‘A Girl from Mogadishu’, a film about women’s empowerment opens new international film series

For the first time ever in Bangkok, a film screening will be held in a hotel-venue, at the newly renovated Amari Watergate Bangkok Hotel, for a new International Film Series.

A Girl From Mogadishu, explores the amazing life of Somalian refugee Ifrah Ahmed, who today is one of the world’s foremost activists against gender-based violence.

Aja Naomi King, the actress who portrays Ifrah Ahmed in the film, has won international acclaim. The film has won several awards including Cinema for Peace Award for Women Empowerment, at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, the World Cinema Audience Award, at the Mill Valley Film Festival, the Audience Award and the Jury Award at the Semaine de Cinema Britannique.

“Be the voice, not the victim” is her oft- quoted line. Directed by Mary McGuckian, the film takes viewers through Ifrah Ahmed’s traumatised youth in war-torn Somalia, and the dangerous escape out of her country with a trafficker and the arrival in Ireland as a refugee. The story shows how she became an activist, joined processions, attended conferences, interacts with Irish Ministers, and addresses the EU and UN. Her main fight is against FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), which sadly, she has suffered. Ifrah’s proudest moment was when her activism contributed to Ireland passing legislation to abolish FGM.

At the screening, the ‘real’ Ifrah Ahmed will deliver a video message to the Bangkok audience, while Ireland’s ambassador to Thailand, Pat Bourne, will introduce the film.

The Embassy of Ireland and the Amari Watergate Bangkok Hotel will hold a reception before the screening of the film. Irish whiskey, wines will be served, along with the hotel’s famed sustainability-sourced snacks.

The film screening will take place at Amari Watergate Bangkok Hotel, Pratunam Room, 7th Floor on March 24, 2023 at 5:30pm. For bookings, please email hotelforum2023@gmail.com.

For more information on Ifrah’s foundation, visit ifrahfoundation.com.