Episode #103 with Warda Mohamed

The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

In today's episode, I talk to filmmaker and story teller Warda Mohamed about her debut narrative short film 'Muna'. Warda also talks about her Somali heritage, language & identity and what it means to be British Somali. We also discuss classic films from the 1980s and focus on a particular film that she would love to adapt for the stage, and whom she would cast. And of course, Warda shares with us the quote that continually inspires her.
Warda is a BIFA nominated filmmaker, she began her film career assisting Faye Ward & the Fable Pictures team on ROCKS, where she consulted on the elements of Somali representation within the film. Since then she has worked with Nira Park & the Complete Fiction team, as the assistant to Roger Michell on THE DUKE, and in the AD team on Edgar Wright's latest - LAST NIGHT IN SOHO.
Her first experimental short SORRY MY SOMALI IS NOT VERY GOOD premiered on BFI Player in June 2021 and has been screened at BFI Southbank and at Aesthetica Film Festival. Warda was also involved in the writers room for the second season of Nida Manzoor WE ARE LADY PARTS for Channel 4 & Peacock.
Expanding her talents into the theatre, Warda co-directed DUGSI DAYZ, a comedic riff on The Breakfast Club that won the 2023 Untapped Award and performed a month-long run at Edinburgh Fringe across summer 2023, ultimately winning the BBC Popcorn Award for New Writing. She is part of the 2023 cohort of BFI Network @ LFF talent development programme.
BBC FILM-backed MUNA, Warda’s debut narrative short, is currently on the festival circuit - where it has played at Raindance, Aesthetica, London Film Festival among others - winner of Best Short Film at the British Short Film Awards.
Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!
I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.
If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [e-mail].
Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!