Khartoum Offside

A group of exceptional young ladies plays football in Khartoum, Sudan, where women are not encouraged to be a player due to the patriarchal society and the religious corrupted system that ruled Sudan for decades. Although they come from an “inferior” tribe and from the lower class of Khartoum’s Northern society, they are fearless and you will find them laughing at their struggle and, most importantly, they do not take no for an answer. So, they find underground ways to continue playing football, as they want to be recognized as Sudan women’s national football team. The federation of football neglects them despite FIFA’s development funds for women’s football there. As a result, many other players quit football but this marginalized group does not lose hope. When federation elections take place, they hope for a change; A change for the whole system.

Marwa Zein is a film director, award-winning Nubian (Afro-Arab), screenwriter and producer for her acclaimed debut Khartoum Offside and the acclaimed fiction short films A game and One week, Two days. Khartoum Offside has won numerous awards. The film had its World Premiere at Berlinale Forum 2019 and was officially selected in the most prestigious international festivals. She worked as assistant director for many acclaimed Egyptian directors and worked as a festival programmer for Sudan Independent Film Festival between 2014 and 2017. She established her own production company, ORE Productions, in 2017 based in Khartoum, Sudan.

Sudão/Noruega/Dinamarca/França, 2019, 76’

director
Marwa Zein