The Secret of Pin-Up Island at the European Film Festival in the UAE

We are happy to announce that The Secret of Pin-Up Island has been selected as part of the European Film Festival in the UAE 2026, organized by the European Union Delegation to the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah Art under the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, with the support of EU Member States’ Embassies and Cultural Institutes in the UAE.

Returning for its third edition, the festival celebrates the diversity of European cinema through a vibrant programme of award-winning films, documentaries, family-oriented productions, and emerging cinematic voices from across Europe and the UAE.

This year, The Secret of Pin-Up Island represents Romania alongside films from Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Ukraine.

🎬 Screening Dates:

Abu Dhabi
📍 Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi
🗓 Friday, 22 May 2026 — 7:00 PM

Ras Al Khaimah
📍 RAK Chamber Theater
🗓 Wednesday, 3 June 2026 — 6:00 PM

Written and directed by Alecs Nastoiu, The Secret of Pin-Up Island is a Romanian psychological fairytale exploring healing, loneliness, memory, and the intersection between technology and emotional identity. Through a dreamlike visual world, the film follows Alesia as she navigates a surreal AI-generated therapy experience where fantasy and reality slowly merge.

We are grateful to the festival organizers, cultural partners, and all the institutions supporting this event for bringing European cinema to audiences across the UAE and for creating a space where stories from different cultures can meet through film.

For the full festival programme and tickets, visit: https://euff.ae