Cinépolis, the leading film exhibition company in Mexico and Latin America with presence in 18 countries, along with the Sundance Institute, the nonprofit organization behind the renowned Sundance Film Festival and dedicated to discovering and supporting independent artists and audiences year-round, announced the titles that will make up the program for the third edition of Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2026. The selection includes 15 feature films (eight documentaries and seven fiction films) and a program of six short films, offering a diverse and contemporary look at global independent cinema.
Tickets for the festival will be available starting April 10 through Cinépolis’ official website and its app, as well as at the box offices of the five participating venues: Cinépolis Diana, Cinépolis Plaza Carso, Cinépolis VIP Miyana, Cinépolis Mítikah, and Cinépolis Oasis Coyoacán, for their respective screenings.
Through productions from different parts of the world, the program explores themes such as identity, community, environment, technology, and memory, reflecting the richness of perspectives and storytelling that define the Festival. The documentary lineup includes: American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, directed by David Alvarado, a vibrant portrait of Luis Valdez, a key figure in Chicano theater and films in the United States; The Oldest Person in the World, by Sam Green, an intimate reflection on the passage of time and longevity; Nuisance Bear, by Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden, which examines the coexistence between humans and wildlife in the Canadian Arctic; Everybody to Kenmure Street, by Felipe Bustos Sierra, documenting an act of community resistance against migration policies in the United Kingdom; One in a Million, by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes, a deeply personal chronicle about exile and identity; The Last First: Winter K2, by Amir Bar-Lev, following an extreme expedition on one of the world’s most challenging mountains; The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell, which reflects on the scope and risks of artificial intelligence in humanity’s future; and The Best Summer, by Tamra Davis, which offers an immersive look at a moment that defined an era in music.
On the fiction side, the lineup includes Chasing Summer, by Josephine Decker, a story about second chances and returning home; The Musical, by Giselle Bonilla, about ambition, ego, and rivalry; Saccharine, by Natalie Erika James, an exploration of obsession with thinness and body image; Union County, by Adam Meeks, an intimate story about the opioid crisis in rural United States; The Invite, by Olivia Wilde, about a couple on the verge of collapse when their upstairs neighbors come over for dinner; Undertone, by Ian Tuason, where a paranormal podcast host begins to be haunted by disturbing anonymous recordings; and If I Go Will They Miss Me, by Walter Thompson-Hernández, portraying the story of a boy who, through surreal visions, seeks to connect with his father and understand the ties that bind his family.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2026 to audiences again for the third edition. This year’s program features a selection of offerings that encompass exciting fiction and documentary films with a variety of approaches to storytelling about timely and timeless topics,” said Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming. “We’re looking forward to sharing these stories and being in conversation with audiences and artists over four days of engaging independent cinema and events at various Cinépolis locations.”
“The Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2026’s cinematic program showcases the creativity and diversity that define contemporary independent cinema,” said Alejandro Ramírez, CEO of Cinépolis. “For us, it is incredibly valuable to bring these stories closer to Mexican audiences and continue fostering spaces where new voices, diverse perspectives, and meaningful narratives can connect with increasingly broad audiences.”
“Our Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2026 program offers an opportunity to explore powerful and entertaining stories early in their journeys of meeting global audiences. These films premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival to great reception and our team is pleased to take them to Mexico City, where we’ve enjoyed connecting with a vibrant film-loving community for the past two years,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “We are excited for the dialogue these screenings and panels will facilitate and for the special experiences that will emerge during this year’s edition.”
Finally, the short film program brings together a set of stories that stand out for their narrative and aesthetic diversity, ranging from animation to intimate drama and sensory exploration. Titles include Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night, by Josefina Montino and Martín André; Marga en el DF, by Gabriela Ortega; Albatross, by Amandine Thomas; Norheimsund, by Ana A. Alpizar; Once in a Body, by María Cristina Pérez; and Mentirosos, by Eduardo Braun Costa.
Once again, Cinépolis Diana will be the heart of Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2026, where audiences and filmmakers will gather to celebrate new voices in independent cinema. More details about special screenings, and additional activities will be announced soon.
