Warda is a BIFA-nominated filmmaker.She began her film career assisting on Sarah Gavron’s ROCKS, where she consulted on elements of Somali representation. Subsequently she worked with Nira Park & the Complete Fiction team, as the assistant to Roger Michell on THE DUKE, and in the AD team on Edgar Wright’s latest - LAST NIGHT IN SOHO.Her first experimental short SORRY MY SOMALI IS NOT VERY GOOD premiered on BFI Player in June 2021 and has been screened at BFI Southbank and at Aesthetica Film Festival.
She is an alumna of the BFI NETWORK@LFF talent programme and participated in the writersroom for the second season of Nida Manzoor’s Channel 4 comedy series WE ARE LADY PARTS.
Expanding her talents into the theatre, Warda co-directed DUGSI DAYZ, a comedic riff on The Breakfast Club that won the 2023 Untapped Award and performed a month-long run at Edinburgh Fringe across summer 2023, ultimately winning the BBC Popcorn Award for New Writing. The play has since transferred to New Diorama Theatre and the Royal Court.
Warda’s debut narrative short - MUNA - was backed by BBC Film, in association with UK Muslim Film and Sabrina Elba, and is currently on its festival run. Making its International Premiere at 74th Berlinale Film Festival, the film has made Official Selection at over thirty film festivals globally – playing across domestic programmes such as Raindance, BFI London Film Festival, to the international stage at San Francisco Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest and Curta Cinema Rio de Janeiro, among others.
MUNA was nominated for Best British Short Film at the British Independent Film Awards and at the London Critics Circle Film Awards 2023, and as well winning Best Short Film at the British Short Film Awards.Building off the success of MUNA, Warda is currently developing her debut feature screenplay MOON with BBC Film and Working Title.
She is currently developing her debut TV pilot as part of this years’ cohort on the prestigious Channel 4 Screenwriting course.
Warda is also one of the co-founders of We Are Bridge, an advocacy, training and welfare body committed to ensuring the legacy of new and emerging talent. We Are Bridge is focused on building lasting industry change by supporting street-cast and underrepresented first-time screen talent with robust aftercare, mentorship and talent development programmes.
She is an alumna of the BFI NETWORK@LFF talent programme and participated in the writersroom for the second season of Nida Manzoor’s Channel 4 comedy series WE ARE LADY PARTS.
Expanding her talents into the theatre, Warda co-directed DUGSI DAYZ, a comedic riff on The Breakfast Club that won the 2023 Untapped Award and performed a month-long run at Edinburgh Fringe across summer 2023, ultimately winning the BBC Popcorn Award for New Writing. The play has since transferred to New Diorama Theatre and the Royal Court.
Warda’s debut narrative short - MUNA - was backed by BBC Film, in association with UK Muslim Film and Sabrina Elba, and is currently on its festival run. Making its International Premiere at 74th Berlinale Film Festival, the film has made Official Selection at over thirty film festivals globally – playing across domestic programmes such as Raindance, BFI London Film Festival, to the international stage at San Francisco Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest and Curta Cinema Rio de Janeiro, among others.
MUNA was nominated for Best British Short Film at the British Independent Film Awards and at the London Critics Circle Film Awards 2023, and as well winning Best Short Film at the British Short Film Awards.Building off the success of MUNA, Warda is currently developing her debut feature screenplay MOON with BBC Film and Working Title.
She is currently developing her debut TV pilot as part of this years’ cohort on the prestigious Channel 4 Screenwriting course.
Warda is also one of the co-founders of We Are Bridge, an advocacy, training and welfare body committed to ensuring the legacy of new and emerging talent. We Are Bridge is focused on building lasting industry change by supporting street-cast and underrepresented first-time screen talent with robust aftercare, mentorship and talent development programmes.
