A Story Left Behind Sheffield DocFest
A researcher discovers the fragmented stories of the first Somali woman in Sheffield. Resurrecting her memory, the film questions whose stories get told and who gets to tell them.
A Story Left Behind, Asma Kabadeh
A Story Left Behind is a fascinating, elegantly haunting and moving short film that uncovers a hidden gem in Sheffield’s overlooked history. It shines a light on a forgotten archive, a story you wouldn’t expect, buried behind the scenes of the city’s immigrant past. The film truthfully captures the struggles of Somali immigrant communities pulling back the curtain to reveal how layered and complex these stories really are. It highlights how tragic it is that so much is lost between generations: narratives that slowly fade away, unshared sacrifices, and voices that go unheard. Kabadeh honours these journeys with tenderness and care, acknowledging their strength and resilience. In the era of reclaiming history, the film carries a similar eerie resonance to Diop’s Dahomey (2024), blending memory and the ghostly echoes of what’s been left behind.
Release Date: June 18th, 2025 (Sheffield DocFest)
Director(s) Asma Kabadeh
Producer Henrietta Esme Bennett, Sam Coffey Cinematography Darshan Gajjar
Runtime: 14 minutes