Cotton Queen

A charming fable about love, authenticity and autonomy, rooted in tradition and conformity as well as in modernity and independence.

The charismatic teenager Nafisa is unhappy with her assigned role as dutiful daughter, granddaughter of a legendary village elder, and someone's future adorable wife. When an attractive businessman settles in her village, everything comes to a head and she is forced to clarify for herself and everyone else what the meaning of her life actually is. Suzannah Mirghani's beautifully shot debut film screened in Venice and won the award for Best Film at Thessaloniki.

• Katarina Hedrén