French-Tunisian director Erige Sehiri’s new film, Promised Sky, will premiere at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section. Ahead of its debut, the film has released its trailer. Luxbox is handling global sales, with French distribution by Jour2Fête.
Sehiri’s previous film, Under the Fig Trees, premiered at Cannes in 2022 and was selected as Tunisia’s entry for the 2023 Academy Awards.
Promised Sky follows Marie, an Ivorian pastor in Tunisia, whose home becomes a refuge for Naney, a young mother, and Jolie, a determined student. The arrival of an orphan challenges their solidarity in Tunisia’s tense social climate.
The screenplay was written by Sehiri, Anna Ciennik, and Malika Cécile Louati. Sehiri, reflecting on Tunisia’s treatment of migrants, said, “We act as if we’re not all Africans living on the same continent.”
With rising tensions over migration in Tunisia, Sehiri noted the film’s growing connection to the political climate: “We didn’t intend to document the situation, but reality caught up with our story.”
Cinematography is by Frida Marzouk, known for her work on Blue Is the Warmest Color. The film stars Aïssa Maiga, Debora Lobe Naney, and Laetitia Ky.
Produced by Maneki Films and Henia Production, with Canal+ as co-producer, Promised Sky also benefits from support by TV5 Monde and the Doha Film Institute.
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