Lula Ali Ismaïl facts for kids

Lula Ali Ismaïl (Somali: Luula Cali Ismaaciil) was born in 1978. She is a talented Djibouti-Canadian film director and screenwriter. Lula is famous for being the first woman from Djibouti to make a film. This earned her the nickname "first lady of Djibouti cinema."

Her first short film, Laan, came out in 2011. It was shown at film festivals in 2012 and 2013. Her first full-length movie, Dhalinyaro, was released in 2017. This film was a big step for Djibouti. It was the country's first feature film.

Early Life and Moving to Canada

Lula Ali Ismaïl was born in Djibouti in 1978. She grew up in a large family, being the youngest of eight children. In 1992, her family moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Many people left Djibouti around that time.

Lula studied how to manage an office. She worked as a legal assistant for seven years. But she became very interested in acting and making movies. So, she started taking classes to learn more about them. At first, she had small roles in TV shows in Quebec. Later, she found she enjoyed making films even more.

Filmmaking Career

In 2012, Lula Ali Ismaïl made her first film. It was a short film (27 minutes) called Laan, which means "Friends." The story is about three young women in Djibouti. They are named Souad, Oubah, and Ayane. The film shows their everyday lives and their search for love. Lula Ali Ismaïl also acted in one of the main roles.

This film was very important. It was the first movie directed by a woman from Djibouti. Lula raised money for Laan mostly from her family and friends. She asked the Ministry of Culture in Djibouti for help. However, the government did not have money for film projects. Even without government support, she continued with her film. This helped start a film industry in Djibouti. Laan was shown at festivals in Africa, Europe, and North America. Critics liked the film very much.

First Full-Length Film

In 2014, Lula Ali Ismaïl filmed her first full-length movie. It was called Dhalinyaro, which means "Youth." This film follows three young women. They come from different family backgrounds and have different lives.

The film got support from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. It was made with help from Canada, Somalia, France, and Djibouti. The entire movie was filmed in Djibouti. Dhalinyaro was first shown in Djibouti in 2017. Important people, like government ministers, attended the premiere.

Future Projects

In July 2024, it was announced that Lula Ali Ismaïl will direct a new movie. It will be based on a book called The Youth of God. This book was written by Hassan Ghedi Santur, a Somali-Canadian author. The novel was recognized for awards in 2019 and 2020.

Filmography

• Laan, 2011
• Dhalinyaro / Jeunesse [Youth], 2017

See also

In Spanish: Lula Ali Ismaïl para niños