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Broadcast Pro
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Egyptian film ‘Aisha Can't Fly Away' wins FIPRESCI Award at Golden Apricot
The film centres around Aisha, a 26-year-old Somali caregiver living in a Cairo neighbourhood populated by African migrants. Egyptian film Aisha Can't Fly Away, by Morad Mostafa, went home with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award at the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in Armenia. The festival ran from July 13th to the 20th. The Egyptian film Aisha Can't Fly Away, directed by Morad Mostafa, has claimed the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award at the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in Armenia, which took place from July 13 to 20. This marks another significant milestone for the film, which has been steadily gaining acclaim on the international festival circuit. The film first made headlines with its world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and had already made an impression by winning the Final Cut Award and several post-production prizes at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. 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.
See - Sada Elbalad
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" Wins FIPRESCI Award at Golden Apricot
Yara Sameh The Egyptian film "Aisha Can't Fly Away", directed by Morad Mostafa, won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award at the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in Armenia. The festival ran from July 13th to 20th. Before, "Aisha Can't Fly Away" had a stellar world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival after winning the Final Cut Award, along with a host of other post-production awards, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The film has since lit up screens at South Africa's Durban International Film Festival. 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 Nomadis 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, 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. Morad Mostafa is an Egyptian film director born in Cairo in 1988 who has worked as an assistant director in the film industry for over ten years. He is also a graduate of Berlinale Talents, Durban Talents, Locarno Academy, and Cinéfondation Cannes and has been named one of the Arab Stars of Tomorrow by Screen International Magazine in 2023. Last year, he was chosen as one of the top 100 influential cinema personalities in the Middle East in an annual list published by the Arab Cinema Center. Mostafa has also participated in several international jury panels, the most recent of which was at the Cairo International Film Festival. He is most known for writing and directing "Ward's Henna Party", "What We Don't Know About Mariam", "Khadiga", and "I Promise You Paradise", all of which were selected for the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the most important short film festival in the world. These films have been screened at over 400 festivals worldwide and have won around 150 local and international awards. His latest short film, "I Promise You Paradise", was selected for the 77th Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week, where it won the Rail d'Or. 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Al-Ahram Weekly
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptian debuts in Amman - Culture - Al-Ahram Weekly
Themed 'A World Unscripted', this round celebrates films that break out of traditional storytelling structures, showcasing stories that feel more lived than written. Egyptian films stand out for their number, their diverse and compelling narratives and the way they highlight the ongoing evolution of Egyptian cinema, with emerging filmmakers making a substantial contribution to the scene. Beyond the films themselves, Egypt's involvement is marked by the active participation of filmmakers in key festival initiatives, fostering new industry connections and collaborations within the Arab cinematic landscape. The Egyptian presence at AIFF is underscored by two celebrated figures serving on the Black Iris Award Jury for Non-Arab Film: the renowned director and screenwriter Yousry Nasrallah; and the award-winning director and producer Jihan El-Tahri. Both filmmakers are also members of the festival's Advisory Board. The Amman Film Industry Days (AFID) also selected four Egyptian projects, showcasing emerging and established talents at various stages of production. These films bring fresh and diverse voices to the global film landscape, highlighting the dynamic nature of contemporary Egyptian cinema. The Cow Thief, directed by Mohamed Zidan and produced by Mark Lotfy, blends docu-fiction with investigative cinema to explore the 1980s murder of Egyptian director Niazi Mustafa. Zidan's debut feature documentary, I HAVE A PICTURE (2017), won several prestigious awards, including the Golden Star at El Gouna Film Festival, the Jury Prize at the Tripoli Film Festival, and the Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Cairo National Festival for Egyptian Cinema. Like a Bird in the Sky, directed by Amal Ramsis and produced by Amal Ramsis and Jana Wehbe, is Ramsis' debut feature-length fiction film. The film explores personal and societal struggles in contemporary Egypt and follows the success of