The 2026 MUBI Fest São Paulo will be held at Centro Cultural São Paulo from September 11th to 13th. The festival brings together new releases, classics and free screenings, and this guide highlights five films worth checking out during the event. This edition is its first at CCSP and it combines new versions of consolidated productions, like Xica da Silva, to brand new movies, like Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, with open-air screenings and other activities.
The 2026 MUBI Fest in São Paulo will be the fifth edition of the festival held by the streaming platform MUBI in the city and it will be its first time at the Centro Cultural São Paulo. MUBI Fest also happens in other cities such as Naples, Berlin and Buenos Aires. The festival started in 2023 and its first edition happened in Santiago, Chile. São Paulo is not the only city in Brazil to have held an edition of the festival as Rio de Janeiro was one of the cities chosen to receive it in 2025.
On this edition, movie screenings will be held at two rooms, Sala Paulo Emílio and Sala Lima Barreto, besides the free open-air screenings that will take place at the Jardin Suspenso. The festival will also include DJ sets, a food court, a MUBI shop area and conversations with three directors from some of the movies chosen.
16 movies will be screened during the three-day festival and here you can check five films you can’t miss! Our selection is made of both Brazilian and foreign, classic and new movies with intriguing and innovative stories.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is the third feature film by the director of We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw the TV Glow. Starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, the movie tells the story of Kris, a young director who’s invited to revive Camp Miasma, a classic franchise from the 1980s that has received many sequels and reboots over the years.
To do it, Kris decides to visit Billy Presley, the star of the original movie, who has been living in a secluded place. At Billy’s house, Kris starts to understand more about Camp Miasma, Billy, and herself in mysterious ways.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is the highest-rated horror movie of the year among critics, with a 98% acceptance rate on Rotten Tomatoes. Jane Schoenbrun is one of the most innovative filmmakers of recent years, with her movies mixing queer themes to horror. Camp Miasma follows the director’s style, paying tribute to iconic slashers from the 80s like Sleepaway Camp. You can read a Her Campus article about Jane Schoenbrun’s filmography here!
- Screenings: September 11th at 2 p.m. and September 12th at 5:30 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Rose
Starring Oscar-nominated actress Sandra Hüller, Rose is set in the 17th century, after the Thirty Years’ War. A mysterious soldier appears in an isolated Protestant village, stating that he is the heir of a mansion. Although he is able to provide a document proving his claims, the village residents dislike his presence.
Even with the setbacks, the soldier tries to build a life among them, while hiding a secret about his own identity.
Rose is directed by Markus Schleinzer and, after 26 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, has gathered a 100% acceptance rate among critics. Having premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, Rose is one of the most promising movies of the year, with astounding acting by Sandra Hüller.
- Screenings: September 12th at 5 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio and September 13th at 9 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Paris, Texas
A classic from the 1980s, Paris, Texas tells the story of Travis Henderson, a man who is found in the middle of the desert with no recollection of any of his memories or his identity. When a stranger manages to get in contact with his brother Walt, Travis gets reunited with his family, especially with his son. Now, after 4 years missing, Travis tries to build back his own life, looking for his wife.
Directed by Wim Wenders, Paris, Texas was the winner of the Palm d’Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and is a must-see to any cinephile. Its exhibition at the 2026 MUBI Fest in São Paulo will be shown in 4K resolution, opening with the screening of Samba Infinito, a short film by Brazilian director Leonardo Martinelli. With gorgeous cinematography, this screening can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Screening: September 13th at 7:10 p.m. (Open-air screening)
My Father’s Shadow
Set during the Nigerian election crisis of 1993, My Father’s Shadow portraits the journey of a father and his two sons in Lagos. While they navigate the city, the family tries to reconnect in the middle of political turbulence and a city of Lagos that is dealing with a democratic collapse.
The feature length film debut of British-Nigerian director Akinola Davies Jr., My Father’s Shadow was the first Nigerian movie to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection, in 2025. It won the Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or the same year. Akinola Davies Jr. touches on very sensitive topics and it’s one of the most sensible movies about fatherhood.
- Screening: September 11th at 2:10 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
Xica da Silva
An icon of Brazilian cinema, Xica da Silva is set during the 18th century. João Fernandes, a powerful man at the Minas Gerais’ diamond mining, gets captivated by Xica, an enslaved woman. Next to him, she becomes the “Queen of Diamonds”, with João satisfying all of her desires. The inhabitants of the area start to feel bothered by the couple, trying to cease their power.
Directed by Cacá Diegues, Xica da Silva has its 50-year anniversary in 2026 and the screening at the 2026 MUBI Fest also pays tribute to its director, who died in 2025, with a new exhibition in 4K Resolution. A masterpiece that can’t be missed!
- Screening: September 11th at 4:30 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
The movies selected above aren’t the only highlights of the festival. Check out some more films that can be seen at the 2026 MUBI Fest in São Paulo!
Her Private Hell – dir. Nicolas Winding Refn: September 11th at 7:30 p.m. (Open-air screening) and September 12th at 8:00 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
Hope – dir. Na Hong-jin: September 12th at 2:10 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto and September 13th at 5:00 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
The Chronology of Water – dir. Kristen Stewart: September 12th at 7:20 p.m. (Open-air screening)
Bye Bye Brasil – dir. Cacá Diegues: September 11th at 7:00 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
Erupcja – dir. Pete Ohs: September 11th at 4:30 p.m. and September 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Videodrome – dir. David Cronenberg: September 11th at 9:10 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Moscas – dir. Fernando Eimbcke: September 12th at 2:30 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio and September 13th at 4:00 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Model – dir. Frederick Wiseman: September 13th at 6:30 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Sheep in the Box – dir. Hirokazu Koreeda: September 11th at 6:20 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto and September 13th at 8:30 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
Moonage Daydream – dir. Brett Morgen: September 12th at 8:00 p.m. at Sala Lima Barreto.
Short films by Eunice Gutman – dir. Eunice Gutman: September 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Sala Paulo Emílio.
The festival will also host conversations with Renata Magalhães, the president of the Brazilian Academy of Film and Cacá Diegues’ longtime partner, Fernando Eimbcke, the director of Moscas, and Eunice Gutman, director of many short films, will participate on a chat with the visitors of the festival.
Renata Magalhães will talk to journalist Thaís Regina about the art of Cacá Diegues, focusing on Xica da Silva and Bye Bye Brasil, the movies chosen for the festival. Fernando Eimbcke will talk to journalist Isa Faria and senior programming director Lucas Bühring about his career and filmography. Lastly, Eunice Gutman will talk to researcher, writer and actress Susana Puentes and professor and film critic Paula Jacob about her career and filmography. All interviews will take place at the Theater.
Chat with Renata Magalhães: September 11th at 3:00 p.m.
Chat with Fernando Eimbcke: September 12th at 5:00 p.m.
Chat with Eunice Gutman: September 13th at 5:00 p.m.
The 2026 MUBI Fest in São Paulo will take place at the Centro Cultural São Paulo, Rua Vergueiro, 1000 – Liberdade, next to the Vergueiro subway station. All tickets to open-air screenings and interviews must be retrieved at the entrance of the Centro Cultural São Paulo an hour before the screening takes place.
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The article above was edited by Ana Rita Rodrigues Fernandes.
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