Mirghani’s presence in Doha marked a meaningful return to the city where her filmmaking journey had first taken shape. It was in Doha that the Doha Film Institute nurtured her early work, laying the foundation for her evolution from an emerging talent into an internationally recognized director. Yet behind the festival’s energy, her purpose remained rooted in something intimate and profound: honoring the resilience of Sudanese people, many of whom, including her cast, had endured displacement, conflict, and loss.
Mirghani reflected on the joy and responsibility of representing Sudan on the world stage, the authenticity she found in working with non-professional actors, and the emotional weight of creating cinema in a time of war.
AM: You walked up to the director’s podium to show your support for fellow artists. What drives this spirit of solidarity that isn’t always visible in the industry?
Suzannah Mirghani: You know, I’m just really enjoying being here right now, enjoying what I’m doing, and enjoying working with the Sudanese crew who are not really actors. Most of them are just regular people who are enjoying being part of this project. I think this has really brought a lot of joy to us. Many of them have fled the war in Sudan, so the circumstances are very difficult, but this project has brought us all together in a very positive way. Everyone is really happy, even though they’re exhausted.
AM: As a Sudanese director, you inherently carry the weight of representing your homeland. How has that emotional responsibility shaped your journey?
Suzannah Mirghani: It’s a lot, to be honest. There’s so few Sudanese directors, so there’s a lot of responsibility placed on our shoulders to represent the nation. I carry that with pride, but it is a difficult burden. Working with the displaced people, dealing with the emotional baggage they all carry, it’s tough. But I think the one word that unites Sudanese directors is “resilient.” We see that resilience on stage and in the press conferences.
AM: Your cast is mostly made up of non-professional actors. What does working with them bring to your filmmaking that perhaps seasoned actors cannot?
Suzannah Mirghani: It’s fantastic, I really love it. They bring an innocence to the industry, without all the preconceived notions. It’s just about playing, experimenting, and seeing what happens. There’s a natural quality they bring, and a wonderful sense of community. The more professional actors can sometimes distance themselves, but here they’re always together, supporting each other. It really feels like a chosen family.
AM: This year was your first Venice Film Festival. How did stepping onto such a major international platform affect you?
Suzannah Mirghani: It was totally overwhelming, but fantastic. It was the right place to introduce this film to the world. But to be honest, I don’t remember much of it, there was so much running around, so much press. Here in Doha, I’m really feeling it, I’m present.
AM: After such an intense festival run, where does your creative focus go next?
Suzannah Mirghani: I’m writing, but I’m taking it very slowly. It’s been a crazy year, so I’m writing and then leaving it aside, writing and leaving it aside. Hopefully by next year I’ll have a complete script that I can shoot, and then we can all go back to Sudan once the war ends.
AM: You’ve often credited the Doha Film Institute with shaping your path. How exactly did DFI empower your early steps as a filmmaker?
Suzannah Mirghani: The Doha Film Institute was really the reason I was able to become a filmmaker. Before they opened and started offering courses, it felt like such a daunting and difficult world to enter. But they took me by the hand, gave me those baby steps, this is what you do next, this is what you do. Over time, it built up and I felt like I had the tools and knowledge to really pursue filmmaking, even without going to film school.
AM: Your relationship with Doha seems foundational. How has the city, and the institute, shaped your creative voice?
Suzannah Mirghani: It’s been absolutely vital. My first short films were actually made in Doha, exploring the landscapes and cultures of Qatar. So even though my current focus is on Sudan, I have this whole experimental filmography from my time in Doha. The institute really nurtured me and gave me the foundation to become the filmmaker I am today.
AM: Sudan remains at the heart of your work. Do you see yourself continuing to explore Sudanese stories for the foreseeable future?
Suzannah Mirghani: For the foreseeable future, it will be. Each film takes me about five years to make, so right now it’s Sudan. Even though my earlier shorts were made in Qatar, exploring the landscapes and cultures there. But right now, I think it’s important that it’s Sudan.
AM: Sudan’s crisis often struggles to gain global media attention. Why do you think the world isn’t looking closely enough?
Suzannah Mirghani: It’s a very complicated war, with so many layers. It’s not an easy black-and-white situation. And of course, there’s an element of racism, the idea that it’s normal for African countries to be at war. But we try to do what we can to raise awareness.
AM: And finally, what message of hope would you like to send to Sudanese audiences watching you take their stories to global stages?
Suzannah Mirghani: The Sudanese people are resilient, and they always have been and always will be. Just hold tight, we will get through this, and we will go home.