23rd edition November 20th to 28th, 2026
23rd edition
20 to 28 November, 2026
Morad Mostafa is an Egyptian filmmaker. An alum of Talents Durban and the Locarno Academy, he wrote and directed three shorts that were selected for the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival over three consecutive years and were screened by more than 300 festivals worldwide. His most recent short, I Promise You Paradise, had its premiere in La Semaine de la Critique at the Festival de Cannes in 2023. Mostafa then took part in the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops and the Cinéfondation Residency in Cannes to develop his debut feature-length film, Aisha Can't Fly Away, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2025.
Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver, lives in a neighborhood in the heart of Cairo where she witnesses the tension between her fellow African migrants and local gangs. Stuck between an undefined relationship with a young Egyptian cook, a gangster who blackmails her into an unethical deal in exchange for safety, and a new house she’s been assigned to work in, Aisha struggles to cope with her fears and lost battles, causing her dreams to clash with reality and leading her to an impasse.
Director Morad Mostafa
Producer Sawsan Yusuf
Screenwriter Morad Mostafa, Sawsan Yusuf, Mohamed Abdelqader
Cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef
Art Director Eman Elelaby
Editor Mohamed Mamdouh
Sound Mostafa Shaban
Music Amine Bouhafa
Production Company Bonanza Films
International Sales Company MAD World
Distributor MAD Distribution