DOCUMENTARIES
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist / United States (Directors: Daniel Roher, Charlie Tyrell) – A story in which a future father tries to understand what’s going on with the chaos of artificial intelligence. The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is a handcrafted and eye-opening documentary about the most powerful technology humanity has ever created, and what’s at stake if we get it wrong.
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez / United States (Director and Writer: David Alvarado) – Facing political resistance and industry skepticism, Luis Valdez brought Chicano stories from the fields to the big screen with works such as Zoot Suit and La Bamba, creating iconic works that challenge, celebrate, and expand the history of the United States. An acclaimed playwright and director, Valdez recognized the impact of seeing one’s humanity reflected on stage and screen, using theater as a tool for social change while collaborating with farmworkers. Through archival footage, testimonies, and an intimate look at his trajectory, director David Alvarado explores key moments in his career and the lasting cultural influence of his work.
The Best Summer / United States, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand (Director: Tamra Davis) – Immersive first-person footage reveals electrifying performances, candid interviews, and intimate backstage life with Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Rancid, Beck, The Amps, and Bikini Kill — an all-access look at a moment that defined an era in music.
Everybody to Kenmure Street / United Kingdom (Director: Felipe Bustos Sierra) – In May 2021, an early morning Home Office raid triggers one of the most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent times. In Pollokshields, Scotland’s most diverse neighborhood, hundreds of residents take to the streets to prevent the deportation of their neighbors.
The Last First: Winter K2 / United States, United Kingdom (Director: Amir Bar-Lev) – Amir Bar-Lev examines the extreme mountaineering industry and its shifting culture. Focused on a 2021 expedition in which Icelandic climber John Snorri Sigurjónsson and the Pakistani father-and-son team Ali and Sajid Sadpara attempt to become the first to summit K2 in winter, when conditions are at their harshest. Soon, they find themselves sharing the dangerous ascent with influencer climbers and their film crews, commercial expedition clients, and Nims, a renowned Nepali mountaineer accompanied by his Sherpa team. The Last First: Winter in K2 takes us to the frozen heights and unpredictable climate of K2, revealing a story of strategy and determination, class and caste, money and power, all under life-or-death circumstances.
Nuisance Bear / United States, Canada, United Kingdom (Directors: Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden) – A polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife guards, and hunters as its migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is labeled a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape.
The Oldest Person in the World / United States (Director: Sam Green) – A decade-long global journey tells the story of record holders for the oldest person in the world. What begins as a portrait of longevity becomes a meditation on the passage of time, the randomness of fate, and the joy and profound human experience of being alive.
One in a Million / United Kingdom (Directors: Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes) – Filmed over 10 years, the documentary follows Israa from childhood to adulthood on a journey from Syria to Germany and back. The story begins when, at age 11, she and her family prepare to cross the Aegean Sea, risking everything in search of safety and a better life in Europe. Over time, the film builds an intimate chronicle of war, exile, and growth, as Israa faces the challenges of adolescence, identity, and belonging far from home. As she adapts to her new life in Germany, newfound freedoms clash with her cultural traditions, reshaping her relationships and sense of self.
FICTION
Chasing Summer / United States (Director: Josephine Decker; Cast: Iliza Shlesinger, Garrett Wareing, Lola Tung, Cassidy Freeman, Tom Welling, Megan Mullally, Aimee Garcia) – After losing her job and her boyfriend, Jamie retreats to her small hometown in Texas, where her friends and memories of a fateful summer in high school turn her life upside down.
If I Go Will They Miss Me / United States (Director: Walter Thompson-Hernández; Cast: Danielle Brooks, J. Alphonse Nicholson) – Twelve-year-old Lil Ant struggles to connect with his father when he begins having surreal, almost spectral visions of young people wandering through his neighborhood. Their presence reveals a bond between father and son, exposing the threads that tie together family, legacy, and place.
The Invite / United States (Director: Olivia Wilde; Cast: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton) – Joe and Angela are in a very fragile place, and tonight everything could fall apart. Unfortunately, their upstairs neighbors are about to arrive for dinner, and everything that can go wrong does.
