As the award-winning short is released on BBC iPlayer, the director and star talk about grief, breaking Somali stereotypes and a career-changing social media postWhen Warda Mohamed posted a message on social media that she had completed her feature film script, she never expected it to change her career. “I genuinely thought it was just going to be a few people saying, ‘Oh my God, well done’,” she says. “I posted it at nine o’clock at night and thought nothing of it.” By morning, a commissioner at BBC Film had reached out, setting the wheels in motion for what would become Muna – an 18-minute short film that screened at more than 60 international film festivals, won multiple awards, and has now made its way to BBC iPlayer.Muna tells the story of a British-Somali teenager, played by Kosar Ali (Bafta-nominated for Rocks), who navigates a complex mother-daughter relationship while mourning a grandfather she never met. Her grief mirrors Mohamed’s own experience growing up. “There isn’t ...
Warda Mohamed and Kosar Ali discuss their British-Somali short film "Muna," now on BBC iPlayer. The film, starring Ali as a British-Somali teenager navigating grief and a complex mother-daughter relationship, aims to break Somali stereotypes and offer an authentic representation of British-Somali life. Mohamed, who also co-directed the play Dugsi Dayzin 2022, emphasizes the importance of faith-based filmmaking and reflecting community values. The production faced challenges, including a lack of Somali actors and funding, but ultimately proved rewarding, with a positive reception from audiences worldwide.
