MADANIYA, a documentary by Mohamed Subahi that follows three youths in the wake of Sudan’s December Revolution, received a Special Mention at this year’s Jerusalem Arab Film Festival in Palestine. Initially set to run in June, though delayed due to the unstable political environment and Israel’s unprecedented attack on Iran, the annual film festival instead held its fifth edition from July 9th to the 15th.
 
The documentary follows the transformative journeys of three Sudanese youths — Django, Esra, and Moumen — as they each strive to effect change in their country amidst a backdrop of national turmoil. The film’s poignant storytelling and authentic portrayal of youth activism resonated powerfully with the audience, further solidifying its reputation after a successful world premiere at the 2024 Sheffield DocFest, where it was nominated for a Youth Jury Award before holding its Arab World premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival.
 
Mohamed Subahi is a filmmaker from Khartoum, Sudan, who is passionate about documentaries. Having been born, raised, and completed his higher education in Sudan, Subahi worked closely with the Sudan Film Factory Initiative while also attending different filmmaking training sessions in Egypt, South Africa, India, and Germany.
 
While concentrating on his documentary work as a director, cinematographer, and editor, Subahi also worked with different Sudanese INGOs like UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, Goethe Institute, British Council, and the EU delegation to Sudan on topics ranging from education, development, youth, and women empowerment, among others. His work experience over the past decade allowed him to tackle MADANIYA as his first feature-length documentary.