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CINETOPIA RETURNS 2026

MAY 13 – 17 | Back for its 11th year, Cinetopia brings audiences and filmmakers together to celebrate bold cinema, independent voices, and films you cannot see anywhere else. 

Featuring 18 curated films from around the world, designed by people who love film as much as you do. Cinetopia is your chance to discover unforgettable stories from filmmakers with unique perspectives and true creative vision. 

Full lineup, passes, and single tickets available at marquee-arts.org/cinetopia.

Listen to full episode on WEMU.

OPENING THIS WEEK

FANTASY LIFE – Limited screenings this week at the Michigan

An anxious New York law school dropout stumbles into a job babysitting his psychiatrist’s three granddaughters and falls for the girls’ mother, an actress in a rocky marriage. Starring Amanda Peet and Matthew Shear (also writer/director), and featuring Judd HirschBob Balaban and Holland Taylor

MOTHER MARY – Opens Friday at the State

Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer on the eve of her comeback performance. From writer/director David Lowery (The Green Knight, A Ghost Story) and starring Anne HathawayMichaela CoelHunter Shafer and FKA Twigs

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

THE ROAD HOME – Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00 PM at the Michigan – FREE and open to the public, presented with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission and featuring a post-film panel discussion 

This documentary addresses the critical issues of mental health, housing insecurity, and homelessness in Washtenaw County, exploring both the underlying challenges and potential solutions through a unified community effort.

AKIRA KUROSAWA’S DREAMS (1990) – Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00 PM at the Michigan – Part of Late Night Classics

A magical realist anthology film of eight vignettes written and directed by Akira Kurosawa, inspired by actual recurring dreams that he had. Tales of childlike wonder give way to apocalyptic apparitions, interspersed with reflections on the redemptive power of creation, including a richly textured tribute to Vincent van Gogh (played by Martin Scorsese).

LOST HIGHWAY (1997) – Friday, April 24th at 9:30 PM at the Michigan– Part of Late Night Classics

From director David Lynch – Anonymous videotapes presage a musician’s murder conviction, and a gangster’s girlfriend leads a mechanic astray. Starring Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette.

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954on 35mm and 3D – Friday, April 24th at 7:00 PM at the Michigan – Encore screening!

A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.

BORDERLAND: THE LINE WITHIN  Tuesday, April 28th at 6:30 PM at the Michigan – Presented with a post-film discussion with the director Pamela Yates, and the producer Paco de Onis.

Temple Beth Emeth, in collaboration with an interfaith network of congregations in Washtenaw County, is sponsoring the film to fund legal services for Michigan immigrants whose rights are being violated and who are without representation.  Proceeds from the ticket sales, along with all additional donations, will go to the Interfaith Fund for Immigrant Justice (IFIJ) to support the non-profit Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC).

The documentary tells the stories of individual immigrants as they come together to build a social movement for human rights, while exposing the profitable business of immigration enforcement.

LA DOLCE VITA (1960) – Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00 PM at the Michigan – Part of Arthouse Revival – Voted by our members

The biggest hit from the most popular Italian filmmaker of all time, La Dolce Vita, rocketed Federico Fellini to international mainstream success—ironically, by offering a damning critique of the culture of stardom. The film follows a notorious celebrity journalist during a hectic week spent on the peripheries of the spotlight. 

This picture was an incisive commentary on the deepening decadence of contemporary Europe, and it provided a prescient glimpse of just how gossip and fame-obsessed our society would become.

TWIN PEAKS (1990): SEASON 1, EPISODES 5 & 6 – Wednesday, April 29th at 6:00 PM

Presenting “The One-Armed Man” – Cooper questions Dr Jacoby, and he points to Leo Johnson as the suspected killer.

and “Cooper’s Dreams – Cooper, Truman, Hawk, and Dr Hayward venture into the woods and have tea with the Log Lady and discover a crime scene.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE: JOHN & YOKO LIVE IN NYC – Wednesday, April 29th at 7:00 PM at the Michigan

The 2026 multiscreen concert film of two massive live shows by John Lennon & Yoko Ono at Madison Square Garden, New York City on 30 August 1972, newly restored, re-edited and remixed by the Lennons’ seven-times GRAMMY®-Award winning team.

Hits performed include John’s ‘New York City’‘Instant Karma!‘, ‘Imagine‘ and ‘Mother‘, plus Yoko’s ‘Don’t Worry Kyoko‘ and ‘Open Your Box‘, plus rousing renditions of ‘Come Together‘ & ‘Hound Dog.

CONTINUING

THE CHRISTOPHERS – Now playing at the State Theatre

Desperate for an inheritance, two siblings conspire to forge their father’s unfinished paintings so they become valuable after his death. Starring Ian McKellenJames CordenMichaela Coel, and Jessica Gunning

THE DRAMA – Now playing at the State Theatre

A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails. Starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson

PROJECT HAIL MARY – Now playing at the State Theatre

Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing the sun, and save Earth. An unexpected friendship may be the key.

From directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego MovieCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, producers of the Spider-Verse films) and starring Ryan Gosling.

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Further reading

CINETOPIA RETURNS 2026

• 04/23/2026

MAY 13 – 17 | Back for its 11th year, Cinetopia brings audiences and filmmakers together to celebrate bold cinema, independent voices, and films you cannot see anywhere else.  Featuring 18 curated films from around the world, designed by people who love film as much as you do. Cinetopia is your chance to discover unforgettable stories from filmmakers with unique perspectives and true creative vision.  Full lineup, […]

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The Drama: Now in Ann Arbor!

• 04/03/2026

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• 03/26/2026

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• 03/13/2026

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