Latest news with #MoradMostafa
Egypt Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egyptian Cinema Takes Center Stage: Four Powerful Films Dominate Cannes Film Festival This Year
Egyptian Cinema Takes Center Stage: Four Powerful Films Dominate Cannes Film Festival This Year. This year, the Cannes Film Festival turns its gaze toward East Cairo with Aisha Can't Fly Away, the gripping debut from Egyptian director Morad Mostafa. Featured in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section, the film is a raw, emotionally charged portrait of a 26-year-old Somali woman navigating refugee life in Ain Shams. Fresh off a Best Post-Production win at Venice 2024, this breakout feature arrives at the Cannes Film Festival with undeniable momentum. Co-written by Mostafa, Mohammad Abdulqader, and Sawsan Yusuf, the film doesn't just tell a story—it builds a world of resilience, identity, and survival. With powerful performances from Buliana Simona, Emad Ghoneim, Mamdouh Salah, and rapper Ziad Zaza, Aisha Can't Fly Away proves Egypt's cinematic voice is not just rising—it's roaring. In Life After Siham, French-Egyptian director Namir Abdel Messeeh turns grief into art. Premiering in Cannes' ACID section, the Egyptian documentary is a heartfelt exploration of memory, loss, and the magic of storytelling. At the Critics Awards for Arab Films, Khaled Mansour's debut Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo earns 5 nominations! From Venice buzz to Cannes acclaim, this tale of man, dog, and dignity is a must-watch. What happens when a man fakes blindness to join a football team? Omar Hilal's Voy! Voy! Voy! blends humor & heartbreak — earning Cannes Critics Award nominations for Best Actor (Mohamed Farrag) and Best Editing. After 10 years, the Al-Mahrousa Pavilion is back at the Cannes Film Market! A major move for Egyptian cinema — promoting co-productions, global networking & a renewed industry presence. Backed by Cairo International Film Festival, El Gouna Film Festival & the Egypt Film Commission. Egypt dominates the 9th Cannes Critics Awards for Arab Films with Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo and Voy! Voy! Voy! Multiple nominations — a clear sign of the country's cinematic revival on the global stage.
Egypt Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Morad Mostafa, Ziad Zaza & the Aisha Can't Fly Away Crew Bring Cairo Cool to Cannes
Morad Mostafa, Ziad Zaza and the Aisha Can't Fly Away Crew Bring Cairo Cool to Cannes On the Riviera but rooted in Cairo spirit — director Morad Mostafa, rapper Ziad Zaza, producer Sawsan Moustafa, and the electric cast of Aisha Can't Fly Away light up Cannes with bold style, raw energy, and the unmistakable edge of Egyptian cinema. In a standout moment, Ziad Zaza channels film history by striking the iconic pose of the late legendary director Youssef Chahine at Cannes — a tribute wrapped in swagger. Aisha Can't Fly Away, the gripping debut from Egyptian director Morad Mostafa is featured in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. The film is a raw, emotionally charged portrait of a 26-year-old Somali woman navigating refugee life in Ain Shams. Aisha Can't Fly Away doesn't just tell a story—it builds a world of resilience, identity, and survival. With powerful performances from Buliana Simona, Emad Ghoneim, Mamdouh Salah, and rapper Ziad Zaza, Aisha Can't Fly Away proves Egypt's cinematic voice is not just rising—it's roaring.
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
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.
Egypt Today
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egyptian Filmmakers Shine Bright at Cannes Film Festival as Morad Mostafa, Sawsan Youssef, Ali El Arabi, and Namir Abdel Messeeh Lead the Way
The 78th edition of the world's most prestigious film festival, Cannes, continues its activities, and this year marks a distinguished presence for Egyptian cinema through two authentic contributions that reflect the evolution of Egypt's independent film scene and its growing role in global cinema. 1. Morad Mostafa and Sawsan Youssef – Aisha Can't Fly Away (Un Certain Regard Section) Director Morad Mostafa brings Egyptian cinema back to the Un Certain Regard section after a nine-year absence. The last Egyptian film to feature in this category was Mohamed Diab's Clash, starring Nelly Karim. Aisha Can't Fly Away tells the story of Aisha, a young African migrant living in Cairo. The film follows her journey within the African migrant community and the challenges she faces while working in the healthcare sector. The film stars Pollyanna Simon, Ziad Zaza, Emad Ghoneim, and Mamdouh Saleh, and is produced by Sawsan Youssef. 2. Namir Abdel Messeeh and Ali El Arabi – The Life After Siham (ACID Cannes Official Selection) The second notable Egyptian entry is the documentary The Life After Siham, written and directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh. It has been selected for the official competition of the ACID Cannes section—one of the festival's parallel programs. Established 33 years ago, ACID is known for its artistically curated selections by leading filmmakers from around the world. The film is produced by Ambient Light, a company founded by Egyptian director and producer Ali El Arabi. Told in the first person, the film follows Namir's emotional journey as he confronts grief after the loss of his mother. Spanning more than ten years, the documentary traces his development as an artist, his struggle to accept loss, and his effort to transform pain into a cinematic tribute that honors his mother's memory and his family's legacy, while exploring a past marked by separation and exile.
