To highlight the UN’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on Saturday 6th February 2021, Savera UK will join forces with Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) and Together Films, to host an online panel event discussing the Pembridge Pictures film A Girl From Mogadishu, directed by Mary McGuckian, as well as highlighting the wider issues around FGM and gender-based violence.

Winner of the Cinema for Peace Women’s Empowerment Award at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, this powerful and inspiring film is based on the true story of global gender based violence activist, Ifrah Ahmed, who will join Mary McGuckian, Savera UK’s Afrah Qassim and LAAF’s Professor Anahid Kassabian for the event.

Fleeing war-torn Somalia in 2006 for the United States, Ifrah is trafficked to Dublin, Ireland where she applies for asylum. A traumatic medical examination reveals the extent of her mutilation as a child. Traumatised by the memory, she channels the experience into a force for change and emerges as a formidable campaigner against Female Genital Mutilation at the highest political echelons in Ireland, Europe and globally.

Starring Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder) as Ifrah Ahmed and Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) along with Orla Brady (Picard, Rose Plays Julie) and Somali icon, Maryam Mursal the film boasts an original score by Nitin Sawhney and its title track also features Quiet by Milck, the unofficial anthem of the 2017 USA Women’s March. Based on the recorded testimony of activist Ifrah Ahmed, it is written and directed by Mary McGuckian.

A screening link to the film will be provided to all registrants, so they can watch the film ahead of the panel event (Thursday 4th February, 2:30pm). This link will be available until Saturday, February 6th at 11:59pm.

Proceeds from sales of tickets for the event will be split between Savera UK and Together Films. The event panel will include:

Ifrah Ahmed - Social Activist

A Girl From Mogadishu follows Ifrah from childhood in Somalia where she was born and subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), to Ireland where she is trafficked as a teenager and eventually given political asylum. Undefeated, she channels the experience into a force for change and emerges as a formidable campaigner against Female Genital Mutilation at the highest political echelons in Ireland, across Europe and finally back in the country of her birth, Somalia. You can find out more about Ifrah’s current work through her Foundation at www.IfrahFoundation.org

Mary McGuckian - Writer, Director & Producer

Mary McGuckian has been producing, writing and directing feature films independently for over twenty years. A Girl from Mogadishu marks Irish filmmaker Mary McGuckian’s twelfth independent auteur film as she celebrates twenty years as an independent film-maker.

Known for her collaborative approach when working with actors, past pictures include Man On The Train with Donald Sutherland and Larry Mullen Jr. (2011); The Amorality Trilogy Plus One (2006-2010), four films featuring an international ensemble cast which includes Lothaire Bluteau, Donna D’Errico, Colm Feore, Rupert Graves, Ian Hart, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jordi Molla, Andie MacDowell, Bill Patterson, Amanda Plummer, Jennifer Tilly, John Sessions, and Sarah Stockbridge; as well as The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2005) with Kathy Bates, Gabriel Byrne, Robert DeNiro, Harvey Keitel, The Polish Brothers and F. Murray Abraham.

Mary’s films have been presented at festivals worldwide both in and out of competition on many occasions including Tribeca and Sundance in the US, Locarno and Venice in Europe, and Edinburgh, London and Galway in her home countries.

Afrah Qassim - CEO and Founder, Savera UK

Afrah Qassim is the CEO and Founder of Savera UK, one of the leading charities tackling culturally-specific abuse in the UK, including female genital mutilation. It campaigns to eliminate ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices and provide life-saving services to those at risk, regardless of age, culture, sexuality or gender.

Professor Anahid Kassabian - Volunteer Festival Programmer, LAAF

Professor Anahid Kassabian held the position as the Alsop Professor of Music at the University of Liverpool amongst numerous academic roles. She has a Ph.D. from Stanford University and is author of Hearing Film: Tracking Identification in Contemporary Hollywood Film Music  and Ubiquitous Listening. She has been artistically programming for LAAF for several years and leads on its film programming.

Founded in 1998, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival is a registered charity delivering arts and community programmes that bring diverse cultures together, increasing appreciation and awareness of Arab culture and arts at a local, national and international level. This year's festival will take place across Liverpool, and online, between Friday 16 - Sunday 25 July 2021.

The event will be chaired by Savera UK Patron Nazir Afzal OBE

A senior British lawyer and Former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West who campaigns on issues around child sexual exploitation and violence against women. He is a practicing Muslim, a son of immigrants, and a feminist who speaks out for women's rights and against forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honour killings. Afzal is best known for tackling cases involving violence against women and the sexual exploitation of children. One of his most well-known cases was the Rochdale Child Sex Abuse Ring.

To purchase your ticket click the button on the right-hand side of the screen or email shaunal@saverauk.co.uk with any questions.

Savera UK aims to make events as accessible as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments to access this webinar, then please contact us one week before the event so that actions can be taken to support you. This event will be recorded and will be uploaded to be viewed after the live event.