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Fantasy film image; three girls leaning on a concrete half wall surrounded by concrete apartment buildings

Fantasy

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Canadian Premiere

Sina, Jasna, and Mihrije are three best friends navigating the challenges of young adulthood in contemporary Ljubljana. While they’re each already defying familial and societal expectations to some degree, their world is blown wide open when they meet Fantasy, a mysterious trans woman with much feminine wisdom. Her appearance triggers a deep transformation, causing the trio to part ways as they explore different facets of themselves.

In this electric debut, director Kukla captures the dichotomy of girlhood’s softer and rougher edges with exceptional insight. She peppers the film with stylish, choreographed sequences that suspend time and place as it observes the finer lines of adolescent metamorphosis. Leaning on her music origins with enviable restraint, the rising filmmaker strikes a fine balance of attractive visuals and narrative depth as she brings to life a Balkan coming-of-age odyssey that also doubles as an incisive generational snapshot.

 

Heart of Sarajeveo for Best Actress, Sarajevo 2025

Director
Cast

Alina Juhart, Sarah Al Saleh, Mia Skrbinac, Mina Milovanović

Credits
Country of Origin

Slovenia/North Macedonia

Year

2025

Language

In Slovenian, Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian and Macedonian with English subtitles

18+
98 min
Drama LGBTQIA2S+ Women Directors

Book Tickets

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Credits & Director

Producer

Lija Pogačnik, Barbara Daljavec, Vlado Bulajić

Screenwriter

Kukla

Cinematography

Lazar Bogdanović

Editor

Lukas Miheljak

Production Design

Maja Šavc

Original Music

Relja Ćupić

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Kukla

Kukla, born in 1991 in Brežice, Slovenia, is a filmmaker and musician. She graduated in film and TV directing from the Film Academy in Ljubljana in 2014. Her short film Sisters won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Audience Award at Premiers Plans Angers. Her debut feature, Fantasy, participated in several development programs, including the Cinéfondation Residency, and marks her transition to long-form storytelling.

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