The Musical / United States (Director: Giselle Bonilla; Cast: Will Brill, Gillian Jacobs, Rob Lowe) – Convinced that his potential far exceeds his surroundings, playwright Doug Leibowitz has spent his time as a high school drama teacher until he can move to New York, where “real” playwrights live. But after an unexpected breakup and discovering that his ex is dating the person he hates most in the world, Principal Brady, his plans shift from merely self-centered to outright diabolical. With the coveted Blue Ribbon award within Brady’s reach Doug secretly has his students rehearse a play so inappropriate it could ruin Principal Brady.
Saccharine / Australia (Director: Natalie Erika James; Cast: Midori Francis, Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden) – Hana, a first-year medical student, becomes obsessed with weight loss and body image after reconnecting with a friend who has undergone a drastic transformation. Alanya, a fitness influencerand Hana’s crush, convinces her to join an intense physical transformation program. Hana begins taking the weight-loss pills her friend gives her, and they work immediately. Unable to afford their high cost, she investigates their contents…only to discover they contain human ashes. Desperate to keep losing weight, she secretly begins collecting bones from a cadaver in her anatomy class. But as Hana loses weight, she is haunted by the ghost of the person she is consuming. What starts as a spectral curiosity becomes a terrifying and growing presence with an insatiable hunger that begins to consume her life. As her grip on reality unravels and the ghost grows stronger, Hana must find a way to escape before she completely loses control.
Undertone / Canada (Director: Ian Tuason; Cast: Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet, Keana Lyn Bastidas, Jeff Yung) – The host of a popular paranormal podcast begins to be haunted by disturbing recordings sent to her anonymously.
Union County / United States (Director: Adam Meeks; Cast: Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, Elise Kibler, Emily Meade, Annette Deao) – After being assigned to a county-mandated drug court program, Cody Parsons begins the difficult path to recovery amid the opioid crisis in rural Ohio.
SHORT FILM PROGRAM
Albatross / United States (Director: Amandine Thomas; Cast: Georgina Saldaña Wonchee, Patrick O’Brien, Ciro Suárez) – María, overwhelmed by the burden of caring for her ill husband, is invited to a party.
Marga en el DF / Mexico, United States, Dominican Republic (Director: Gabriela Ortega; Cast: Camila Santana, David Palacio, Xabiani Ponce de León, Andrea de Fátima) – In the wake of Selena Quintanilla’s murder, Marga’s life takes an unexpected turn at 21 weeks pregnant during a surprise visit to Mexico City.
Los Mentirosos (The Liars) / Argentina (Director: Eduardo Braun Costa; Cast: Noah Roja, Filippo Carrozza, Esteban Bigliardi, Mariana Chaud, Pablo Fusco) – Forced to grow up too soon, Matías and Jaime try to make sense of the world. One day, Jaime is detained by a security guard at a shopping mall, and Matías must ask a stranger to pretend to be their father in order to help free him.
Norheimsund / Cuba, United States (Director: Ana A. Alpizar; Cast: Paula Massó Varela, Yaité Ruiz, Darianis Palenzuela, Kiriam Gutiérrez) – A young woman’s long-distance romance with an older Norwegian man promises to lift her and her mother out of their modest life in Cuba, but her dreams falter when she realizes he is not who he seems.
Once in a Body / Colombia, United States (Director: María Cristina Pérez; Cast: Sara Isabella Martínez) – A woman seeks to reconcile with her sister over an incident from their teenage years while dealing with a strange being living inside her. By exploring, through their bodies, the experiences they share, she confronts the nature of what inhabits her.
Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night / Chile (Directors: Josefina Montino, Martín André; Cast: Raimundo Bucher) – After the tragic death of his daughter, a man isolates himself in a house in the woods with his cat. Soon, he discovers that even in solitude, his mind cannot find peace. As terrifying memories flood his tormented thoughts, the forest seems to come alive, blurring the line between reality and imagination until he is forced to confront his past in the form of a great monster. Now he must decide whether to fight for his life or let his fears, and the night, consume him.
As part of this edition, the festival will also feature a series of special activities and panels that will complement the overall experience, creating spaces for conversation around the creative processes and stories presented. Further details will be announced soon.
Sundance Film Festival: CDMX 2026 will once again become an exciting gathering where audiences and filmmakers come together to discover, promote, and celebrate independent cinema voices through a program that blends documentary and fiction storytelling, featuring provocative, relevant, and deeply human stories.
