Aisha Can't Fly Away

'Aisha Can't Fly Away' is an Egyptian drama directed by Morad Mostafa, which is his debut film. The screenplay is written by Mostafa himself, along with Mohammad Abdulqader and Sawsan Yusuf, the latter being the producer of the film. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, in the "Un Certain Regard" section. It has a low budget, primarily funded by small grants from film support programs and festivals.

The protagonist is young Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese girl who works as a caregiver in Cairo in an area of the city populated by communities of African migrants. Her life is far removed from the tourist glamour of Cairo, delving into the social tensions, precariousness, and instability that are also the everyday reality of this city.

When a gangster offers her protection in exchange for a favor, Aisha becomes trapped in a moral conflict that tests her limits, her desire for survival, and her ability to continue dreaming of a better life. A raw portrayal of uprooting, dehumanization, and the resilience of migrants in an environment that we often do not pay much attention to.

Like the direction, 'Aisha Can't Fly Away' features a debutante as the lead. The model Buliana Simon is tasked with bringing Aisha to life in her first role as an actress. The cast also includes Ziad Zaza, Mamdouh Saleh, Emad Ghoniem, and Maya Mohamed, among others.