Sad Girlz

Nordic Premiere 

Friday 11.9. at 22.00, Kirkko 
Sunday 13.9. at 14.30, Alō 

Fiction, 2026, Mexico, Spain, France

Director: Fernanda Tovar
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Themes: Mexico City, friendship, adolescence, trauma
Language: Spanish, English subtitles
Age limit: 7

Sad Girlz (Chicas tristes), a story about the inseparable friendship between two 16-year-old Mexican teenage swimmers, premiered fittingly on Valentine's Day at Berlin's Zoo Palast. The enthusiastic reception did not disappoint: the film won both the Crystal Bear and the Jury's Grand Prix in the Generation section at the end of the festival. Now, the film will be shown in Karhupuisto as the first in all Nordic countries.

The best swimmers on their team, Paula and La Maestra, train all summer to represent Mexico in the international youth championships in Brazil. Their friendship and their looming goal are put to the test after a party night filled with flirting, reggaeton, and shots. La Maestra senses a change in the distant Paula, as swimming, homework, hanging out, and parties, which used to define her life, no longer feel the same. What exactly happened in the party bathroom?

The young actors Darana Alvarez and Rocio Guzmán shine as the driving forces behind director Fernanda Tovar’s sensitively powerful study and debut feature film. Tovar is part of Mexico City's renowned creative collective Colectivo Colmena. Cinematographer Rosa Hadit Hernandez wonderfully captures the physical friendship of the duo in the bright, scorching sunlight of Mexico City's Coapa district.

Other credits:

Starring: Rocio Guzmán, Darana Álvarez
Cinematography: Rosa Hadit Hernández
Production Design: Selva Tulián
Costume Design: Daniela Guardado
Editing: José Pablo Escamilla
Music: Wissam Hojeij
Producers: Daniel Loustaunau, Araceli Velázquez
Production Companies: Colectivo Colmena, Potenza Producciones, Montgó Films, Promenades Films, MartiniShot Films, CTT Exp & Rentals