Chadian filmmaker Mahamat-Saleh Haroun premiered his latest feature, Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars, in the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it is vying for the festival’s top honour, the Golden Bear, according to Reuters.
Set in northeastern Chad, the film follows Kellou, a 17-year-old girl portrayed by newcomer Maimouna Miawama, who begins to experience mysterious supernatural powers that set her apart from her village. She finds solidarity in Aya, played by Achouackh Abakar Souleymane, an older woman devoted to preserving spiritual and cultural traditions in the face of societal change.
Haroun said the film was conceived as a tribute to Chadian women, whom he described as custodians of memory and resilience in a country shaped by decades of instability. He told Reuters that tenderness and friendship can serve as quiet forms of resistance in environments marked by hardship.
The lead actresses also highlighted the film’s message of empowerment, noting that the story reflects the strength of women in sustaining cultural identity and supporting one another across generations. Soumsoum is among 22 films competing for the Golden Bear, with winners scheduled to be announced on February 21, 2026.
