Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Mo Harawe

Mo Harawe is a Somali-Austrian filmmaker. His debut feature film, The Village Next to Paradise, was selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

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Mo Harawe
Mo Harawe in 2025
Born1992 (age 33–34)1

Mo Harawe (born 1992) is a Somali-Austrian filmmaker. His debut feature film, The Village Next to Paradise, was selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.2

Early life and education

Harawe was born in Mogadishu and attended art school in Somalia.1 He later studied visual communication and film at Kunsthochschule Kassel (KhK, Kassel, Germany).2

Career

In 2009, Harawe moved to Austria and began a career in the film industry.1 He released a string of short films throughout the 2010s and early 2020s. His 2024 debut feature-length project, The Village Next to Paradise, was selected to screen at that year's Cannes Film Festival.2

Filmography

Year Title Notes Ref.
2012 Wait a minute Short film 3
2014 The other side Short film 3
2015 Identity Short film 3
2016 One last moment Short film 3
2018 The story of the polar bear that went to Africa Short film 3
2019 1947 Short film 3
2020 Life on the Horn Short film 3
2022 Will My Parents Come to See Me Short film 3
2024 The Village Next to Paradise N/a 2

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2020 Locarno International Film Festival International Competition Life on the Horn Special mention 2
Uppsala International Film Festival Grand Prix Nominated 4
Uppsala Award in Memory of Ingmar Bergman Won 4
2021 Carthage Film Festival Best Narrative Short Film Won 4
Dokufest Best International Short Nominated 4
Glasgow Short Film Festival Best Short Nominated 4
VIS Vienna Independent Shorts Youth Jury Award for Best FIctional ÖW Film Won 4
Norwegian Short Film Festival Best International Short Film Nominated 4
2022 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear for Best Short Film Will My Parents Come to See Me Nominated 5
Dokufest Best International Short Won 5
European Film Awards Best European Short Film Nominated 5
Festival Cinema Africano, Asia e America Latina Best African Short Film Won 5
German Short Film Award Outstanding Short Film - Under 30 Minutes Length Won 5
VIS Vienna Independent Shorts Best Austrian Short Film 5
2023 Austrian Film Award Best Short Film Won 5
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival International Jury Grand Prize Won 5
London Short Film Festival Best International Short Film Won 5
2024 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard The Village Next to Paradise Pending 2
Caméra d'Or Pending 2
References

References

  1. "Mo Harawe". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. Goodfellow, Melanie. "Totem Films Boards Sales On Somali Cannes Un Certain Regard Title 'The Village Next To Paradise'". Deadline. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. "Mo Harawe". sixpackfilm. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. "Life on the Horn". sixpackfilm. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. "Will My Parents Come to See Me". sixpackfilm. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
External links