MAIAIFF – Maia International Film Festival

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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.

30.APR

PORTUGUESE PREMIERE | Official Competition 2026 | 30.04 — 14h30

My Father's Son

Qiao (18) learns that his father has died. Between past, present, and future, he recalls his relationship with his brutal and secretive father, who left him a passion for boxing.

Directed by QIU Sheng
100 min · DRAMA
CH · 2025

PORTUGUESE PREMIERE | Official Competition 2026 | 30.04 — 16h30

Tell Her That I Love Her

Romane Bohringer decides to adapt for the cinema the book by Clémentine Autain dedicated to her mother. This project will force her to confront her past and her own mother, who abandoned her when she was nine months old.

Directed by Romane Bohringer
92 MIN · DRAMA
FR · 2025

PORTUGUESE PREMIERE | Official Competition 2026 | 30.04 — 18h30

Forastera

During the summer in Mallorca, Cata recognizes similarities with her late grandmother. She develops an influence over her grieving grandfather through clothing, blurring who inhabits whom.

Directed by Lucia Aleñar Iglesias
97 min · DRAMA
ES/IT/SW · 2025

Special Screening + Q&A WITH ALI ASGARI | 30.04 — 21h30

Terrestrial Verses

In a series of vignettes, ordinary people confront the constraints of Iranian society.

Directed by Ali Asgari & Alireza Khatami
77 MIN · DRAMA
IR · 2023

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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