Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's 'Soumsoum' blends fantasy and realism in Chad

Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's latest film 'Soumsoum, la nuit des astres' premiered at the Berlinale in February 2026 and releases in French theaters on April 22, 2026. The fantastical yet realistic tale is set in a village in northeastern Chad, following Kellou, a young woman haunted by visions of past and future. Rejected by villagers, she bonds with another outcast woman. Shot on the stunning Ennedi Plateau, the film was discussed by Haroun on RFI with Nathalie Amar. The broadcast also featured Sadio Doucoure presenting the group Safary, a female trio performing in Dakar on May 2, 2026, and Savannah Ruellan reporting on the 'Cartes imaginaires' exhibition at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.