SYNOPSIS

Marie, an Ivorian pastor and former journalist, has lived in Tunisia for ten years. Her home becomes a refuge for Naney, a young mother seeking a better future, and Jolie, a strong-willed student carrying her family’s hopes. The arrival of a little orphan girl challenges their sense of solidarity in a tense social climate, revealing both their fragility and strength.

Original Title: Promis Le Ciel Countries: France, Tunisia, Qatar Year: 2025 Genre: Drama Ratio: Scope Frame rate: 24fps Sound format: 5.1 and stereo Length: 95 min Language: French, Arabic

BIOGRAPHY

Erige Sehiri is a French-Tunisian director, producer, and former journalist whose work bridges documentary realism and narrative cinema. Sehiri began her film career in documentary, directing the acclaimed Railway Men (2018), which captured the daily struggles of Tunisian railway workers. In 2022, she wrote, directed, and produced her first feature, Under the Fig Trees, an intimate portrait of youth, labor, and fleeting moments of connection set in a rural fig orchard. The film premiered at the 54th Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected to represent Tunisia at the 2023 Academy Awards. It has since screened at major international festivals and been released theatrically in over twenty countries.

Beyond her work in film, Sehiri is an active advocate for freedom of expression and media literacy. She is the co-founder of the media INKYFADA and the Tunisian NGO Al KHATT. She is also a founding member of the Rawiyat–Sisters in Film collective, which supports women filmmakers across the Arab world and diaspora.

Promised Sky, her second feature film, will premiere at Cannes Film Festival Official selection Un Certain Regard.

Filmography

Promised Sky - 2025

Under the Fig Trees - 2022 - Cannes Directors’ Fortnight

Railway Men - 2018 - feature documentary

My Father’s Facebook - 2012 - short documentary

CREW

Director: Erige Sehiri Screenwriters: Erige Sehiri, Anna Ciennik, Malika Cécile Louati DOP: Frida Marzouk Art director: Amel Rezgui Editor: Nadia Ben Rachid Costume Design: Imen Khalledi Sound: Aymen Laabidi, Alexis Jung, Simon Apostolou Music: Valentin Hadjadj Producers: Didar Domehri, Erige Sehiri Production: Maneki Films, Heina Production Coproduction: Canal+ World Sales: Luxbox

CAST

Aïssa Maïga, Debora Lobe Naney, Laetitia Ky, Estelle Kenza Dogbo, Foued Zaazaa, Mohamed Grayaa, Touré Blamassi

FESTIVALS & AWARDS

Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard - 2025

Erige Sehiri

Director-Screenwriter