CineMai 3rd Edition |

CineMai 3rd Edition |

Films

Two Prosecutors

Directed by: Sergei Loznitsa

Short Synopsis: In 1937, amidst Stalin’s Great Terror, a newly appointed prosecutor for the USSR is made aware of alleged corruption in the Secret Police, and takes it upon himself to investigate.

Special: Discussion Panel with film critic Anton Dolin

Black and white image of a man in a white shirt and dark vest sitting at a table, looking intently past the camera. The background shows wood-paneled walls, and a sign with the number 20 and the word 'October' is on the table. The left side of the image is dark and out of focus. The words 'Two Prosecutors' are visible in the lower left corner.
Black and white image of a man in a white shirt and dark vest sitting at a table, looking intently past the camera. The background shows wood-paneled walls, and a sign with the number 20 and the word 'October' is on the table. The left side of the image is dark and out of focus. The words 'Two Prosecutors' are visible in the lower left corner.

Yes

Directed by: Nadav Lapid

Short Synopsis: In the days following October 7, Y., a jazz musician, and his wife Yasmin, a dancer, resolve to say yes to everything. Y. and Yasmin sell their bodies and souls to the highest bidder, surrendering themselves and their art to Israel’s social, political and military elite. Soon, Y. is entrusted with a mission of the utmost importance: to compose the music for a rousing, ruthless new national anthem.

Special: Discussion Panel with film critic Anton Dolin

A black and white photo of a man wearing glasses with a large sign on his forehead that reads 'YES'. He has a beard and mustache and is holding a banana in his right hand.
A black and white photo of a man wearing glasses with a large sign on his forehead that reads 'YES'. He has a beard and mustache and is holding a banana in his right hand.

Io Capitano

Directed by: Matteo Garrone

Short Synopsis: Longing for a brighter future, two Senegalese teenagers embark on a journey from West Africa to Italy. However, between their dreams and reality lies a labyrinth of checkpoints, the Sahara Desert, and the vast waters of the Mediterranean.

Two people in a desert, one standing and one flying through the air, with one raised arm and the other reaching out, under a sky with clouds and a gradient sunset, with the title 'Io Capitano' overlayed.
Two people in a desert, one standing and one flying through the air, with one raised arm and the other reaching out, under a sky with clouds and a gradient sunset, with the title 'Io Capitano' overlayed.

Good Boy

Directed by: Ben Leonberg

Short Synopsis: A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

A poster with dark theme, featuring hands reaching out from black shadows at the top, a dog with a white blaze on its forehead and white paws walking on a surface with a long shadow, and the phrase 'Good Boy' written in large blue letters at the bottom.
A poster with dark theme, featuring hands reaching out from black shadows at the top, a dog with a white blaze on its forehead and white paws walking on a surface with a long shadow, and the phrase 'Good Boy' written in large blue letters at the bottom.

Palestine 36

Directed by: Annemarie Jacir

Short Synopsis: In 1936, as Palestinian villages revolt against British colonial rule, Yusuf navigates between Jerusalem and his rural home, amidst escalating unrest and a pivotal moment for the British Empire.

Special: Discussion Panel

Co-organized w/ Laolaltă

A group of soldiers in uniform and helmets, with one soldier in the center, saluting, during a ceremony with Palestinian flags and the text 'PALESTINE 36' at the bottom.
A group of soldiers in uniform and helmets, with one soldier in the center, saluting, during a ceremony with Palestinian flags and the text 'PALESTINE 36' at the bottom.

I’m Not Everything I Want to Be

Directed by: Klára Tasovská

Short Synopsis: After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Libuše Jarcovjáková, a young female photographer, strives to break free from the constraints of Czechoslovak normalization and embarks on a wild journey towards freedom, capturing her experiences on thousands of subjective photographs.

Special: Discussion Panel with photographer Maria Guțu

Co-organized w/ Casa de Fotografie

A black-and-white photograph of a person taking a selfie in a mirror with a camera. The person's face is partially obscured by the camera. There is text at the bottom that reads: 'I'm not everything I want to be'. Additional text states: 'The story of the photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková in a film by Klára Tasovská'.
A black-and-white photograph of a person taking a selfie in a mirror with a camera. The person's face is partially obscured by the camera. There is text at the bottom that reads: 'I'm not everything I want to be'. Additional text states: 'The story of the photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková in a film by Klára Tasovská'.

