The week-long alternative film festival takes place at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

Abu Dhabi’s Manarat Al Saadiyat once again becomes the beating heart of the region’s indie film scene with CineMAS 2025, a weeklong cinematic journey where bold storytelling and regional resonance converge.

Spanning seven thematic days, from 26 May to 1 June, the festival screens films, constructs conversations and nurtures community.

Opening with Moral Frictions, Monday’s programme, curated by Triplets on Set, explores institutional breakdown through The Teacher’s Lounge and About Dry Grasses, where educators unravel under scrutiny, morality, and the quiet chaos of systemic failure.

Tuesday’s Hidden Truths, curated by Arab Film Studio, shifts the lens inward with a collection of poignant shorts from emerging Emirati voices. Each story, whether tackling family, shame, or loss, pulses with the silent weight of societal expectation and is a tribute to resilience in the face of the unspoken.

On Wednesday, Earth, Unmuted by The Climate Tribe strikes a visceral chord. Invisible Demons and Honeyland challenge us to confront climate collapse not as a distant threat, but as a present crisis rooted in human behaviour.

By Thursday, Ancestral Echoes reconnects us with tradition. In a tender ode to heritage, Rituals: Memories of a Wedding and The Way of Our Ancestors urge us to remember that the future lies in the past, through the rituals, harmony, and wisdom passed down through generations.

Friday’s Pressure Point, presented by Like Minds, examines the friction between memory, labour, and loss. Mandoob brings Saudi grit to the forefront, while the cult-classic Be Kind, Rewind reminds us of the creative chaos that births connection.

Saturday’s double feature, Double Lives, dives into deception, duality, and fractured systems. From Algiers to Infernal Affairs, these thrillers unravel identities and institutions in a world where loyalty is fleeting, and exposure is fatal.

Finally, NYUAD’s Futures on Hold closes the week with a trio of Arab films that speak of statelessness, satire, and fractured memory. The movies include Mahdi Fleifel’s To A Land Unknown, Laila Abbas’s darkly satirical Thank You for Banking with Us, and Scandar Copti’s Happy Holidays. Each is a poignant reminder of the shifting sands of identity, and the urgent need to tell our stories.

With side activations like DINE W/ME, Creative Circle, and Like Minds Gatherings, CineMAS 2025 is a movement rooted in film, looking for a far deeper impact.

So, get your popcorn ready and join the crowd at Manarat Al Saadiyat for an unforgettable week of independent cinema.

GO: Visit www.manaratalsaadiyat.ae for more information.