, Yasmin combines research and relationship-building to tell stories with authenticity and integrity, rooted in the East African oral storytelling tradition.

The Night Thief (2017) — Directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (17 min)

The Night Thief is a short dramedy about Farah, a Somali man living in Helsinki whose car is mysteriously “borrowed” every night. As the incidents begin to threaten his job security, Farah attempts to catch the culprit, leading to an unexpected turn.

Khadar Ayderus Ahmed is a Somali-Finnish filmmaker whose films have been screened internationally. His best known for directing the feature film The Gravedigger’s Wife.

A Cliff Becomes a Bridge — Warda Rose (10 min)

A Cliff Becomes a Bridge is an intimate documentary about displacement, family and belonging, in which the filmmaker’s effort to reconnect with her sister becomes a deeper exploration of trauma, refugee identity, loneliness and how art and storytelling support healing after survival. The film has screened at Regent Park film festival and TIFF New Horizons: New Voices of Canada.

Warda Rose is a filmmaker and arts organizer based in Toronto. A refugee from Djibouti, Warda is an ArtworksTO, OYA emerging Filmmakers and POV Film alum who works across various artistic mediums, including visual art, plays, poetry, painting and puppetry.

Roadtrip – Daniel Oluwasayo Olabode (20 min)

Roadtrip follows Fawzia, a young British-Somali woman, and her older brother Tahiil as they embark on a tense overnight drive to the French Embassy in London, seeking justice after a tragic loss. As the siblings navigate grief and anger, recordings of their father’s speeches accompany them, shaping their conversations and challenging their perspectives. Roadtrip is an intimate drama about loss, family, legacy and neo-colonialism.

Daniel Oluwasayo Olabode is an award-winning British Nigerian filmmaker, creative director and producer with over twelve years of experience creating culturally rich, emotionally resonant work across film, branded content and live experiences. Working from concept to completion, he combines storytelling, creative direction and strategic leadership to deliver projects that engage audiences and inspire change. His work explores history, identity, politics and social justice, with a particular interest in African histories and the experiences of the global majority. Alongside filmmaking, Daniel helps organisations develop creative strategy, sustainable structures and collaborative partnerships that support long-term cultural impact