How to Get Away with Murder star Aja Naomi King has netted a leading role in an upcoming film.

A Girl From Mogadishu just kicked off principal photography. The film is from Pembridge Pictures (Ireland) and Umedia (Belgium).

It is based on the true story of Ifrah Ahmed, a Somali Irish refugee who became one of the worlds most top activists against gender-based violence.

She is a two-time FGM (female genital mutilation survivor). The film’s description per Deadline: “Ahmed was born into a refugee camp in Somalia in 2006 and emigrated to Ireland as a teenager. Recounting her traumatic childhood experiences of female genital mutilation when applying for refugee status, she is re-traumatized and vows to devote her life to the eradication of the practice — taking her campaign all the way to the President of Ireland and finally to the European Parliament and United Nations.”

The film also stars Martha Canga Antonio, Barkhad Abdi and Maryam Mursals.

It is directed by Irish filmmaker, Mary McGuckian. Calling Ahmed “just an immensely inspiring person,” she said, “her story speaks to all of refugee status, sexual violence in conflict, gender-based violence, the asylum system as well as FGM. Fundamentally, A Girl From Mogadishu celebrates the power of testimony. How, when women find the courage to stand-up, speak out and tell their truth, the impact can be more than inspiring and empowering, and act as a meaningful catalyst for change.”

Production is taking place now in Belgium before it relocated to Ireland and then finally, Morocco.

A Girl From Mogadishu

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