If you’re tired of scrolling through streaming platforms for 40 minutes in search of a worthy film, CineMAS 2026 might be a better plan. The festival continues at Manarat Al Saadiyat until May 24 with independent films, live Q&As and a silent Charlie Chaplin classic accompanied by DJ music.
So, here’s what’s in store for you at CineMAS 2026 this week:
Thursday, May 21: UAE short films curated by Abdulrahman Al Madani, including Oug, Yathoom, A Small Dream, The Battle, Noor and Unsaid. After the screening, the directors join the audience for a live Q&A.
Friday, May 22: Jim Jarmusch’s Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, winner of the Golden Lion at Venice. The film follows siblings facing old family tension while reconnecting with emotionally distant parents.
Saturday, May 23: Sirat by Oliver Laxe. The film follows a father and son searching for Mar, their missing daughter and sister, through southern Morocco’s mountains, deserts and rave gatherings.
Sunday, May 24, starts with Erige Sehiri’s Promised Sky, set in Tunis and told in French and Arabic.
Later that evening, CineMAS 2026 closes at Taparelle with Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid and a live DJ performance by Amin Fari. Silent cinema with live music feels like the perfect ending for a festival.
If you’re already planning your weekend in Abu Dhabi, check out our guide to the top things to do in the UAE from May 22 to 24.
