Cotton Queen

Cotton Queen (2026)



ملكة القطن

6.8 2026 94 min France, Germany, Palestinian Territory

Director: Suzannah Mirghani

Cast: Mihad Murtada, Rabeha Mahmoud, Talaat Farid, Haram Basher, Mohamed Musa

Drama
In a Sudanese village where cotton shapes every season, teenaged Nafisa grows up spellbound by her grandmother Al-Sit’s legendary stories of defying British colonizers. Everything changes when a slick entrepreneur returns from overseas, clutching blueprints for a high-tech future and seeds for genetically modified cotton. Suddenly, Nafisa is caught in a fierce tug-of-war over the village’s destiny. Discovering a fierce inner power, she launches a daring mission to rescue the cotton fields—and reclaim her own life. For her and the entire community, a new, irreversible chapter begins.

More About This Film

Cotton Queen is a Sudanese coming-of-age drama centered on teenage Nafisa, who grows up in a cotton-farming village listening to stories of resistance told by her grandmother, the village matriarch Al-Sit. Her sheltered understanding of the world changes when a businessman arrives with genetically engineered cotton and an ambitious development plan.

Suzannah Mirghani's feature debut explores tradition, colonial history, economic power, female agency, and the meaning of progress. Haram Basher, Mihad Murtada, Rabha Mohamed Mahmoud, Talaat Fareed, and Mohamed Musa form the principal ensemble in a film that places a young woman at the center of a struggle over the future of her community.

  • Suzannah Mirghani wrote and directed the film in her feature directorial debut.
  • The film is an international co-production involving Sudan, Germany, France, Palestine, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
  • Cotton Queen premiered in the Critics' Week section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in 2025.
  • The film won the Golden Alexander for Best Feature Film at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the Jury Prize for Best Film at the Luxor African Film Festival.
  • It also received the TV5 Monde Award for Best First Feature at Carthage and the Audience Award at the Doha Film Festival.

Where to Watch

Cotton Queen has had an extensive festival and theatrical rollout across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, with digital availability dependent on local rights.