Screenwriting Insights with Suzannah Mirghani
In this insightful episode of The Ajyal Show, Suzannah Mirghani, a distinguished writer, director, and producer, discusses her meticulous creative process. Suzannah explains how she often takes years to write her scripts, revisiting and refining them over time, even after they’re considered "finished." She shares her passion for living with characters and worlds, allowing them to evolve naturally as part of her journey.
Currently, Suzannah is working on her first feature film, ‘Cotton Queen’, a story based on British colonialism in Sudan and the cotton industry. The film’s title draws inspiration from a beauty competition in cotton fields, reflecting her deep research into the subject. For Suzannah, research is essential, and she seamlessly weaves it into her writing process. As she develops a script, she explores historical archives, creating folders filled with details on specific topics like women, cotton, and trains. This dedicated approach enables her to write deeply human and relatable character-driven stories, rather than flat historical accounts.
She also highlights the importance of collaboration during production, particularly with costume designers and art directors, whose expertise ensures that historical accuracy is reflected in the visual aspects of her films. Suzannah’s stories often tackle contemporary issues through a historical lens, exploring themes of identity, history, and women's experiences, particularly young girls' coming-of-age journeys. She believes that filmmaking is inherently political, as personal stories can challenge the status quo and provoke thought.
For aspiring filmmakers, Suzannah stresses the importance of continuous learning through workshops and mentorship. To discover more about Doha Film Institute's initiatives that support Qatar’s creative community, visit our website here.
More About Our Guest Suzannah Mirghani
Suzannah Mirghani is a Sudanese-Russian writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her short film 'Al-Sit' (2020), currently streaming on Netflix Middle East, which won the Canal+ Award at the 2021 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival and six Academy Award qualifying prizes. Her other works include 'Virtual Voice' (2021), a social media satire that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and a commissioned film about the Sudanese artist Kamala Ishag for the Serpentine Galleries (2022). Suzannah is also a published poet, with her work featured in the Black SWANA issue of Mizna (2023). Currently, she is working on her first feature film, 'Cotton Queen', a story set during British colonialism in Sudan. The project has earned significant accolades, including a Doha Film Institute production grant and the ArteKino Award at the Cannes Film Festival's L'Atelier de la Cinéfondation in 2022.