00:05As darkness falls on Khartoum, the screen at Marina Open Air Cinema brings a glow to
00:11the night sky.
00:12This entertainment venue is where friends and families come to briefly forget the long-running
00:18conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary rapid support forces.
00:22It's become a space for social connection and is creating a renewed sense of community
00:27and a capital striving to reclaim its identity.
00:33The idea came to me because there were no cinemas in Khartoum and entertainment options
00:38were limited to restaurants and cafes.
00:41I thought, why not introduce a new concept, a cafe that combines a cinema with a standard
00:46cafe, something fresh for Khartoum.
00:52The cinema screens a selection of Sudanese and international films from 5pm to 10pm daily.
00:59Its director says supporting Sudanese filmmakers is part of the mission, while for visitors,
01:04the setting is part of the appeal where families can spend time together.
01:09Honestly, I've tried many places across the states and within Khartoum itself, but I haven't
01:15found anything quite like Marina Cinema.
01:17You are surrounded by greenery in an open-air setting amid nature and trees, and it is truly
01:23a beautiful place.
01:26I believe investments in entertainment like this are crucial because they offer people
01:31a way to unwind and take their minds off the war and the tragedies they have endured.
01:35Many people have already started responding positively and visiting the cinema.
01:42The cinema is part of a wider effort to revive Sudan's cultural life, even as war and displacement
01:49continue to scatter artists and performers. But keeping the lights on in a city where essential
01:55services continue to face disruptions requires determination and resourcefulness.
02:01We face many challenges. We still lack a reliable electricity supply and are dealing with extremely
02:07difficult conditions and high operating costs. Yet, we manage to keep working, provide services
02:14to the public and bring people happiness.
02:20Yet, these difficulties have not diminished the audience's enthusiasm. They know a cinema cannot
02:26repair the damage of war or erase the lost people have endured. But for a little while, survivors
02:33can feel part of a community again and imagine a life beyond the conflict.
02:38I think it is a important point.
02:39We must have no children to strike these terms.
02:40The opening is far from the labour Doy SCP cigars.
02:41So, to the demographics and research