her previous documentary You Come From Far Away (2018), which won multiple awards, including the Silver Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival and the African Federation of Film Critics (FACC) Award and the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award at the Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts. Ramsis' short films, including Only Dreams (2005), Forbidden (2011), and The Trace of the Butterfly (2015), have gained international recognition, screening at art venues and festivals worldwide. The Masters of Magic and Beauty, directed by Jad Chahine and produced by Baho Bakhsh and Safei Eldin Mahmoud, offers a mythical narrative. Set in the desert, the film follows a couple seeking blessings for their unborn child, but a miscarriage and magic complicate their lives. Chahine's short film The Call of the Brook (2023) was the first Egyptian film selected for the La Cinef competition at Cannes in 2014. All That the Wind Can Carry, directed by Maged Nader and produced by Tamer Al-Said, explores the complexities of memory and family history within Egypt's Coptic community. The film combines home videos, narrative scenes and dreams to unravel the story of a family dealing with memory loss. Nader, a cinematographer and director, has worked on films like Souad (2020), which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, directing short films showcased at international festivals, including the Forum Expanded at the Berlinale. He is currently the co-executive director of the Cimatheque Alternative Film Centre. Egyptian films have earned prominent positions in the competitive sections of the Amman International Film Festival, with Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, directed by Khaled Mansour, taking centre stage in the Arab Feature-Length Narrative Films category. The film, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, follows the emotional journey of a man who embarks on a quest to protect his dog from a vengeful landlord. After its Venice debut, the film went on to screen at the CinemaMed Festival in Belgium, where it won both the Grand Prize and the Jury Award. It continued to earn widespread recognition, securing the Jury Award at the Red Sea Film Festival and receiving a Special Mention at the 35th Carthage Film Days. The film has also garnered multiple awards at various prestigious regional and international festivals. Its screening in Egyptian and Arab cinemas enjoyed exceptional success, with longer-than-usual runs for an independent film, a testament to its growing popularity. Written by Mohamed Al-Husseini and Khaled Mansour, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo stars Essam Omar, Rakeen Saad, Sama Ibrahim, and Ahmed Bahaa. Spring Came on Laughing, directed by Noha Adel, also stands out in the same category for its poignant exploration of interwoven human narratives set against the backdrop of spring. The film presents four interconnected stories, each unfolding within the seasonal transition of spring. The film firmly established Adel as a powerful new voice in Egyptian cinema, garnering four prestigious awards at the 45th Cairo International Film Festival, including the Henry Barakat Award for Best Artistic Contribution to Noha Adel, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize, the Salah Abu Seif Award for Best Director, and a Special Mention for actress Rehab Anan for her role in the film. In the Arab Feature Documentary Films competition, Abo Zaabal 89, directed by Bassam Mortada, delves into the personal impact of Egypt's political landscape on his family's history, offering an intimate reflection on memory and trauma. The film premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival and was screened at major festivals such as IDFA and Carthage Film Festival, among others. This documentary marks Mortada's debut in feature filmmaking and has made a strong impression with its emotionally powerful storytelling. Meanwhile, in the Arab Short Films competition, several Egyptian films are making their mark with unique and powerful storytelling. Are You a Rabbit? directed by Hatem Emam, is a deeply symbolic exploration of an artist's struggle with his restrictive life, blending reality with dark fantasy. The film follows an art teacher who is fired from his job and embarks on a deep journey of reflection with his son about the essence of simple living and its inherent cruelty. As the father confronts the grim realisation of his bleak existence, symbolised by the rabbits, he is plunged into a dark, reflective space where the line between his reality and his dark imagination becomes increasingly blurred. Hatem Emam, an Egyptian writer and director, is currently studying at the Faculty of Filmmaking and Theater Arts at Badr University. His short film has been featured in numerous international festivals, including the Ismailia International Film Festival, Accessible Film Festival, and Xposure International Film and Photography Festival. In the same competition, Mango, directed by Randa Ali and produced by Mohamed Taymour, offers a moving exploration of loss and grief through the relationship between a daughter and her estranged father. The film had its world premiere in the official competition at the 46th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in 2024 and has since been showcased at multiple prestigious