When Sara Taleghani was told she would have to remove her hijab to play sports as a child, the message stayed with her. A similar story for many young Muslim women, what should have been a space for belonging instead became somewhere she felt she couldn’t fully show up as herself. But now, years later, the Irish-Iranian sports fan and director has found something very different on a football pitch in London: Sisterhood FC, a team created by and for Muslim women.

Founded in 2018 by Yasmin Abdullahi, Sisterhood FC is the UK’s first grassroots Muslim women’s football team, and the subject of Sara’s new documentary, Sisterhood. An award-winning director who has worked with brands such as JD Sports, IKEA, and Under Armour, Sara didn’t initially join the team with a film in mind. She was simply looking for community. But as friendships deepened and she began to understand what Sisterhood offered its players – a place to compete, connect and exist without compromise – she realised there was a story worth sharing.

“I remember feeling like, ‘This is truly something really special,’ and I wanted other people to experience that,” Sara reflects. Speaking to AMALIAH, Sara shares how Sisterhood became a film, what it means to navigate the industry as a Muslim director, and why creating spaces where Muslim women can experience sports on their own terms matters far beyond the football pitch.

Hi, Sara! When did the idea for this documentary, Sisterhood, first come to you?

It started through playing for Sisterhood FC and building a good relationship with the girls. I felt like I was part of the team and realised, ‘This is truly something really special, and I wanted other people to experience that.’ A friend actually suggested that Sisterhood FC should have their own YouTube channel or an online presence because everyone is so funny and there are such big personalities. Then, after I switched careers and joined Untold Studios as a director, I knew I wanted my first proper directing project to be on the team. A month after joining the studio, I put together a pitch, asked them to help me make it, and they said yes.

If you had to describe the documentary in three words, what would they be and why?

“Full of life.” The girls are just full of energy, and you always leave a game or training session with a massive smile on your face. That’s what makes the team so special. The documentary really captures that uplifting energy.

What were the challenges you faced while getting it made?

It was my first time directing a full production with a big crew. Before this, I’d only made one short film on my phone by myself. Learning how to build shot lists, schedule, and capture live football moves on camera was a big learning curve for me. For documentaries, you also don’t have full control over the narrative, as you’re working with real people who don’t always feel comfortable sharing their personal stories or even their face on camera, so we had to navigate who felt comfortable. This meant we were limited in what we could shoot. Also, the team was on hiatus for a while in between because of funding issues.

There was also a large sports brand that offered to fund the documentary in full. But I said no because of everything happening in Palestine –  I checked and saw they were on the boycott list. It didn’t feel right, so I said no. I wanted to stay true to myself and what Sisterhood means. We ended up with something smaller than initially planned, but I’m still so proud of it, and it captures the team in an authentic way.

What did you enjoy most about the filming experience?

There are so many. I loved interviewing Yasmin, the founder of Sisterhood FC. I spent a day at her house interviewing her and her dad, who used to play professionally in Somalia before the civil war. She opened up so deeply that I felt like we unlocked another level of our friendship. That’s what I love about documentary filmmaking, it allows you to form closer bonds and see people in a new light.

Then, the main shoot with all the girls on the pitch. Seeing all the girls show up to the football pitch with so much enthusiasm and excitement was so nice to see. Yasmin even shed a tear seeing everyone come together to support Sisterhood.

What makes Sisterhood so special to you personally?

Our connection to each other goes so much deeper than playing football. It’s hard to put into words, but when you’re praying together and wishing the best for each other in this life and the hereafter, it creates a completely different level of connection. When I first moved to London from Dublin, I hadn’t found “my people” yet.

After hosting an Iftar at my house for the team, it felt like I found a genuine community. It turned London from just an exciting new city into a home.

Tell us more about your journey to become a director.

I always wanted to direct and used to make silly films in school and with my friends. But I was scared it wasn’t a stable career or a space where a Muslim, hijabi woman could work. Afterwards, while I was working in corporate consulting, I met another Muslim woman who wears a hijab and worked as a producer. Seeing someone like me working in TV made me realise I could do it too.

I wrote a five-year plan in my notes app, left corporate consulting, and began a social media job, which I was made redundant from. Then, while I was job-hunting, I picked up some running jobs and did a six-week intensive course where I made a two-minute film on my phone during the course, which got picked up by Untold Studios. Within five months, I started my directing career, which is pretty insane.

What stories are you most passionate about telling as a director?

Stories about people, their relationships with each other and themselves. I love human depth, and I love people-watching and getting underneath the façade. I love using filmmaking to help audiences learn something new about a person.

What’s next for you?

I recently finished an NFTS course funded by the Aziz Foundation focused on finding your voice, where I wrote a feature film script. Now that I’m in my writing groove, I’m moving more into narrative storytelling so I can direct my own feature film or TV show in the future. I have the scripts already!

What advice would you give to aspiring Muslim female directors?

Just start creating. Use your phone or whatever camera you have. Don’t let a lack of money or equipment stop you, and get over the fear or cringe of posting your work online, even though it’s daunting and vulnerable. For Muslim women, especially, I’d say stick to your boundaries. Standing firm in your ethics and faith can feel difficult in this industry, but if you’re firm from the beginning, you won’t fall down a path you’re unhappy with. It will naturally guide you toward the right projects and the right people.

Final Words

One of the aims of this film is to secure funding for Sisterhood FC, as they haven’t played for the last year. I hope someone can recognise how special the team is and invest in our community. I want to encourage Muslim women to take up space and feel comfortable and confident in pursuing their passions, even if they don’t see themselves represented. I’d love for someone to watch the film and say, “I can play football, too.”