Chadian women take centre stage in Berlinale film 'Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars'

Record ID: 2342719

  • Title: Chadian women take centre stage in Berlinale film 'Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars'
  • Date: 19th February 2026
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 19, 2026) (REUTERS) HAROUN SITTING FOR INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER HAROUN'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FILMMAKER, MAHAMAT-SALEH HAROUN, SAYING:     "You know, women in Chad, but also in a lot of countries in Africa, are the base of the society and I think that they are those who transmit, you know, the memory of a lot of things, the culture and etc.
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: 76th Berlin Film Festival Achouackh Abakar Souleymane Berlinale Chad Eriq Ebouaney Mahamat-Saleh Haroun Maimouna Miawama Soumsoum competition the Night of the Stars
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY / VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY / VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Film
  • Reuters ID: LVA003690019022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Chadian filmmaker Mahamat‑Saleh Haroun said on Thursday (February 19) that his new Berlin Film Festival competition entry "Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars" was born from a desire to finally centre the women who, in his view, hold the fabric of Chadian society together.
        "They are those who transmit the memory of a lot of things," he told Reuters ahead of the premiere. 
        "And in a country like Chad, where we have civil war for decades, I think that tenderness and friendship is a kind of resistance to the violence," added the director who has previously won jury prizes at the Cannes and Venice festivals.
        The landlocked Central African country has experienced a nearly continuous series of civil wars and internal conflicts since it gained its independence from France in 1960. 
        The film follows 17-year-old Kellou, played by newcomer Maimouna Miawama, who grapples with understanding newfound supernatural powers that make her unwelcome in the village.
        She eventually befriends another, older outcast, Aya (Achouackh Abakar Souleymane), a woman determined to preserve the mystical and cultural traditions of their shared world. 
        Miawama said stepping into her first lead role had been deeply emotional. 
        "I'm very proud of myself, but it was also challenging, as I had to focus more on expressing emotions through my face than delivering dialogue," she said.
        The film’s message about the strength of women resonated with her, and she hopes female viewers walk out feeling empowered.
        "I hope that by looking at this, they can step out of their comfort zone, stop saying 'I'm inferior' and be able to achieve great things, face challenges," she said. 
        Souleymane, who starred in Haroun's previous feature "Lingui, The Sacred Bonds," echoed that sentiment.
        "We have this duty to be strong and courageous, but also to ensure that good things are passed on because we are the ones raising children," she said. 
        "Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars" is one of 22 films vying for the coveted Golden Bear prize at the Berlin Film Festival, with the winner set to be announced during the closing ceremony on Saturday, February 21.
    (Production: Martin Schlicht, Swantje Stein, Miranda Murray)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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