CineMAS 2025 has returned to Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, and it’s more than just a celebration of indie film. Running until Sunday, June 1, this year’s edition unfolds across seven themed days, each packed with powerful screenings and curated line-ups designed to challenge, reflect, and resonate.

Organised around themes of identity, heritage, climate, labour, duplicity and statelessness, CineMAS 2025 invites audiences to dive into a deeper cinematic experience. The programming has been put together by regional institutions like Arab Film Studio, NYUAD, The Climate Tribe, and others, ensuring a strong local perspective.

 

CineMAS 2025 – Full Schedule & Themes

  • Tuesday, May 27 – Shorts on Identity & Transition
    Curated by Arab Film Studio, this line-up features short films that explore the tension between tradition, modernity, and personal transformation.
  • Wednesday, May 28 – Earth, Unmuted
    A wake-up call from The Climate Tribe, featuring environmental documentaries “Invisible Demons” and “Honeyland.”
  • Thursday, May 29 – Ancestral Echoes
    Films like “Rituals: Memories of a Wedding” and “The Way of Our Ancestors” offer a poetic take on cultural heritage.

 

  • Friday, May 30 – Pressure Point
    Curated by Like Minds, this session places Saudi noir “Mandoob” next to Michel Gondry’s “Be Kind, Rewind” for a dialogue between memory and marginality.
  • Saturday, May 31 – Double Lives
    A gripping exploration of deception and duality, with films set in Algiers and Hong Kong. Expect high tension and deep questions.
  • Sunday, June 1 – Futures on Hold
    NYUAD closes the festival with a trio of Arab films tackling themes of exile and instability, including “To A Land Unknown,” “Thank You for Banking with Us”, and “Happy Holidays.”

 

Beyond the screenings, the festival is also hosting DINE W/ME, Creative Circle, and Like Minds Gatherings, offering attendees a chance to connect with filmmakers and cultural voices shaping the region’s creative landscape.

Tickets start from AED 30, and all screenings take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat.