The film is inspired by real events that occurred in Tunisia, when sub-Saharan migrants were attacked in the media and on the streets, leading to violence, arbitrary arrests, and the expulsion of thousands of people.
Promised Sky follows Marie, a 40-year-old Ivorian pastor and former journalist.
Marie helps vulnerable women like Nané, a worker without her passport, and Jolie, an artist pressured to return home, as they navigate rising tensions and difficult choices with solidarity, resourcefulness, and humour.
Sehiri, Anna Ciennik, and Malika Cecile Louati wrote the film.
It stars French actress Aïssa Maïga, Ivorian actresses Laetitia Ky and Deborah Naney, and Tunisian actor Mohamed Grayaa.
French-Tunisian filmmaker Sehiri made her debut documentary, Railway Men, in 2018.
Her feature Under the Fig Trees (2021) won several awards at the Venice International Film Festival's Final Cut and joined the 54th Director's Fortnight selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
It was also selected as Tunisia's official submission in the 2023 Oscars for Best International Feature Film.
The Cannes Film Festival revealed its official selection for the 78th edition in April.
Un Certain Regard, which opens on 14 May, is one of the festival's most prestigious segments.
It includes "unusual styles and non-traditional stories seeking international recognition," the festival officials explained.
Chinese film Black Dog (Guan Hu) won the 2024 Un Certain Regard prize.
Among the 20 films selected for this segment is Egyptian film Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore, directed by Morad Mostafa.
Palestinian film Once Upon a Time in Gaza, by Arab and Tarzan Nasser, will also compete in the same segment.
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