Saturday
Taxi Monamour
Two young women find themselves at a turning point. Anna is at odds with herself and her family, while Nadiya, displaced by war, is forced to flee Ukraine. Their brief encounter becomes an intense, unpredictable plunge into freedom.
Hot Swing Boheme Live at Hackney Picturehouse
Get ready for an awesome evening with Hot Swing Boheme bringing their vibrant swing vibes live! Join us on April 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM (BST) for great music, good company, and a cozy atmosphere at Hackney Picturehouse. Don't miss out on this fun, in-person event - perfect for music lovers looking to unwind and dance the night away!
What's a Human Anyway (Korkuyorum Anne)
After being knocked unconscious and losing his memory, Ali returns to life like a newborn, exploring the world from scratch and trying to reassemble his identity. Set within a nostalgic Istanbul neighbourhood, the film follows a tight web of families and close friends as Ali's presence quietly reshapes their everyday lives.
Sunday
Short Film Programme + Q&A
A curated selection of recent short films from emerging filmmakers across Greece, Lebanon, Turkiye and the wider region. The programme brings together contemporary stories that move between realism, dark humour and emotional depth, following characters dealing with displacement, family pressure, identity and everyday life. Several films have received recognition at international festivals including Sundance, Venice, Palm Springs and London Short Film Festival. A rare opportunity to see these acclaimed shorts together on the big screen, followed by a Q&A with directors.
Almost Certainly False
Having fled the war in Syria, Hanna and her young brother Nader settle in Istanbul, where she learns nail design to earn a living while dreaming of emigrating to Europe. When she meets a Turkish man named İbo on a night out, she struggles to balance her identity and desires with the needs of her young brother.
Heat Me
Three generations of spirited women — a granddaughter, her fashionable mother, and a feisty grandmother — find themselves confined to their apartment without air conditioning during a severe heatwave. As tensions rise with the temperature, their dynamics shift in unexpected and darkly funny ways.
And If the Sun Drowned
On a Lebanese waterfront construction site, security guard Raed is tasked with preventing pedestrians from accessing the sealed-off seaside. As the horizon becomes increasingly obscured by construction, he experiences peculiar encounters that blur the line between dreams and reality.
Dreams, Hopes and Rotating Dolphins
A new technology allows people to discover who they were in past lives through a website, but when Erdi's data refuses to load, he spirals into an existential crisis. A sharp, satirical look at humanity's obsession with identity and our strange need to measure self-worth through technology.
Don't Say It
Pat, a failed restaurateur, and Lara, a diner waitress — both divorced — cross paths unexpectedly. As Pat uses his charm, cooking skills, and karaoke to court her, the film becomes a bittersweet exploration of finding romance amid shared disappointment.
Glass Spider
A hand-crafted piece of lo-budget filmmaking that turns creative constraints into raw, inventive storytelling. Selected for the London Short Film Festival's Lo-Budget Mayhem programme, the film captures an intimate, unpolished vision that resonates with the spirit of independent Mediterranean cinema.
The Yarn
A Greek-Turkish couple and their little daughter travel with their caravan along the Turkish seaside of the Aegean Sea. This time, however, their journey ends with a fantastic reflection of a tale that the parents always tell to their daughter.
