Sad Girlz, FRI 11.9, 10:00 PM – Kallio Church

Nordic Premiere

Sad Girlz, FRI 11.9, 10:00 PM – Kallio Church

Fiction, 2026, Mexico, Spain, France

Director: Fernanda Tovar
Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Themes: Mexico City, friendship, adolescence, trauma
Language: Spanish; English subtitles
Age rating: 7+

Sad Girlz (Chicas tristes), a story about the inseparable friendship between two 16-year-old Mexican teenagers and competitive swimmers, fittingly premiered on Valentine’s Day at the Berlinale’s Zoo Palast. Its enthusiastic reception did not disappoint: the film went on to win both the Crystal Bear and the Jury Grand Prix in the Generation section. It will now be screened in Karhupuisto as the film’s first presentation anywhere in the Nordic countries.

Paula and La Maestra, the strongest swimmers on their team, train throughout the summer to represent Mexico at an international junior championship in Brazil. Their friendship and the goal ahead of them are put to the test following a night of partying filled with flirting, reggaeton and shots. La Maestra senses a change in the increasingly distant Paula as swimming, homework, hanging out and partying—the things that once defined their lives—no longer feel the same. What really happened in the bathroom that night?

Director Fernanda Tovar is a member of Mexico City’s acclaimed creative collective Colectivo Colmena. Her tender yet powerful study and feature-length debut is carried by the outstanding performances of young actors Darana Álvarez and Rocio Guzmán. Cinematographer Rosa Hadit Hernández beautifully captures the physicality of their friendship under the bright, scorching sunlight of Mexico City’s Coapa neighbourhood.

Additional 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

The film will also have another screening during the festival:

Sad Girlz
SUN 13 SEPTEMBER, 2:30 PM – Alō

Secure your seat now!

🎟️ Ticket categories:

• Festival Ticket – €15
  Standard admission to one screening. Supports the production of the event.

• Patron Ticket – €25
  Would you like to give the festival some extra support? Choose a Patron Ticket and help secure the event’s future.

• Solidarity Ticket – €10
  For students, unemployed people, pensioners and other concession groups.

We will also host free public screenings in Karhupuisto, Bar Tÿpo, Kallio Library and Suvilahti DIY.