Aïssa Maïga Shines in “Promis le Ciel” at Cannes 2025 — Un Certain Regard

By: Kimberly Porter| Aïssa Maïga in "Promis le Ciel"| Image: Gregorytauziac

Aïssa Maïga on Embodying Resilience, Sisterhood, and Social Urgency

in Erige Sehiri’s 78th Cannes Edition Standout Film

1. What drew you to the character of Marie in “Promis le Ciel,” and how did you prepare to portray a woman balancing her roles as a journalist, evangelist pastor, and caretaker in Tunis?

The character of Marie moved me deeply. She carries her community on her shoulders : a marginalized, often invisible group. She’s strong because she’s spiritually connected, but also deeply human and wounded. I found her incredibly moving in her sincerity, intelligence, and vulnerability.

As for preparation… how can I put it? I was cast very late, so I had very little time to prepare. Everything happened in a rush. I was thrown into the character almost as she lives: between deep conviction and fragile balance. I loved exploring all her dimensions: woman, mother, pastor, journalist… all intertwined.

2. “Promis le Ciel” is part of the Un Certain Regard competition, which celebrates innovative and audacious cinema. What does it mean to you to have this film recognized at Cannes in this way?

It’s a powerful recognition, not only for the film, but for the vision behind it. Un Certain Regard shines a light on voices that take risks, that don’t follow conventional formulas. For us, it’s a chance to elevate a story that might otherwise remain unseen, to give visibility to characters and realities that are too often ignored. It’s also a recognition of Erige Sehiri’s bold and delicate approach, and of a form of cinema rooted in truth, intimacy, and political urgency.

Aïssa Maïga Shines in “Promis le Ciel” (Promised Sky)

Courtesy: @LuxBoxFilms/@FilmsOfficial

Official Opening Film – Un Certain Regard – Cannes 2025

OFFICIAL SCREENINGS

Wed. May 14th, 2025 at 7:30 PM, Salle Debussy (World Premiere)

Thu. May 15th, 8:30 AM, Salle Debussy

Thu. May 15th, 11:30 AM, Licorne

Thu. May 15th, 5:15 PM, Cineum

Fri. May 16th, 2:15 PM, Cineum

3. This is Érige Sehiri’s third feature and her first time in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. What was it like collaborating with her, and how did her vision influence your performance?

I’m truly happy that Érige’s singular vision is being recognized and celebrated. Her background as a journalist inspired me. She’s spent years immersed in the field, sometimes investigating for two years before writing. She writes a script, yes, but once on set, she’s still searching, observing, shaping. We worked closely together through improvisation, through dialogue. She gave me immense trust, shared her questions and her vision with generosity. Filming with Érige makes you a better actor: more alert, more connected, more present.

4. “Promis le Ciel” addresses migration, identity, and the precarious situation of women in North Africa. How important is it for you to be part of films that tackle contemporary social issues?

It’s essential. Before filming, I was already deeply aware of the tragedy of Sub-Saharan African migrants stranded in the desert, many abandoned and left to die. The images are horrifying. That level of cruelty and racism is unbearable.

What I love about this film is that it doesn’t lecture, it gives face and soul to these stories. Through Marie, Naney and Jolie, we discover three distinct women: an intellectual, an artist, a working-class young woman. Three individuals, three migration journeys, three emotional universes. They are complex, contradictory, lovable. And through them, the film brings a sense of repair and dignity.

Image: Aïssa Maïga

5. You’ve had a remarkable career, from your César-nominated performance in “Bamako” to leading roles in international productions. How does “Promis le Ciel” fit into your journey as an actress and filmmaker?

This film challenged me in a new way. I was often the only professional actor on set, surrounded by real people playing versions of themselves. It gave the shoot a documentary feel, but it was still fiction. I had to find my own rhythm, my own truth within that raw reality.

Marie is also an evangelical pastor, a world I knew nothing about. I had to immerse myself quickly, absorb it all and make it feel natural. It was intense, destabilizing, and thrilling. As an actress, it’s a gift to be entrusted with such a rich emotional landscape.

6. You’ve been vocal about the challenges faced by Black actresses in France and co-authored “Being Black is Not My Profession.” Have you seen progress in the industry since then, and what still needs to change?

I hear from many young Black and non-White actors - talented, trained, determined - who say they’re not even getting the chance to try.

There’s been some progress, yes, but it’s still far too slow. And when you’re facing these barriers in your everyday life, “slow” can feel like a form of “never”.

What we need is not just more roles, but a shift in who gets to imagine and tell the stories. That’s why I now produce - to create space for other narratives, other faces, and other truths. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I believe in change and in collective resilience. 

7. How do you see this film contributing to broader discussions about diversity and belonging?

Promis le Ciel doesn’t wave a flag, it tells a human story. But in doing so, it challenges the limits of what and who is seen in cinema. It invites audiences to look beyond clichés, to connect with people they might otherwise ignore. In that way, it contributes to a cinema of empathy and justice where everyone deserves to be visible and complex.

8. As both an actress and director, what stories are you most passionate about telling in the future, and what can we expect next from you?

I’m stepping into production, and it’s a thrilling new chapter. My heart is turned toward the African continent. I want to tell stories from there, rooted in the past or present, with voices that are unique and powerful.

I want to celebrate the richness of Africa and its diasporas culturally, politically, spiritually. From Africa to the world. That’s my next horizon.

9. If there’s one message you hope viewers take away from “Promis le Ciel,” what would it be?

That no one is reducible to their pain or to the label’s others place on them.

That even in the harshest circumstances, beauty, dignity, and love endure.

And that we must look at the world and each other with more depth, more grace, more care.

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