Latest news with #AISHACAN'TFLYAWAY
Egypt Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Official poster for AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY reaches finals of 2nd Prix Luciole
The official poster for Morad Mostafa's AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY — which held a resounding world premiere on May 20th at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and three more well-watched screenings throughout the event — was one of 22 entries that reached the finals of the second edition of Cannes' first independent award celebrating the art of film posters: The Prix Luciole. Designed by Abanoub Shenouda and Maher Diab, the poster depicts the film's protagonist, Aisha, as she wears a cheap Batman mask on top of her hijab, framing the glaring absurdity within her life and displaying the convergence of cultural forces affecting her livelihood. AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY received glowing reviews after its Cannes premiere, with Eoghan Lyng of Dirty Movies calling it a 'Filthy genius movie' and Mohamed Tarek of Chroum lauding it as 'a landmark cinematic moment.' Meanwhile, Olivia Popp praised its cinematography, calling it 'visually slick.' The film follows Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver living in a neighborhood in the heart of Cairo where she witnesses the tension between her fellow African migrants and other groups. Unwittingly, she becomes involved with an Egyptian gang that blackmails her into stealing her patients' keys so that they can rob them. A co-production between Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Sudan, the film has garnered significant support, including grants from the Doha Film Institute, Cultural Resource Fund, El Gouna Film Festival, Locarno Academy, Cannes' Cinéfondation and La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. It also notably swept a top award at Red Sea Lodge, five at Venice's Final Cut, as well as the Atlas Award at Marrakech International Film Festival. The creative team behind AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY features several returning faces from Mostafa's I PROMISE YOU PARADISE, including cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, who also worked on last year's Cannes entry THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE, which also made its way to Toronto; production designer Eman Elelaby, who earned a FIPRESCI Prize for her work on FEATHERS; costume designer Nayera Eldahshoury; sound engineer Mostafa Shaban; and editor Mohamed Mamdouh. Produced by Sawsan Yusuf's Bonanza Films, the film is co-produced alongside Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban of Tunisia's Nomadis Images, Sherif Fathy of Shift Studios, Ahmed Amer of A. A. Films, Faisal Baltayour from Cinewaves, Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, May Odeh and Zorana Musikic of Mayana Films, Laura Nikolov of Coorigins, Abellelah Al Ahmary of Arabia Pictures, and associate producer Amjad Abu Alala. AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY boasts a stellar cast, with Buliana Simon taking on the lead role of Aisha alongside Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza — in his first feature-length appearance — Emad Ghoniem, and Mamdouh Saleh.
Egypt Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY continues to soar with glowing reviews following its Cannes premiere
Following its powerful world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival as part of the Un Certain Regard section, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY by Egyptian director Morad Mostafa is earning widespread critical acclaim from international film critics and audiences alike. The film, which received a standing ovation and multiple sold-out screenings at Cannes, is now being hailed as a poignant and visually arresting debut feature that cements Mostafa's place as one of the most vital voices in contemporary Arab cinema. Critics have praised the film's emotional depth, political resonance, and standout performances. Allan Hunter of ScreenDaily described it as 'an involving human drama focusing on the plight of the vulnerable caught in a world that seeks to exploit them,' drawing comparisons to CITY OF GOD for its raw depiction of Cairo's underbelly and its 'feeling of a lawless frontier.' He also commended Mostafa's ability to weave a broader political narrative into the film's backdrop through 'background news bulletins and the ongoing gang wars.' Sara Clements of Next Best Picture lauded the film's lead, Buliana Simon, for her 'haunting performance,' noting that 'she communicates so much with her eyes alone that this could be a silent film, and we would be able to understand everything.' Clements also highlighted Mostafa's unique directorial voice, stating, 'Mostafa blends magical realism with naturalism and fantastical elements, transforming Aisha's quiet suffering into something almost mythic,' and called the film 'a quiet storm – a slow-burning, relentless elegy to the women who live in the margins and walk among us unseen.' Additionally, Egyptian critic Ahmed Shawky wrote in Fasla about the film's importance in the Egyptian cinematic landscape, stating that 'At a time when Egyptian filmmakers are imposing the highest levels of self-censorship on themselves — fearing bans on the one hand and the guillotine of public backlash on the other — a young artist has come along to disrupt this sickly, safe balance and throw a stone into stagnant waters. A bloody, violent stone named AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY.' The film's success at Cannes marks a significant milestone for Egyptian cinema, being the first Egyptian film selected for Un Certain Regard since Clash in 2016. With its compelling narrative, international co-production backing, and a creative team of acclaimed talents, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY is poised to continue its festival journey with momentum and meaning. As the film continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY is not just a cinematic achievement — it's a powerful statement on identity, resilience, and the invisible lives that shape our cities. AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY follows the titular Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver living in a neighborhood in the heart of Cairo where she witnesses the tension between her fellow African migrants and other groups. Unwittingly, she becomes involved with an Egyptian gang that blackmails her into stealing her patients' keys so that they can rob them. A co-production between Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Sudan, the film has garnered significant support, including grants from the Doha Film Institute, Cultural Resource Fund, El Gouna Film Festival, Locarno Academy, Cannes' Cinéfondation and La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. It also notably swept a top award at Red Sea Lodge, five at Venice's Final Cut, as well as the Atlas Award at Marrakech International Film Festival. The creative team behind AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY features several returning faces from Mostafa's I PROMISE YOU PARADISE, including cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, who also worked on last year's Cannes entry THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE, which also made its way to Toronto; production designer Eman Elelaby, who earned a FIPRESCI Prize for her work on FEATHERS; costume designer Nayera Eldahshoury; sound engineer Mostafa Shaban; and editor Mohamed Mamdouh. Produced by Sawsan Yusuf's Bonanza Films, the film is co-produced alongside Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban of Tunisia's Nomadis Images, Sherif Fathy of Shift Studios, Ahmed Amer of A. A. Films, Faisal Baltayour from Cinewaves, May Odeh and Zorana Musikic of Mayana Films, Laura Nikolov of Coorigins, Abellelah Al Ahmary of Arabia Pictures, and associate producer Amjad Abu Alala. AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY boasts a stellar cast, with Buliana Simon taking on the lead role of Aisha alongside Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza — in his first feature-length appearance — Emad Ghoniem, and Mamdouh Saleh.
Egypt Today
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Get your first good look at the Cannes contender AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY
Aisha Can't Fly Away poster. The teaser for Morad Mostafa's highly anticipated film, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY, was released ahead of its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival (running from May 13th to the 24th). Trailer link: The film, which is the first Egyptian film in Cannes' Un Certain Regard in close to a decade, is set to hold seven official screenings throughout the runtime of the festival. Aside from the market screenings at 9:15 am on Thursday, May 15th at PALAIS H and 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 17th at PALAIS J, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY is set to world premiere at 11 am on Tuesday, May 20th at Salle Debussy in the presence of director Morad Mostafa, producer Sawsan Yusuf, DOP Mostafa El Kashef, and film leads Buliana Simon and Ziad Zaza. After that, it's expected to screen three more times on Wednesday, May 21st — once at 1 pm in Agnès Varda Hall, another at 1:30 pm in Screen X Cinema, and the third at 1:30 pm in Licorne Hall. It's also set to screen one last time at 9:15 am on Thursday, May 22nd, at Cinema Cineum Hall 3. The film follows the story of Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver living in Cairo, who navigates the complexities of her life amidst the tension between African migrants and local gangs. The film delves into themes of belonging, survival, and the pursuit of dreams in the face of adversity. Director Morad Mostafa shares that 'AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY is not just a migration story; it is a universal tale about the sense of belonging and the need to be seen. It explores the loneliness of the ostracized, who are constantly in survival mode, yet still dare to dream and find light in the darkest of places.' The film stars Buliana Simon, Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza, Emad Ghoniem, and Mamdouh Saleh. It is written by Morad Mostafa, Sawsan Youssef, and Mohamed Abdelkader, with cinematography by Mostafa El Kashef, art direction by Eman Elelaby, costume design by Nayera Eldahshoury, and editing by Mohamed Mamdouh. The film is produced by Morad Mostafa and Sawsan Youssef's Bonanza Films, alongside co-producers Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban of Tunisia's Nomadic Images, Sherif Fathy of Shift Studios, Ahmed Amer of A. A. Films, Faisal Baltayour from Cinewaves, Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab of MAD Solutions — the subsidiary of which, MAD World, is handling the film's world sales — May Odeh and Zorana Musikic of Mayana Films, Laura Nikolov of Coorigins, Abellelah Al Ahmary of Arabia Pictures, as well as associate producer Amjad Abu Alala.
