Erige Sehiri moves fluidly between documentary realism and narrative cinema. She began her filmmaking career with the acclaimed documentary RAILWAY MEN, which captured the daily lives and struggles of Tunisian railway workers through a grounded, observational lens. In 2022, she made a striking feature debut with UNDER THE FIG TREES, which she wrote, directed, and produced. It premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and was selected as Tunisia’s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards, later screening at major festivals and securing theatrical releases in over 20 countries. Beyond filmmaking, Sehiri is a prominent advocate for freedom of expression and media literacy. She is the co-founder of the independent media platform Inkyfada and the NGO Al Khatt, and a founding member of the Rawiyat – Sisters in Film collective, supporting women filmmakers across the Arab world and diaspora.
A Litany of Awards: Throughout its extensive festival run, PROMISED SKY won two Best Screenplay Awards, Best Director, two Best Film Awards, and two Best Actress Awards for Déborah Lobe (along with a Special Mention!)
PROMISED SKY: Sehiri returned to Cannes with her second feature film, PROMISED SKY, which premiered as part of the 78th edition’s Un Certain Regard
