In April, MUBI offers a program that skillfully navigates between burning political engagement and the intimate exploration of human bonds.
From Russian journalists in exile to the streets of Lagos in the midst of transformation, April’s selection highlights works that have left their mark on major international festivals such as Cannes and the Berlinale. It is also an opportunity to rediscover unloved films with the Sleeper Hits collection, proving that time is often the best judge of great cinema.
New releases
My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow (Julia Loktev)
Starting April 3
Between October and December 2021, Vladimir Putin designated Russian dissidents as “foreign agents.” Journalists at TV Rain, an independent news channel based in Moscow, were labeled as such, as was the station itself. Investigating an authoritarian regime, the reporters contend with hostile conditions.
What begins as an intimate portrait of Russian independent journalists facing persecution takes a radical turn when Russia starts a full-scale war in Ukraine, forcing them into exile. The film offers a front-row seat to the impact of authoritarianism on those who resist. The documentary follows Alesya Marokhovskaya, Anna Nemzer, and Elena Kostyuchenko.
The film won Best Documentary at the New York Film Critics Circle and the Gotham Awards. After its premiere at the New York Film Festival, it made its international debut at the Berlinale in 2025.
My Father’s Shadow (Akinola Davies Jr.)
Starting April 10
A poetic and tender portrait of father-son bonds, My Father’s Shadow unfolds over the course of a single day amidst the political turbulence of 1993 Lagos. Folarin (Sopé Dìrísù) and his young sons, Akin and Remi, reckon with their relationship while navigating a city on the precipice of democratic crisis. As details of Folarin’s life come to light, the strained nature of his connection to his children becomes increasingly clear.
Winner of Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, the film received the Caméra d’Or Special Mention at Cannes in 2025. It was also selected as the UK’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards®.
Atropia (Hailey Gates)
Starting April 17
When an aspiring actress in a military role-playing facility falls in love with a soldier cast as an insurgent, their unsimulated emotions threaten to derail the performance.
Produced by Luca Guadagnino, this debut feature from Hailey Gates stars Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, and Chloë Sevigny. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025.
Sound of Falling (Mascha Schilinski)
Starting April 24
The film tracks the lives of four adolescent girls across the last century: their desires, their secrets, and their encounters with the gaze of another. Though separated by time, deep resonances emerge as echoes of shared experiences. Sensual and sensory, this work invites audiences to witness an eternal summer.
A Jury Prize winner at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the film also shone for its cinematography at the 2026 European Film Awards with 8 nominations, including Best European Film.
Sleeper Hits: The Undiscovered Classics
Starting April 1
Showgirls
This month, MUBI presents a selection of films that were misunderstood or overlooked upon release, but which today deserve classic status.
Showgirls (Paul Verhoeven, 1995): Nomi arrives in Vegas to become a dancer and works her way up through the casinos, ready to do anything to land the starring role.
Clifford (Paul Flaherty, 1994): Young Clifford is a handful. After an incident mid-flight, his parents decide to put their foot down.
UHF (Jay Levey, 1989): George Newman takes over a local TV station on the brink of bankruptcy and transforms its programming with eccentric live shows.
State of Grace (Phil Joanou, 1990): Terry returns to Hell’s Kitchen and reunites with his old Irish mob associates, all while harboring a perilous secret.
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)
Starting April 1
An unexpected love triangle, a failed seduction trap, and an encounter resulting from a misunderstanding. These three stories explore the complexity of relationships through the coincidences that punctuate the lives of women in love.
The film won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2021. Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s other films, Passion and Asako I & II, are also currently streaming.
