International Film Festival
26th Annual International Film Festival
With exclusive viewings and esteemed guest speakers, Â鶹ÉçÇø’s International Film Festival is a hub for cutting edge cinema. The festival is presented by the School of Liberal Arts, bringing talent from across the globe over four days.
The 2026 festival runs from April 21st through 24th. Each screening will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall on the Westchester campus and will be followed by a post-film discussion.
See below for the films included in the festival this year.
Chinas
A heartfelt film that follows the lives of three young girls of Chinese descent living in Madrid as they navigate the challenges of identity, family expectations, and cultural heritage while forging their own paths in a contemporary world.
Tuesday, April 21 | Spain, 2023 | Directed by Arantxa EchevarrÃa
Drama | Mandarin, Spanish (with English subtitles)
Baghdad Messi
Hamoudi, an 11-year-old soccer fan, dreams of reaching the level of his idol, Lionel Messi. After surviving an attack in Iraq that costs him a leg, he's determined to fight to achieve his dream.
Wednesday, April 22 | Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Iraq, 2023 | Directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa
Drama | Arabic, Kurdish (with English subtitles)
Guest speaker: Othman Marzoog
The Girl with the Needle
A dark gothic story about young, destitute Karoline in post-WWI Copenhagen who finds work with a charismatic woman running a secret underground adoption agency. Their bond shatters when Karoline uncovers the chilling truth behind the operation.
Thursday, April 23 | Denmark, Poland, Sweden, 2024 | Directed by Magnus von Horn
Drama | Danish (with English subtitles)
Guest speaker: Dr. Caitlin Wiesner
Kill the Jockey
A surrealist journey that follows Remo, a jockey who, after an accident, becomes the drag-clad Dolores. Navigating mobsters, a pregnant girlfriend, and fluid identity, the film features absurdity and queer themes in a visually striking, genre-hopping narrative.
Friday, April 24 | Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Denmark, USA, 2024 | Directed by Luis Ortega
Drama | Spanish (with English subtitles)
Free Admission
We will have popcorn!
And be sure to join us after the screening for coffee or tea, and cookies!
Schedule
All films will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall.
Join us after each screening for a lively discussion.
Contact
Steven DeRosa
sderosa1@mercy.edu