Morad Mostafa’s debut feature, Aisha Can’t Fly Away, is set to make its MENA premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival, with screenings at Palais des Congrès, Salle des Ministres on 3 December and Cinéma Le Colisée on 4 December.
The film first captured global attention with its world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. It went on to win the Final Cut Award, along with multiple post-production accolades, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.
Aisha Can’t Fly Away tells the story of Aisha, a young woman navigating the challenges of life in a Cairo neighbourhood populated largely by African migrants. Confronted with gang violence, personal upheaval and a looming blackmail threat, Aisha’s journey delves into themes of migration, economic hardship, and the struggles of marginalised communities. Mostafa co-wrote the screenplay alongside Sawsan Yusuf and Mohammad Abdulqader.
A truly international co-production, the film involves partners from Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Sudan. Its development has been backed by prestigious institutions, including the Doha Film Institute, the Cultural Resource Fund, El Gouna Film Festival, Locarno Academy, Cannes’ Cinéfondation, La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.
The feature has already amassed critical acclaim, securing top prizes at the Red Sea Lodge, multiple awards at Venice’s Final Cut, and the Atlas Award at Marrakech.
Mostafa reunites several collaborators from his celebrated short I Promise You Paradise, including cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, production designer Eman Elelaby, costume designer Nayera Eldahshoury, sound engineer Mostafa Shaban, and editor Mohamed Mamdouh. The cast is led by Buliana Simon as Aisha, with Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza making his feature film debut, alongside Emad Ghoniem and Mamdouh Saleh.
Sawsan Youssef of Bonanza Films spearheads the production and features a distinguished international team, including Tunisia’s Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban (Nomadis Images), Faisal Baltayour (Cinewaves), May Odeh and Zorana Musikic (Mayana Films), Laura Nikolov (Co-Origins), Sherif Fathy (Shift Studios), and Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab (MAD Solutions), with MAD World managing global sales.
