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Egypt Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egyptian Cinema Soars Again: Aisha Can't Fly Away Stuns at Cannes
Aisha Can't Fly Away made a powerful debut at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, May 20th, premiering in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. The buzz was undeniable, with festival-goers, celebrities, and media figures scrambling to grab tickets for one of the film's four hotly anticipated screenings. The premiere concluded to thunderous applause and a well-earned standing ovation—an early sign that Aisha Can't Fly Away is one of the breakout highlights of this year's festival. Attending the premiere alongside the film's cast and crew, director Morad Mostafa expressed how humbled he was to be at Cannes again before the film's screening, stressing that he wouldn't have made it this far as a director 'without the Egyptian film industry,' and that he is 'very proud to be representing Egypt in the official selection of Cannes this year.' He also thanked the film's co-producers, and crew, along with 'paying a special tribute' to the film's producer and his partner, Sawsan Yusuf. On stage with him were film stars Buliana Simon and Ziad Zaza's producers, Yusuf, Dora Bouchoucha, Sherif Fathy, Ahmed Amer, Alaa Karkouti, and Maher Diab, and crew members Mohamed Mamdouh and Mostafa Kashef. The film will have three additional screenings during the festival: two on Wednesday, May 21st, at 1 pm (Agnes Varda Hall) and 1:30 pm (Cinéma ScreenX), followed by a third on Thursday, May 22nd, at 9:15 am (Cinéum Salle 3). Directed by Morad Mostafa, the premiere of the film marks Egypt's first participation in Un Certain Regard since the 2016 film CLASH by Mohamed Diab, almost a decade prior. Aisha is 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 Nomadic 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
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egypt returns to Cannes' Un Certain Regard after 9 years with Aisha Can't Fly Away
In a triumphant breakthrough for Egyptian cinema, Morad Mostafa's Aisha Can't Fly Away — a gripping thriller set in Cairo's underworld — is due to compete as part of the 78th Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard. The 78th edition of the world-renowned festival will run from May 13th to the 24th. Directed by Morad Mostafa, the milestone marks Egypt's first participation in the festival's second-most prominent competition in almost a decade since the 2016 film Clash. Aisha Can't Fly Away follows the story of Aisha, a Sudanese girl living in the working-class neighborhood of Ain Shams, which hosts a large community of African migrants. When Aisha runs into trouble in her job as a caretaker, she finds herself hard-pressed to curry favor with Zuka — a gang member who controls the area — in exchange for her protection. 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. The film is co-produced by Sawsan Youssef of Bonanza Films, alongside Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban of Tunisia's Nomadic Images, Amjad Abu Alala, Faisal Baltayour from Cinewaves, Ahmed Amer of A.A. Films, May Odeh and Zorana Musikic of Mayana Films, Laura Nikolov of Co-Origins, Sherif Fathy of Shift Studios. 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.
Broadcast Pro
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Egypt returns to Cannes' Un Certain Regard after nine years with ‘Aisha Can't Fly Away'
The film centres around Aisha, a 26-year-old Somali caregiver living in a Cairo neighbourhood populated by African migrants. Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa is set to make history with the world premiere of his debut feature film Aisha Can't Fly Away at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it will compete in the Un Certain Regard section. This marks Egypt's return to the festival's second-most prominent competition for the first time in nearly a decade, following Clash in 2016. Running from May 13 to 24, this year's Cannes Film Festival will spotlight Mostafa's gritty thriller, which delves into Cairo's shadowy underworld. Aisha Can't Fly Away follows the story of Aisha, a young Sudanese woman living in the marginalised neighbourhood of Ain Shams — home to a large African migrant community. When her job as a caretaker puts her in a precarious position, Aisha is forced to rely on Zuka, a local gang leader, for protection. The film is a multi-national co-production with backing from Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Sudan. It has attracted major international support, including grants from the Doha Film Institute, Cultural Resource Fund, El Gouna Film Festival, Locarno Academy, Cannes' Cinéfondation, La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. Aisha Can't Fly Away has already made waves on the festival circuit, taking home top honours at the Red Sea Lodge and multiple awards at Venice's Final Cut, as well as the Atlas Award at the Marrakech International Film Festival. Returning collaborators from Mostafa's short I Promise You Paradise are central to the project, including cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef (The Village Next to Paradise), production designer Eman Elelaby (Feathers), costume designer Nayera Eldahshoury, sound engineer Mostafa Shaban and editor Mohamed Mamdouh. The ensemble cast is led by Buliana Simon as Aisha, with Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza making his feature film debut, alongside Emad Ghoniem and Mamdouh Saleh. The production is spearheaded by Sawsan Youssef (Bonanza Films), alongside an international team including Tunisia's Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban (Nomadis Images), Amjad Abu Alala, Faisal Baltayour (Cinewaves), Ahmed Amer (A.A. Films), May Odeh and Zorana Musikic (Mayana Films), Laura Nikolov (Co-Origins), Sherif Fathy (Shift Studios) and Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab of MAD Solutions — whose subsidiary MAD World is handling global sales. Born in Cairo in 1988, Morad Mostafa brings over a decade of industry experience as an assistant director. A graduate of top international programmes including Berlinale Talents and Cinéfondation Cannes, he was named one of Screen International's Arab Stars of Tomorrow in 2023 and recognised among the 100 most influential cinema figures in the region by the Arab Cinema Center. His latest short, I Promise You Paradise, won the Rail d'Or at the 77th Cannes Critics' Week and was shortlisted for the César Awards. With Aisha Can't Fly Away, Mostafa not only marks his feature-length debut but also reaffirms Egypt's evolving presence on the global film stage.