Pillion

Directed by: Harry Lighton

Short Synopsis: Colin, a timid gay man, is swept off his feet when Ray, an enigmatic and impossibly handsome biker, takes him on as his submissive in a crazy and erotic BDSM-focused relationship.

Three men, one sitting on a motorcycle and two standing behind him, wearing motorcycle gear, against a red background, with the word 'Pillion' in large blue letters.
Three men, one sitting on a motorcycle and two standing behind him, wearing motorcycle gear, against a red background, with the word 'Pillion' in large blue letters.

Lost in Translation

Directed by: Sofia Coppola

Short Synopsis: Two lost souls visiting Tokyo - the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial – find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other’s company, away from their lives in America.

A man in a gold kimono sitting on a bed in a dimly lit room with city lights visible through the window at night, with the title "Lost In Translation" superimposed on the image.
A man in a gold kimono sitting on a bed in a dimly lit room with city lights visible through the window at night, with the title "Lost In Translation" superimposed on the image.

Her

Directed by: Spike Jonze

Short Synopsis: In the not so distant future, Theodore, a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user’s every need. To Theodore’s surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system. This unconventional love story blends science fiction and romance in a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.

Close-up of a man with blue eyes, brown curly hair, and a mustache, wearing a red shirt, with a pink background, and the partial white text "Her" visible at the bottom.
Close-up of a man with blue eyes, brown curly hair, and a mustache, wearing a red shirt, with a pink background, and the partial white text "Her" visible at the bottom.

Aftersun

Directed by: Charlotte Wells

Short Synopsis: Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories fill the gaps between camcorder footages as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the troubled man she didn’t.

Two young people, a woman with dark hair and sunglasses wearing a striped shirt, and a man with short hair wearing sunglasses and a graphic T-shirt, standing outdoors. There is text that reads: 'Aftersun'.
Two young people, a woman with dark hair and sunglasses wearing a striped shirt, and a man with short hair wearing sunglasses and a graphic T-shirt, standing outdoors. There is text that reads: 'Aftersun'.

Bike Short Films

Directed by: TBA

Short Synopsis: TBA

Poster for CineMai 2026 film festival featuring colorful illustrations of film strips in orange, blue, and green, with handwritten-style event details and sponsor logos at the bottom.
Poster for CineMai 2026 film festival featuring colorful illustrations of film strips in orange, blue, and green, with handwritten-style event details and sponsor logos at the bottom.

BMX Bandits

Directed by: Brian Trenchard-Smith

Short Synopsis: Teens P.J. and Goose get their thrills on BMX bikes, performing hair-raising tricks all across Sydney. Along with their new friend Judy, they discover a box of walkie-talkies – and find out that a gang of criminals intends to use them to monitor police signals during a bank robbery. When the young trio snatches the devices, it propels them on a hair-raising adventure in which their pedaling skills might just save their necks.

A colorful illustration features various BMX bikers performing tricks, with a central woman with curly hair riding a yellow bike, surrounded by a crowd, cars, and other bikers in different scenes.
A colorful illustration features various BMX bikers performing tricks, with a central woman with curly hair riding a yellow bike, surrounded by a crowd, cars, and other bikers in different scenes.

Breakaway Femmes

Directed by: Eleanor Sharpe

Short Synopsis: The untold story of the halcyon era of women’s professional cycling. For six glorious years during the 1980s, the Tour de France held a women’s race alongside the men’s race. These women raced over the same cobblestones, conquered the same mountains, and were cheered by the same throng of adoring crowds as the men.

A graphic poster featuring a female cyclist in a yellow jersey riding a black and white bike with a red background. The poster has the text 'BREAKAWAY FEMMES' at the top and a silhouette of the Eiffel Tower in the background.
A graphic poster featuring a female cyclist in a yellow jersey riding a black and white bike with a red background. The poster has the text 'BREAKAWAY FEMMES' at the top and a silhouette of the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Directed by: David Borenstein

Short Synopsis: As Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, primary schools across Russia’s hinterlands are transformed into recruitment stages for the war. Facing the ethical dilemma of working in a system defined by propaganda and violence, a brave teacher goes undercover to film what’s really happening in his own school.

Special: Q&A Panel with assistant director Katya Kize

A large face of a woman with a tiny man and a dog sitting on her finger, all facing inward towards her nose and mouth, with the text "Mr NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN" in bold yellow letters at the top.
A large face of a woman with a tiny man and a dog sitting on her finger, all facing inward towards her nose and mouth, with the text "Mr NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN" in bold yellow letters at the top.