THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE is part of the Un Certain Regard selection at the 77th Cannes festival (May 14 to 25).
Mo Harawe's feature debut is produced by Vienna-based FreibeuterFilm in collaboration with France, Germany and Somalia.
World Sales: Totem Films

In a windy Somali village, a newly assembled family must navigate between their different aspirations and the complex world surrounding them. Love, trust and resilience will power them through their life paths.

Mamargade has no experience of long-term prospects; given the conditions of life in his Somali village, they are simply out of the question. But considering the consequences of his actions would also be against his nature. People here help each other wherever possible, fighting to get by from one day to the next. When his son's school closes, he has to make a decision to provide the boy with a better future. In his feature film debut THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE, Mo Harawe develops a gentle tone to tell of family and a solidarity that ensures survival in an unforgiving world.

There's a strong sense of authorship in every scene, every decision.
Screen Daily

an impressively masterful first feature
Les Inrocks

a poignant debut
Variety

visually striking and masterfully told
The Film Verdict

• MOON by Kurdwin Ayub (WP Locarno),
• THE DEVIL’S BATH by Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala (WP Berlinale) and
• THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE (WP Cannes)

are the three Austrian films among the 45 films of the EFA Feature Film Selection 2024. MOON is also nominated for European University Film Award.
EFA Nominations will be announced on November 5.
The award ceremony takes place in Lucerne on December 7.