Mijain Documentary Screens at Milan Sports Film Festival
The Cuban feature chronicling five-time Olympic wrestling champion Mijain Lopez is part of the official selection for Sport Movies & TV 2026.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Wrestling
The Cuban documentary Mijain, which follows the career of five-time Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling champion Mijain Lopez, was screened October 31 at the Sala Gregorianum in Milan during the 44th International Sports Film Festival. The 80-minute film is part of the official selection for Sport Movies & TV 2026, the final stage of the World FICTS Challenge circuit.
Why it matters
The screening places a documentary about one of the sport's most decorated figures before an international festival audience as part of a competitive program. It offers international viewers a look at Lopez's training and his roots in Herradura, Pinar del Río.
The documentary runs 80 minutes and was released in 2025 as a co-production of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) and D'Alma Films Producciones. Its international run so far includes the Havana Film Festival, the BRICS+ International Film Festival in Saint Petersburg, and screenings in Paris and Rome, and no distribution deal beyond these festivals is reported.
The players
Mijain Lopez
A Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler and five-time Olympic champion whose career is the subject of the documentary.
Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC)
The Cuban state film institute that co-produced the documentary with D'Alma Films Producciones.
The details
The film combines training footage, testimonials from family members and peers, and scenes from Lopez's hometown of Herradura. Directed by Rolando Almirante, Hector Villar, and Angel Alderete, it is screened as part of the festival's competitive program.
Timeline
2024: Lopez wins his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games.
2025: The documentary Mijain is released.
October 31, 2026: Screened at the Sala Gregorianum in Milan.
Season Trajectory
The selection places Mijain within the World FICTS Challenge, whose Sport Movies & TV 2026 edition serves as its final stage. It extends the circuit's recent pattern of programming Olympic-focused documentaries alongside competitive sports features.
Viewers following international wrestling can watch for Sport Movies & TV 2026 screenings, where the film is part of the official selection. Fans of Greco-Roman wrestling get a close look at Lopez's training and hometown background in an 80-minute feature.
The takeaway
A documentary's festival path, from Havana to Milan, can show an athlete's career to audiences far from where the sport was won. Following a film's screenings is one way to track an athlete's legacy beyond the final medal.
Further reading
Explore more in Wrestling, where Olympic champions and their careers are covered.
