Tunisian film ‘Promised Sky' to open Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025
Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri's latest feature, Promised Sky, has been selected to open this year's Un Certain Regard section at the 78th Festival de Cannes. The film will be screened on Wednesday, May 14, following the official opening ceremony scheduled for 7 PM. The festival, which runs from May 13 to 24, 2025, will spotlight Promised Sky as an introduction to one of Cannes' most globally engaged film sections.
This marks Sehiri's return to Cannes after her acclaimed debut Under the Fig Trees premiered in the Directors' Fortnight in 2022 and went on to become Tunisia's official entry for the 95th Academy Awards. Known for her journalistic and documentary background, Sehiri has developed a distinctive filmmaking style that fuses realism with emotionally resonant storytelling.
Set in Tunisia and inspired by true events, Promised Sky follows the intersecting lives of women navigating personal and political uncertainty. The story centres on Marie, an Ivorian pastor and former journalist living in Tunis, who offers shelter to two women—Naney, a young mother chasing hope, and Jolie, a determined student burdened with family expectations. When an orphaned girl enters their lives, their fragile solidarity is tested in a tense social landscape, exposing both vulnerability and resilience.
The cast includes acclaimed actor Aïssa Maïga alongside Laetitia Ky, Deborah Naney, and Tunisian actor Mohamed Grayaa. Sehiri not only directed and co-produced the film but also collaborated again with cinematographer Frida Marzouk, who previously worked with her on Under the Fig Trees and contributed to the John Wick franchise. The film is produced by Didar Domehri and distributed in the Arab world by MAD Distribution.
Beyond cinema, Sehiri has been an active voice in journalism and civil society. She co-founded INKYFADA, a platform for investigative journalism, and Al Khatt, a Tunisian NGO championing media literacy and press freedom. She is also one of the founding members of Rawiyat – Sisters in Film, a collective that supports women filmmakers from the Arab world and its diaspora.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
What's On
7 hours ago
- What's On
Dubai's getting a new music institute this October - What's On
Dubai's music scene is about to hit a higher note. Opening this October in Dubai Knowledge Park, the brand-new Digital Renaissance Music Institute promises to be a game-changer for the region's next generation of producers, DJs, vocalists, and sonic innovators. Positioned as more than just a music school, the Institute is designed as a fully equipped professional studio space where learning happens through doing. Whether you're into hip-hop, EDM, jazz, or sonic storytelling, students will get hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment, guided by a diverse roster of mentors and working artists. At its core, the school reflects Dubai's multicultural pulse – Arab, Desi, Pinoy, African, and Western influences all come together in a creative melting pot where music is not just sound but an expression of identity. Co-founder Dmitry Panov sums it up: 'We're not building a conservatory — we're igniting a movement that champions creative risk, communal growth, and the freedom to show up authentically.' Students can expect: Access to professional-grade studios with both one-on-one and group mentoring sessions. Opportunities to release original music on streaming platforms and perform live across Dubai's buzzing nightlife scene. Workshops ranging from songwriting labs to DJ masterclasses. The faculty already includes regional talents like Arabic hip-hop artist Tayeb Santo and DJ/producer Cyrill Reaidy, with more big names to be announced by August. Guest artists from the Middle East and beyond will also drop in for pop-up residencies and collaborations. With its intimate, modular space designed more like a creative hub than a classroom, the Institute aims to place Dubai at the heart of a global cultural movement where subcultures from the Global South are shaping the next wave of pop. Applications for the October 2025 cohort are now open, with early interview access for those who apply before August 31. Ready to create the soundtrack of the future? Get on the list via
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Broadcast Pro
Palestinian film ‘Alam' to screen at AFLAMUNA in Beirut
Written and directed by Firas Khoury, 'Alam' follows the story of a Palestinian teenager named Tamer. Palestinian filmmaker Firas Khoury's feature film Alam will be screening at the AFLAMUNA, a cultural nonprofit based in Beirut working to harness the power of independent Arab cinema to elevate the most pressing social, political and cultural movements of our time, on July 18 at 8:30 PM. The film follows the story of a Palestinian teenager named Tamer, who leads a typical teenage life until the arrival of the beautiful Maysaa changes everything. As he grows closer to her, Tamer agrees to participate in a mysterious and life-changing operation called 'Alam.' Written and directed by Firas Khoury, Alam stars Mahmood Bakri, Sereen Khass, Saleh Bakri, Mohammad Karaki, Ahmad Zaghmouri and Muhammad Abed Elrahman. The film is produced by Marie Pierre Macia, Claire Gadéa, Naomie Lagadec, Melik Kochbati and Ossama Bawardi, with cinematography by Frida Marzouk, editing by Nadia Ben Rachid and music by Faraj Suleiman. In terms of bigger companies at play, Alam was produced by MPM Film, Paprika Films, and Philistine Films, and co-produced by Lacydon Bay Productions, Metafora Production, and the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, with Arab world distribution by MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production. The feature film received a grant from the Doha Film Institute and a $20,000 script development grant from the Abu Dhabi Film Festival's Sanad Fund. It was also chosen to participate in the Cinéfondation Workshop at the 2017 edition of the Cannes Film Festival and the 2019 Venice GAP-Financing Market; received a $10,000 grant from Cairo Film Connection, the CIFF's Co-Production Market, and was featured at the Atlas Workshops of the Marrakech International Film Festival.