festivals, including CinemAmbiente – Environmental Film Festival in Italy, Uppsala Short Film Festival in Sweden, and Bilbao International Film Festival – ZINEBI in Spain. Mango won the WWF MedFilm Award and has garnered acclaim at various festivals, including the Cairo International Film Festival. Randa Ali, a filmmaker working between Egypt and the USA, has been recognised for her exploration of alienation and connection in her work. Loop, directed by Eslam Qotb, presents a visually expressive narrative about a young woman who, stressed by life's pressures, escapes reality through drugs and faces the consequences. The film has been screened at several film festivals and was awarded Best Arabian Student Film at Animatex 2025. Eslam Qotb, an animator, transitioned from digital illustration to filmmaking after graduating from the High Cinema Institute. A Passing Day, directed by Rasha Shahin, explores the emotional aftermath of war. The film premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival and marks Shahin's debut short fiction film. Rasha Shahin, a Syrian director, moved to Egypt in 2013 to pursue filmmaking at the High Cinema Institute in Cairo. The film is produced by Baho Bakhsh and Safei Eldin Mahmoud, founders and directors of Red Star Production House. It stars Reem Hegab, an Egyptian director, writer, actress, performer, and choreographer, alongside actor Khaled Kamal. In the Out of Competition section, Egyptian filmmakers are making their mark with Stephanie Amin's I Found My Love in Masarra, a short film that blends family archives, immigration, and personal reflection. The film offers a poignant look at identity and the spaces between two cultures. Stephanie Amin is an independent researcher and filmmaker with a master's degree in political sociology from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film continues to be an important platform for showcasing emerging talent in Arab and international cinema. By focusing on showcasing emerging talent in Arab and international cinema, featuring debut films across various formats, including feature fiction, feature documentaries, and short films, the festival provides a valuable opportunity for alternative narrative and fresh voices to be heard. * A version of this article appears in print in the 26 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Broadcast Pro
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Amman International Film Festival unveils jury lineup for sixth edition
This year, AIFF has added the Black Iris Award for Best Non-Arab Film to its lineup of honours. The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) has revealed the distinguished jury members for its sixth edition, set to run from July 2 to 10, 2025, in the Jordanian capital. This year, the festival takes a significant step toward international inclusion by launching the Black Iris Award for Best Non-Arab Film, marking an expansion of its mission to celebrate cinematic excellence across both Arab and global landscapes. Selected for their deep expertise, industry contributions, and diverse cultural backgrounds, the jury members are tasked with evaluating debut works in various categories with fairness and insight. The Arab Feature-Length Narrative Film competition will be judged by Algerian filmmaker Adila Bendimerad, Yemeni director Amr Gamal, Cannes Directors' Fortnight executive Christoph Leparc and veteran Jordanian actor-director Rasheed Malhas. This section focuses on films featuring first-time talents, whether in directing, writing or acting. In the Arab Feature Documentary category, which showcases feature-length nonfiction films by debut directors and editors, the jury comprises Lebanese editor Gladys Joujou, Syrian documentarian Ziad Kalthoum and award-winning British producer-director Mike Lerner. The Arab Short Film competition, open to independent first-time directors of narrative or animated works up to 30 minutes, will be evaluated by Lebanese actress Diamand Abou Abboud, Jordanian director Amjad Al-Rasheed and Indian filmmaker Ajitpal Singh, whose previous work has garnered critical acclaim at the AIFF and beyond. Notably, the festival has restructured the selection process for the Best Non-Arab Film category. Previously decided by audience vote, the winner will now be chosen by a jury composed of members from the AIFF Advisory Board. This new jury includes Lebanese artist Georges Khabbaz, Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, Jordanian actress-producer Saba Mubarak, Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah, Swiss-Iraqi filmmaker Samir and Egyptian-Lebanese documentarian Jihan El-Tahri. The change reinforces the Festival's vision of expanding its critical engagement beyond the Arab world while strengthening the role of its advisory members. Introduced in 2023, the FIPRESCI Prize – awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics – returns to honor excellence in Arab feature-length documentaries. This year's jury includes Iraqi critic Ali Alyasery, Thai scholar Anchalee Chaiworaporn and Austrian journalist Bert Rebhandl, underlining the Festival's commitment to critical perspectives and emerging voices in Arab documentary cinema. In addition to jury awards, the AIFF will continue its tradition of presenting the Audience Award in all four competitive sections. These honours are determined by festivalgoers, highlighting the films that leave the strongest emotional impact on viewers. Running alongside the main festival is the Amman Film Industry Days (AFID), which also appoints a dedicated jury to evaluate film projects in development and post-production. Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Burundian filmmaker Joseph Bitamba, Spanish film journalist Eduardo Guillot, Jordanian producer Linda Mutawi and Saudi director Abdulaziz Al-Shlahei will assess entries from emerging Arab talent and provide vital support in both financial and in-kind forms. The juries will play a central role in shaping this year's edition by recognising the creativity, ambition, and originality of the next generation of filmmakers. The full list of films and projects selected for competition is expected to be announced soon.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kleber Mendonça Filho's Brazilian Epic ‘The Secret Agent' Wins Fipresci Award at Cannes: ‘A Rich, Strange and Deeply Troubling Story'
Bearing out Brazil's place as country of honor at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Kleber Mendonça Filho's 'The Secret Agent' ('O Agente Secreto') won the Fipresci Prize in the Official Selection – Competition category, granted by the International Federation of Film Critics . Set in Brazil under military rule in 1977 and starring Wagner Moura ('Narcos,' 'Dope Thief') , the film delves into themes of political repression, morality and resistance. Known for his earlier films 'Aquarius' and 'Bacurau,' both of which played in main comoetition at Cannes, Mendonça Filho continues his exploration of Brazil's sociopolitical landscape with a narrative praised for its depth and ambition. More from Variety Cannes Film Festival Power Restored After 5-Hour Outage Across South of France With Foul Play Suspected, Closing Ceremony to 'Proceed as Planned' Josh O'Connor Says 'There's a Kindness' to Working With 'Mastermind' Director Kelly Reichardt and Responds to Paul Mescal Calling Him 'Silly': 'I Am' 'Caravan' Review: Tender Debut Feature Focuses on a Single Mom's Experience with Her Disabled Son 'The Secret Agent' was hailed by Variety's Peter Debruge as a 'terrific '70s thriller' and 'dazzling period drama.' In its assessment of the film, the Fipresci jury explained: 'We chose a film that has a novelistic, epic generosity; a film that allows for digression, diversion, humor and character to evoke a time and place and a rich, strange and deeply troubling story of corruption and oppression. A film that makes its own rules, that is personal yet universal, that takes its time and immerses you in a world – the world of military-ruled Brazil in 1977 and the world of good people in bad times.' 'The Secret Agent,' an epic tale which runs nearly three hours, is a multinational co-production involving Brazil, France, Germany and the Netherlands. MK2 Films is selling internationally, and Neon just picked up North American distribution rights. Further Fipresci recognition went to actor-turned-director Harris Dickinson's debut 'Urchin,' which screened in the Un Certain Regard section. A two-time BAFTA-nominated actor, Dickinson is known for his performances in 'Babygirl,' 'Beach Rats' and 'Triangle of Sadness.' A harrowing character study of a homeless man named Mike who struggles with addiction, 'Urchin' has drawn acclaim for its visceral realism and emotional depth. Variety's Guy Lodge praises lead actor Frank Dillane for 'imbuing Mike with both the kind of wily charisma that makes people want to rescue him and a self-destructive volatility that keeps repelling such efforts.' According to the jury, Dickinson's debut is 'a powerful first feature that works as a complex character study of a homeless man struggling with addiction. We dive deeply into a cycle of self-destruction portrayed with sincerity, authenticity and genuine empathy.' From this year's Critics' Week, Directors' Fortnight and other parallel selections, the Fipresci jury selected Momoko Seto's animated feature 'Dandelion's Odyssey' for special recognition. The French-Belgian production, distributed internationally by Indie Sales, blends experimental storytelling with animation. Seto, is known for her artistic short films including 2015 Berlin Audi Short Film Award-winner 'Planet Sigma.' Next up for 'Dandelion's Odyssey' is a competition screening at Annecy in June. 'In these strange and dangerous times, we believe the most important thing is to find meaning in our choices and to allow ourselves to feel deeply through films that restore cinema's emotional essence,' the Fipresci jury said. 'We reward this film for its unique use of animation techniques blending classical and modern styles, for the quality of its editing and for the power of its message – love, salvation and companionship in the harshest circumstances. A universal message of life's triumph over the forces of death.' This year's Fipresci jury at Cannes was chaired by Australian critic C.J. Johnson and included Mariana Hristova (Bulgaria), Laurent Delmas (France), Eva Novrup Redvall (Denmark), Michael Ghennam (France), Hosam Fahmy (Egypt), Ioannis Rouzaios (Greece), Olga Ruin (Sweden) and Freddy Wong (Hong Kong). Awards come just hours before the Cannes Film Festival's main prize ceremony where 'The Secret Agent' is in the running for Cannes' Palme d'Or. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
