'Aisha Can't Fly Away' becomes first Egyptian film to win La Biennale di Venezia Prize at Final-Cut in Venice
Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa has made history with his feature debut, Aisha Can’t Fly Away, becoming the first Egyptian film to win the La Biennale di Venezia Prize at the Final Cut in Venice. The film took home a total of five awards during the festival.
Final Cut in Venice provides filmmakers an opportunity to present their in-progress films to international professionals, aiding in post-production and market access.
For the eighth consecutive year, La Biennale di Venezia has awarded a €5,000 prize to support the best film in post-production. The jury, comprising Wayne Borg (Neom), Monica Ciarli (Minerva Pictures) and Dennis Ruh, recognised Aisha Can’t Fly Away for its compelling narrative and directorial finesse.
In a statement, the jury praised the film for its “powerful and authentic” storytelling, highlighting the rich complexities of its setting. Despite being Mostafa’s debut feature, the jury commended the film’s confident direction and distinct cinematic voice, noting its gritty realism and attention to detail.
Aisha Can’t Fly Away (Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and France) has received support from various organisations, including Titra Film (Paris), Rai Cinema, Cinémathèque Afrique of the Institut Français (Paris) and Festival International de Films de Fribourg.
Among the prizes, Titra Film (Paris) is offering up to €5,000 for colour grading and additional funds for the production of a DCP master or streaming files. Rai Cinema has provided €5,000 for the acquisition of Italian TV rights, and the Cinémathèque Afrique has awarded a non-commercial broadcasting deal valued between €4,000 and €6,000. The Festival International de Films de Fribourg is contributing €2,500 toward DCP production costs.
The film centres around Aisha, a 26-year-old Somali caregiver living in a Cairo neighbourhood populated by African migrants. She becomes entangled with an Egyptian gang, pressured into stealing from her elderly patients. As her life spirals into chaos, Aisha grapples with fear and uncertainty, while her fragile relationship with a young Egyptian cook named Abdoun disintegrates.
Aisha Can’t Fly Away is produced by Sawsan Yusuf’s Bonanza Films, in co-production with Egypt’s Film Clinic, Tunisia’s Nomadis Images, Saudi Arabia’s Cinewaves Egypt’s MAD Solutions, Egypt’s Lagoonie Film Production, Egypt’s AAFilms, Sudan’s Station Films and Dulac Productions of France.
The film has also garnered support from notable institutions such as the Red Sea Lodge, Doha Film Institute, AFAC Film Fund and El Gouna Film Festival.
This recognition at Venice marks a major milestone for Mostafa and the broader Egyptian film industry, highlighting the international appeal of regional cinema.