Broadcast Pro
2 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
Amman International Film Festival announces winners of sixth edition
This year's selection spotlighted films that boldly defy convention, where characters live beyond the page and stories emerge from the unpredictability, chaos and raw beauty of real life. The sixth edition of the Amman International Film Festival (Awal Film) wrapped up with an awards ceremony held at the Hussein Cultural Centre in the Jordanian capital. The evening, attended by Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym Ali, the festival's President and co-founder, marked the end of nine days filled with screenings, cross-cultural dialogue and the celebration of bold and unconventional storytelling. This year's theme, A World Unscripted , spotlighted films that challenge cinematic conventions, embracing narratives that unfold with raw authenticity and emotional depth. The festival paid tribute to creativity, vision, and the power of storytelling by recognising outstanding films from across the Arab world and beyond. A special highlight of this edition was the Republic of Ireland's designation as Country of Honour, with a dedicated showcase of Irish cinema. Acclaimed Irish filmmaker Jim Sheridan was welcomed as the guest of the 'First & Latest' segment, adding further prestige to the program. Across the nine-day event, 62 films from 23 countries were screened, including 16 world premieres. Filmmaker panels and industry discussions drew diverse audiences from Jordan and abroad, emphasising the festival's growing regional and international presence. The closing night honoured excellence in four categories—Arab Feature-Length Narratives, Documentaries, Shorts and Non-Arab Films. In the Arab Feature Narrative category, Red Path by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia) received the Black Iris Award, while Mahdi Fleifel's To a Land Unknown (Palestine) earned both the Jury Award and Audience Award. Jordanian filmmaker Tamara Owais received special mention for her debut script Simsim, alongside first-time lead actor and actress recognitions for Ali Helali, Azzam Ahmed and Saja Kilani. In the documentary section, the Black Iris Award was jointly awarded to (Y)our Mother by Samira El Mouzghibati (Morocco) and We Are Inside by Farah Kassem (Lebanon). Rand Beiruty's Tell Them About Us (Lebanon) secured the Jury and Audience Awards, while Bassam Mortada's Abu Zaabal 89 (Egypt) received both a Special Mention and the FIPRESCI Award. The Arab Short Film Black Iris went to A Passing Day'by Rasha Shahin (Egypt–Syria) and Your Excellency by Musaed Alqudifi (Kuwait) won the Audience Award. Among non-Arab films, Sarah Friedland's Familiar Touch (USA) won the Black Iris, while the Czech animated film Tales From the Magic Garden took home the Audience Award. The short film The Ant That Crossed My Sketchbook by Chris Akoury was screened during the ceremony, capping off a festival that not only celebrated cinematic artistry but also reaffirmed the power of storytelling to connect people across borders. Organisers extended gratitude to the filmmakers, audiences, and partners who have helped anchor the festival in its cultural context while opening it to the world. Looking ahead, the Amman Film Festival is already preparing for its next edition, aiming to build on its achievements with broader programming and deeper collaborations.
