Morad Mostafa’s Red Sea-backed debut feature ‘Aisha Can’t Fly Away’ heads to Cannes

“Aisha Can’t Fly Away” is by Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 10 April 2025
Follow

Morad Mostafa’s Red Sea-backed debut feature ‘Aisha Can’t Fly Away’ heads to Cannes

DUBAI: The Cannes Film Festival has revealed its official selection for 2025, with “Aisha Can’t Fly Away” by Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa featured in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section.

Developed with the support of the Red Sea Film Foundation through its Red Sea Labs program, the film tells the story of Aisha, a 26-year-old Somali woman living in Ain-Shams — a Cairo neighborhood home to a large African migrant community.

As the authorities turn a blind eye to escalating violence and rising tensions between locals and migrants, control of the area falls into the hands of various gangs. When one gang offers Aisha protection in exchange for a personal favor, her life begins to unravel.

Mostafa shared the news on Instagram, saying: “Extremely proud to announce that my first feature film ‘Aisha Can’t Fly Away’ in the Official Selection of the 78th Festival de Cannes in the prestigious section Un Certain Regard.”

He added that this marks the “first Egyptian film in nine years to be selected for Un Certain Regard.”

The movie stars Buliana Simon, Ziad Zaza and Emad Ghoniem.


Amina Muaddi spotlights Rihanna’s love for her designs

Updated 25 sec ago
Follow

Amina Muaddi spotlights Rihanna’s love for her designs

DUBAI: Romanian Jordanian designer Amina Muaddi this week shared a selection of her favorite looks worn by Rihanna throughout December, highlighting several recent public appearances.

Earlier this week, Muaddi posted an image of the Fenty Beauty founder in Los Angeles, where she was spotted grocery shopping wearing snake-printed pointed-toe heels from the designer’s collection.

Rihanna styled the shoes with a bright-red leather jacket layered over a white top, pairing the oversized, structured piece with loose black wide-leg trousers worn low on the waist.

She later wore a similar snake-print design, this time in boot form, for a dinner outing. For that look, Rihanna opted for a plaid zip-up jacket by Miu Miu, styled with a long Balenciaga skirt.

Another outfit shared by Muaddi was from Rihanna’s appearance at the 35th Gotham Film Awards in New York City. The singer stepped out in a flowing lavender satin gown worn off the shoulders, featuring a relaxed, draped silhouette. She completed the ensemble with open-toe stiletto sandals from Muaddi’s designs in a matching pale lilac shade.

Muaddi also highlighted a more casual winter outing, where Rihanna wore pointed-toe snake-embossed stiletto pumps styled with a brown-and-cream faux-fur coat draped over a black top, paired with slim trousers, tinted rectangular sunglasses and minimal jewelry.

No one has an affinity for Muaddi’s shoes quite like Rihanna.

The singer-turned-designer has an unparalleled collection of heels by the designer, which have become her go-to choice of footwear whether she is attending red-carpet events, fundraising galas, taking an off-duty stroll or stepping out to dinner with her partner A$AP Rocky.

The artists have both collaborated with the designer in the past.

In 2020, the Paris-based designer teamed up with the rapper’s creative agency AWGE on a four-piece collection of flared pumps and lace-up heels.

The collection marked A$AP Rocky’s first foray into women’s footwear and was Muaddi’s first collaboration for her own brand, though she also released a limited-edition footwear capsule collection with Rihanna’s Fenty label that same year.

The collaboration was honored as Collaborator of the Year at the 34th FN Achievement Awards.

Following the sell-out success of the first collection, Rihanna enlisted Muaddi to design yet another collection for Fenty.