MAIAIFF – Maia International Film Festival

Welcome to maiaiff

Welcome to the third edition of the Maia International Film Festival! This edition, we are honoured to welcome as special guests the filmmakers Ali Asgari and Pourya Pour, whose cinematic vision continues to challenge and inspire audiences worldwide. Don’t miss this celebration of cinema at MAIAIFF – Maia International Film Festival. This year it’s going to be a special edition for all movies will have free entry as well as the dedicated session for children!

The festival

On April 29th, we were joined by the actors: Henrique Mello; Joana Cravo; Susana Blazer. And on May 2nd, in the MovieTalks, we welcomed: Ângelo Rodrigues; Carolina Amaral; Ivo Arroja; Pedro Giestas and Pedro Lacerda. The jury for this edition is composed of: Álvaro Gago, Mariana Figueiroa, Raf Vilar, Tânia Dinis, and Tiago Vieira da Silva, tasked with evaluating and awarding the highlights of this unique programme.

02.may

KID’S SCREENING | 02.05 — 11h00

Aya e a Feiticeira

Aya, 10 years old, happily lives in an orphanage thanks to her ability to control others. Reluctant to be adopted by the witch Bella Yaga, she decides to go and learn magic, relying on her naivety and Bella Yaga’s cat to survive and thrive.

Directed by Gorô Miyazaki
82 min · Animation, Aventure, Fantasy
JP · 2020

PORTUGUESE PREMIERE | Official Competition 2026 | 02.05 — 14h15

Caravan

A devoted single mother dreams of a solo holiday in Italy at her friend’s house, but when plans fall through, she must take her disabled teenage son on what was meant to be her private getaway.

Directed by Zuzana Kirchnerová
102 MIN · Road-movie/Drama-Romance
IT/CZ · 2025

PORTUGUESE PREMIERE | Official Competition 2026 | 02.05 — 16h15

Amoeba

At an authoritarian all-girls school, four misfit teens form a secret gang. Their fumbling rebellion unearths buried desires and the quiet violence of growing up in contemporary Singapore.

Directed by TAN SIYOU
98 MIN · DRAMA/THRILLER
SG/NL/FR/ES/KR · 2025

BOOK PRESENTATION | 02.05 — 17h15

O Crepitar da Terracota

In a future dominated by robotics and digitalization, unemployed Ana Maria, with a daughter, is forced to question her beliefs while saving someone important, discovering new temporal dimensions.

Author: Inês Rebanda Coelho

02.05 — 18h00

Movie Talks

In the MAIAIFF 2026 Movie Talks, Ângelo Rodrigues, Carolina Amaral, Ivo Arroja, Pedro Giestas, and Pedro Lacerda will join us for an open conversation dedicated to sharing experiences, creative journeys, and reflections on contemporary cinema.

02.05 — 21h30

Festival Closing Event

The festival concludes with the long-awaited awards ceremony, a celebratory moment recognizing the works and talents that stood out this edition. The evening culminates with a special screening of the winning film, inviting the audience to share, one last time, the magic of the big screen.

AWARDS AND HONORABLE MENTION 2025

GOLD EAR OF WHEAT – 1st Place

MA - Cry of Silence (MM)

Mi-Thet, a young Burmese woman who works in a garment factory, faces an urgent strike organized by her colleagues, which reminds her of her deep trauma. By learning about the recent history of her country, she decides to act.

Director | The Maw Naing

SILVER EAR OF WHEAT – 2nd Place

The Hyperboreans (CL)

A woman’s storytelling and illusions bring to life the controversial figure of Miguel Serrano, a Chilean writer who propagated esoteric Neo-Nazi philosophies, prompting contemplation about his place in history.

Director | Cristóbal León & Joaquín Cociña

BRONZE EAR OF WHEAT – 3rd Place

Moon (AT)

Sarah, a former mixed martial artist from Vienna, takes up the offer to work as a personal trainer for the three daughters of a wealthy family in the Middle East. In a palace surrounded by walls, with no internet access and constant surveillance on the sisters, Sara finds that they are not really interested in boxing training. The question is, why was Sara brought here?

Director | Kurdwin Ayub

HONORABLE MENTION

Kino (DE)

An observation of daily life from the perspective of a cinema employee together with the imagination and power of cinema.

Director | Pourya Pour

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