COTTON QUEEN, a poetic and politically charged debut feature by Suzannah Mirghani, had its world premiere this week at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival as part of the Settimana Internazionale della Critica (Critics’ Week). The screening was met with resounding applause, marking an emotional and resonant moment for Sudanese cinema on the global stage.
 
Mihad Murtada (Nafisa), the star of the film, sent a heartfelt video message apologizing for not being able to attend the premiere due to visa issues. In the video, she thanked everyone, expressed her deep appreciation, and shared her love for all the people who made the moment so special.
 
Set in a cotton-farming village in Sudan, COTTON QUEEN follows teenage Nafisa, who is raised on heroic tales of resistance against British colonizers, told by her grandmother, the village matriarch Al-Sit. When a young businessman arrives from abroad with a development plan and genetically engineered cotton, Nafisa finds herself at the center of a power struggle over the future of her community. As she awakens to her own strength, she sets out to protect the cotton fields—and herself. Neither she nor her village will ever be the same again.
 
COTTON QUEEN was warmly received by audiences and critics at Venice. The film is shot by cinematographer Frida Marzouk with an original score by Amine Bouhafa. The cast is led by Mihad Murtada as Nafisa, alongside Rabha Mohamed Mahmoud as Al-Sit, Talaat Fareed as Babiker, and Haram Bisheer as Aisha.
 
Following her award-winning short AL-SIT — which garnered international acclaim, including the Canal+ Award at Clermont-Ferrand and is currently streaming on Netflix Middle East — Suzannah Mirghani makes a bold entrance into feature filmmaking.
 
“COTTON QUEEN is the story of a girl awakening to her sense of self and her power to challenge the politics of her society—whether it's circumcision, arranged marriage, or exploitation,” said Mirghani. “Growing up in Sudan, I was always curious about the spectrum of female power within a family. How does a girl evolve from being voiceless and vulnerable to gaining power and prestige within her lifetime?”
 
In her director’s statement, Mirghani adds, “COTTON QUEEN highlights how Sudanese girls must navigate authority in all its forms—whether patriarchal or matriarchal—from the specter of colonialism, to familial authoritarianism, to the demands of contemporary capitalism. It touches on broad social and political issues, from feminism to colonialism to neoliberalism. Through cinema, audiences around the world can finally glimpse some of the fascinating stories that make up Sudanese society.”
 
The film is an ambitious international co-production, bringing together talents and production support from Germany, France, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. It is produced by Caroline Daube and Didar Domehri, with co-producers Annemarie Jacir, Ossama Bawardi, Jessica Khoury, Mohamed Hefzy, Alaa Karkouti, Maher Diab, Jutta Feit, Julia I. Peters, Stefanie Plattner, Suzannah Mirghani, Gordon Spragg, Michael Arnon, and Laurin Dietrich. Executive producers are Alexander Funk and Rasha Abu Rish.
 
COTTON QUEEN is a collaboration between Strange Bird GmbH, Jip Film and Verleih, Storming Donkey Productions, Maneki Films, Philistine Films, and Film Clinic – MAD Solutions. The film is co-distributed in the Arab World by MAD Distribution and Film Clinic Indie Distribution.
 
The project was developed with the support of the Doha Film Institute (Qumra), the Cairo Film Connection (CIFF), the Hubert Bals Fund at Rotterdam, and the ArteKino Prize at Cannes’ L’Atelier in 2022. With a successful launch in Venice now behind it, COTTON QUEEN is set to continue its journey across the international festival circuit, with additional screenings and regional premieres to be announced.
 
Suzannah Mirghani is a Russian Sudanese filmmaker. Her short film AL-SIT, screening on Netflix Middle East, won the Canal+ Award at Clermont-Ferrand in 2021, among other international prizes. Her recent shorts include VIRTUAL VOICE and KAMALA IBRAHIM ISHAG: STATES OF ONENESS, commissioned by Serpentine Galleries.