Life on the Horn (2020) + Faya Dayi (2021) + Intro - Whose Land? Whose Lens?

Life on the Horn is a short film directed by Mo Harawe and set on the Somali coast, where illegal toxic waste dumping over decades has caused widespread environmental contamination and health crises. A young man remains in his village to care for his dying father, while the surrounding community gradually abandons the area.


Faya Dayi is an Ethiopian documentary by Jessica Beshir that offers a spiritual and socio-economic portrait of the Harar region, focusing on the cultivation, trade, and cultural rituals of khat - a stimulant leaf central to local life. It follows Sufi Muslims seeking enlightenment while navigating government restrictions, the allure of better futures, and the dangers of dependency on khat.


The feature film will be introduced by Nadia Denton - a Film Curator, Social Impact Producer and Author. She specialises in African cinema, art and culture, and particularly in widening access to and understanding of African and diaspora film.


This screening is curated by Meliza George as part of ‘Whose Land? Whose Lens?’ a season of works from the global south discussing the protection of land and therefore peoples through the lens of slow cinema. The season is presented with the National Film and Television’s Film Studies, Curation and Programming MA.