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MAD Solutions flaunts its feathers at Durban International Film Festival with 4 titles
09 July 2025
Four MAD films are set to compete at the 46th edition of South Africa's well-established Durban International Film Festival: A PROMISED SKY, SUDAN REMEMBER US, SAMIA, and AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY.
The festival will run from July 17th to the 27th.
In the Feature Competition lineup, we have Tunisian director Erige Sehiri’s A PROMISED SKY — in its first screening after its Cannes premiere — which follows Marie, Naney, and Jolie: Immigrants who live together in Tunis. Together, they foster Kenza, a shipwreck survivor. As this unorthodox family forms, crises make each woman reconsider her place. The film stars Aïssa Maîga, Deborah Christelle Lobe Naney, Laetitia Ky. The film is scheduled to screen at 7:15 pm on the final day of the festival, July 27th, at Suncoast 8.
In the lineup for the Documentary Competition, we have the poignant and reverberating SUDAN, REMEMBER US by Hind Meddeb, which follows Shajane, Maha, Khatab, and Muzamil: Young Sudanese activists who use their poetry as a means for revolution, fighting against an oppressive military dictatorship. The documentary will screen twice throughout the festival, once at 2:30 pm on July 20th at Suncoast 8, and again at 7 pm on the 23rd at Suncoast 5.
AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY by Egyptian director Morad Mostafa — which is also holding its African premiere after its Cannes world premiere and screening out of competition — tells the tale of Aisha, a Sudanese caregiver with dreams of one day bettering her circumstances. She finds herself navigating migration, racism, and crime in the complex underworld of Cairo’s Ain Shams.
The film stars model Buliana Simon, Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza, Emad Ghoniem, and Mamdouh Saleh, and is lensed by award-winning cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef. The film is set to screen at 11:30 am on July 20th and at 7 pm on the 26th, both at Suncoast 5.
Based on a true story, SAMIA by Yasemine Şamdereli showcases the journey of a young Somali athlete who defies societal taboos by racing through the streets of Mogadishu, ultimately aspiring to compete in the Olympic Games. It stars llham Mohamed Osman, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Fatah Ghedi, and Elmi Rashid Elmi. The film screens at 5 pm on July 20th at Pavilion 12, and in the same time slot on the 27th at Ballito Junction.
The festival will run from July 17th to the 27th.
In the Feature Competition lineup, we have Tunisian director Erige Sehiri’s A PROMISED SKY — in its first screening after its Cannes premiere — which follows Marie, Naney, and Jolie: Immigrants who live together in Tunis. Together, they foster Kenza, a shipwreck survivor. As this unorthodox family forms, crises make each woman reconsider her place. The film stars Aïssa Maîga, Deborah Christelle Lobe Naney, Laetitia Ky. The film is scheduled to screen at 7:15 pm on the final day of the festival, July 27th, at Suncoast 8.
In the lineup for the Documentary Competition, we have the poignant and reverberating SUDAN, REMEMBER US by Hind Meddeb, which follows Shajane, Maha, Khatab, and Muzamil: Young Sudanese activists who use their poetry as a means for revolution, fighting against an oppressive military dictatorship. The documentary will screen twice throughout the festival, once at 2:30 pm on July 20th at Suncoast 8, and again at 7 pm on the 23rd at Suncoast 5.
AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY by Egyptian director Morad Mostafa — which is also holding its African premiere after its Cannes world premiere and screening out of competition — tells the tale of Aisha, a Sudanese caregiver with dreams of one day bettering her circumstances. She finds herself navigating migration, racism, and crime in the complex underworld of Cairo’s Ain Shams.
The film stars model Buliana Simon, Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza, Emad Ghoniem, and Mamdouh Saleh, and is lensed by award-winning cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef. The film is set to screen at 11:30 am on July 20th and at 7 pm on the 26th, both at Suncoast 5.
Based on a true story, SAMIA by Yasemine Şamdereli showcases the journey of a young Somali athlete who defies societal taboos by racing through the streets of Mogadishu, ultimately aspiring to compete in the Olympic Games. It stars llham Mohamed Osman, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Fatah Ghedi, and Elmi Rashid Elmi. The film screens at 5 pm on July 20th at Pavilion 12, and in the same time slot on the 27th at Ballito Junction.
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