Kukla

For the delicate way in which the film shows the transition between adolescence and adulthood, and raises questions about dreams, friendship, love and intergenerational relationships, and its both modern and nostalgic representation of the mosaic of Balkan language, religion and culture. For the burbling electronic music, melancholy and non-conformist, which reinforces the aesthetic sensibilities of the film. For the dreamlike photography which is present throughout the film with mysterious lights, fleeting frames, Orphic nights, giant moons and mystical golden birds. For the relationships in the film, which are esoteric and liberatory, intertwined with death which represents passage and transition between genres. For the architectural locations which are, themselves, vivid characters. The Cineuropa Award at the 2026 TSFF goes to Fantasy by director Katarina Bogdanovic 'Kukla'.

A film that weaves reality and imagination with a sense of lightness and playfulness, and tells a story that carries the audience away. With precision, respect, and empathy, it explores the challenges of being a young woman in a deeply traditional environment.

The award for Special Achievement goes to Fantasy for the originality, ambition, and courage distinguishing its fictional world. Its director, Kukla, and director of photography, Lazar Bogdanović, create a hypnotic vision of a world in the making, where élan vital not only questions tradition but transforms the material, auditory, and visual traces of the past that haunt the present into a force of renewal that manifests itself through the protagonists’ everyday actions.

For music videos directed in 2020.

Because of the formal freshness and expressive power that characterize the story of an uncharacteristic sisterhood in a distinctly dialectical sociocultural context. A modern sisterhood that uncompromisingly overcomes conformism and traditional schemes and expresses a strong will to survive in a patriarchal society by formulating new rules and commandments.

This film delivers a refreshing portrayal of sisterhood through its bold filmmaking choices. The exquisitely composed sound score combined with stellar performances give context and power to female anger.

V kratkem igranem filmu Sestre, režiserka ponuja gledalcu kritičen razmislek o vlogi spola in z njo povezanim nasiljem v družbi. S pomočjo intenzivnega ritma, nasičenega prepleta vizualnih podob, zvoka in glasbe nas film silovito vodi od prvega do zadnjega kadra.

FeKK SLO

Swimming strongly brings us a vivid story of the culture clash through the eyes of a teenager torn by the life in contemporary western surrounding opposed to religious rules of her family. Through her excellent performance the young lead actress carries the universal story of growing up.

For the attention to the issues of young person self-identification in complicated contemporary reality.