23rd edition November 20th to 28th, 2026
23rd edition
20 to 28 November, 2026
Karim Aïnouz is a Brazilian-Algerian film director, screenwriter, and visual artist acclaimed for his sensuous aesthetics, bold visual language, and politically resonant storytelling. His work spans award-winning features, shorts, and installations, marked by a deep engagement with character, memory, and transformation. He first gained international recognition in 2002 with Madame Satã, which had its premiere in Un Certain Regard at the Festival de Cannes, and has since developed a remarkable body of work that explores identity, memory, and social change. Highlights of his œuvre include the autobiographical documentary Mariner of the Mountains, which premiered at Cannes, and Nardjes A., which was presented at the Berlin International Film Festival. In recent years, Aïnouz has premiered several films at Cannes, including The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão, which won the Un Certain Regard Prize, to his most recent features, Firebrand and Motel Destino, both of which competed for the Palme d’or and demonstrate his continued boldness and visual innovation.
ROSEBUSH PRUNING (Upcoming )
* MOTEL DESTINO (2024)
FIREBRAND (2023)
* MARINER OF THE MOUNTAINS MARINHEIRO DAS MONTANHAS (2021)
NARDJES A. (2020, Doc)
30/30 VISION: 3 DECADES OF STRAND RELEASING (2019)
* THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF EURÍDICE GUSMÃ A VIDA INVISÍVEL DE EURÍDICE GUSMÃO (2019) – Un Certain Regard Prize
CENTRAL AIRPORT THF / BERLIN TEMPELHOF (2018, Doc) – Amnesty Prize BERLINALE
* CATHEDRALS OF CULTURE: CENTRE GEORGES POMPIDOU (2014, Doc)
* FUTURO BEACH PRAIA DO FUTUROAKA (2014)
VENICE 70: FUTURE RELOADED (2013, Doc)
* O ABISMO PRATEADO (2011)
DESASSOSSEGO (FILME DAS MARAVILHAS) (2010, Doc)
* I TRAVEL BECAUSE I HAVE TO, I COME BACK BECAUSE I LOVE YOU / VIAJO PORQUE PRECISO, VOLTO PORQUE TE AMO (2009)
ALICE (2008, TV)
* LOVE FOR SALE (SUELY IN THE SKY) O CÉU DE SUELY (2006)
* MADAME SATÃ (2002) – Best Film CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
* Also screenwriter
As screenwriter
CIDADE BAIXA (LOWER CITY) CIDADE BAIXA (Sérgio Machado, 2005)
MOVIES, ASPIRIN AND VULTURES CINEMA, ASPIRINAS E URUBUS (Marcelo Gomes, 2005)
BEHIND THE SUN ABRIL DESPEDAÇADO (Walter Salles, 2001)
Karim Aïnouz is a Brazilian-Algerian film director, screenwriter, and visual artist acclaimed for his sensuous aesthetics, bold visual language, and politically resonant storytelling. His work spans award-winning features, shorts, and installations, marked by a deep engagement with character, memory, and transformation. He first gained international recognition in 2002 with Madame Satã, which had its premiere in Un Certain Regard at the Festival de Cannes, and has since developed a remarkable body of work that explores identity, memory, and social change. Highlights of his œuvre include the autobiographical documentary Mariner of the Mountains, which premiered at Cannes, and Nardjes A., which was presented at the Berlin International Film Festival. In recent years, Aïnouz has premiered several films at Cannes, including The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão, which won the Un Certain Regard Prize, to his most recent features, Firebrand and Motel Destino, both of which competed for the Palme d’or and demonstrate his continued boldness and visual innovation.