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Aisha Can't Fly Away

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Aisha Can't Fly Away
Arabicعائشة لم تعد قادرة على الطيران
Directed byMorad Mostafa
Written by
  • Morad Mustafa
  • Mohammad Abdulqader
  • Sawsan Yusuf
Produced by
  • Sawsan Yusuf
Starring
  • Buliana Simon
  • Ziad Zaza
  • Mamdouh Saleh
  • Emad Ghoniem
  • Maya Mohamed
  • Mohamed Abd El-Hady
CinematographyMostafa El Kashef
Edited byMohamed Mamdouh
Production
companies
  • Bonanza Films
  • Nomadis Images
  • Shift Studios
  • Mad Solutions
  • A.A Films
  • Mayana Films
  • Cinewaves Films
  • Coorigines Production
Release date
  • 20 May 2025 (2025-05-20) (Cannes)
Running time
123 minutes
Countries
  • Egypt
  • Sudan
  • Tunisia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Qatar
  • France
  • Germany
LanguageArabic

Aisha Can't Fly Away (Arabic: عائشة لم تعد قادرة على الطيران) is a 2025 drama film directed by Morad Mostafa, in his directorial debut, from a screenplay he wrote with Sawsan Yusuf and Mohammad Abdulqader. It stars Buliana Simon as the titular role in her acting debut.

The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2025, where it was nominated for the Caméra d'Or.

Premise

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A Sudanese caregiver observes the tension between other African migrants and local gangs in Cairo.[1]

Cast

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  • Buliana Simon as Aisha
  • Ziad Zaza as Zuka
  • Mamdouh Saleh as Khalil
  • Emad Ghoniem as Abdoun
  • Maya Mohamed as Tawfiqah
  • Mohamed Abd El-Hady as Mr. Abdel Hady

Production

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The idea of Aisha Can't Fly Away was conceived by Mostafa, inspired by his encounter with an African migrant worker in Cairo.[2] In October 2021, the project won a total of $8,180 production grant at the CineGouna, held during the El Gouna Film Festival.[3] In December 2022, it won the Lodge Award for an Arab Project and received a $100,000 production grant at the Red Sea Souk.[4] In May 2023, it was selected to receive production grants from the Doha Film Institute.[5] In December 2023, Mostafa was selected to participate in Cannes' Next Step program to develop the film.[6]

In March 2024, it participated in project development incubator Qumra, held by Doha Film Institute.[7] In July 2024, it received a €25,000 production grant from Berlinale's World Cinema Fund.[8] It was selected to participate in the Final Cut program, held during the 2024 Venice Production Bridge.[9] It won five awards and received a total of €23,500 in grants.[10] In December 2024, it received a €25,000 post-production grant from Atlas Workshop, held during the Marrakech International Film Festival.[11]

Release

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Aisha Can't Fly Away had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival during the Un Certain Regard section on 20 May 2025.[12] In May 2024, MAD World had acquired the film's international sales rights.[13]

Reception

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Allan Hunter of Screen International criticized the film for struggling to fully capture the entirety of Aisha's story but acknowledged that it succeeds as a compelling human drama, highlighting the struggles of vulnerable individuals in an exploitative world.[14]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 24 May 2025 Un Certain Regard Award Morad Mostafa Nominated [15]
Caméra d'Or Nominated [16]

References

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  1. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (14 May 2025). "'Aisha Can't Fly Away' Teaser: Immigrant Drama Is the First Egyptian Premiere at Cannes' Un Certain Regard in Almost a Decade". IndieWire. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  2. ^ Vena, Teresa (24 May 2025). "Morad Mostafa • Director of Aisha Can't Fly Away". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  3. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (22 October 2021). "'Fifty Meters' Wins Big at El Gouna Film Festival's CineGouna Platform". Variety. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  4. ^ Dalton, Ben (6 December 2022). "Red Sea Souk industry winners include Saudi dark comedy 'Scapegoat'". Screen International. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  5. ^ Dalton, Ben (19 May 2023). "Doha Film Institute unveils 29 projects for 2023 spring grants at Cannes". Screen International. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  6. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (15 December 2023). "Cannes Critics' Week's Next Step Residency Program Unveils Participants for 10th Edition". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  7. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (17 February 2024). "Toni Collette Signs Up To Mentor Emerging Middle East Talent As Master At Doha Film Institute's 10th Qumra Meeting + Full Line-Up Of Participating Projects". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  8. ^ Dalton, Ben (24 July 2024). "Berlinale's World Cinema Fund backs 10 projects including 'Aisha Can't Fly Away'". Screen International. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  9. ^ De Marco, Camillo (15 July 2024). "Final Cut in Venice selects its seven films in production". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  10. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (5 September 2024). "Final Cut in Venice announces the winners of its 12th edition". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  11. ^ Geisinger, Gabriella (6 December 2024). "Lina Soualem, Morad Mostafa among winners of Marrakech's Atlas Workshop prizes". Screen International. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  12. ^ Ntim, Zac (10 April 2025). "Cannes Competition Lineup: Aster, Trier, Dardennes, Reichardt, Ducournau, Wes Anderson & More — Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  13. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (10 May 2024). "MAD World Boards Sales On Morad Mostafa's African Migrant Drama 'Aisha Can't Fly Away' – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  14. ^ Hunter, Allan (20 May 2025). "'Aisha Can't Fly Away' review: A Cairo careworker finds herself caught up in local gang tensions". Screen International. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  15. ^ Ntim, Zac (23 May 2025). "Chilean Drama 'The Mysterious Gaze Of The Flamingo' Wins Top Un Certain Regard Prize — Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  16. ^ Richlin, Harrison (24 May 2025). "'It Was Just an Accident' Wins the Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
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