“Don’t tell me you’re scared” (Samia), directed by Yasemin Şamdereliis the only Italian feature film presented in competition at the prestigious Tribeca International Film Festivalshowing in New York from June 5 to 16, 2024. The film was also shot in Taranto.
Based on the international bestseller of the same name by Giuseppe Catozzellapublished in Italy by Feltrinellithe film tells the story of Samia, born in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a terrible civil war. At the age of 9 he discovers that he has a great talent: he runs faster than everyone else. With the help of her best friend Ali, Samia turns this talent into a dream: representing Somalia at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
Samia finished last in the women’s 200m race, but the whole world cheered for her in a truly magical moment. Upon returning to Somalia, however, Samia becomes the target of reprisals from the country’s Islamic rulers because she ran without a veil, an unforgivable mortal sin. Risking her life, the girl decides to undertake the journey to reach Europe. Samia’s story tells of the courage of a young woman who challenges a brutal regime and fights for her freedom and her future.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared” is produced by Indyca with Rai Cinema, Neue Bioskop Film, Tarantula, Bim Productionin co-production with Film Moment, Voo, Be tv and Shelter Prod, Film I Västin collaboration with The Piranesi Experience And Cinepost. Furthermore, the film was made with the support of Ministry of Culture MiCwith the contribution of the Apulia Film Fund of Apulia Film Commission And Puglia region based on resources from the POR Puglia FESR-FSE 2014/2020, Film Commission Turin Piedmont, Eurimage – Council of Europe And Creative Europe Media Programme.
