Egypt’s ‘Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore’ to compete at Cannes
Morad Mostafa’s debut feature earns spot at prestigious 78th edition of film festival
CAIRO, Egypt (MNTV) – Egyptian director Morad Mostafa’s first feature film Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore has been officially selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, scheduled to take place from May 13 to 24 in France.
The film tells the story of Aisha, a 26-year-old Somali woman living and working in Ain Shams, a working-class neighborhood in eastern Cairo that has become home to a large African refugee population.
Written by Mostafa, Mohammad Abdulqader, and Sawsan Yusuf, the film features Buliana Simona, Emad Ghoneim, Mamdouh Salah, and Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza in key roles.
Prior to its selection at Cannes, the film made waves during production, securing several major awards through the Venice Film Festival’s Final Cut 2024.
The Venice jury praised the film for its “powerful and authentic story filled with the environment’s challenges and complexities,” and commended Mostafa’s confident directorial debut and “distinct cinematic voice.”
The film also received accolades and support from international institutions, including Titra Film (France), Rai Cinema (Italy), Cinémathèque Afrique of the Institut Français (France), and the Festival International de Films de Fribourg (Switzerland).
Mostafa, 37, has gained international attention in recent years through his acclaimed short films Henet Ward, What We Don’t Know About Mariam, and Khadiga.
His short works have screened at over 100 international festivals and won numerous awards, including Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying honors. His latest short film, I Promise You Paradise, was selected for the Cannes Critics’ Week in 2023.
In 2022, Mostafa was chosen for the La Fabrique Cinéma programme at Cannes, which supports emerging filmmakers, with Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore as his project in development at the time.
He previously worked as an assistant director for leading Egyptian filmmakers including Hala Khalil, Sherif El-Bendary, Mohamed Diab, and Ayten Amin on her Cannes-selected 2020 feature Souad.
Un Certain Regard, a key category at Cannes, spotlights films with unconventional themes and innovative storytelling.
This year’s selection includes 16 films, among them Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Palestinian directors Arab and Tarzan Nasser.
Last year, Egyptian documentary The Brink of Dreams won the Golden Eye Documentary Prize at Cannes, highlighting Egypt’s growing presence on the international cinematic stage.
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