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Una mujer fantástica

A Fantastic Woman
Competition 2017
Marina and Orlando are in love and plan to spend their lives together. She is working as a waitress and adores singing. Her lover, twenty years her senior, has left his family for her. One night, when they return home after having exuberantly celebrated Marina’s birthday at a restaurant, Orlando suddenly turns deathly pale and stops responding. At the hospital, all the doctors can do is confirm his death. Events follow thick and fast: Marina finds herself facing a female police inspector’s unpleasant questions, and Orlando’s family shows her nothing but anger and mistrust. Orlando’s wife excludes Marina from the funeral; she also orders her to leave the apartment – which on paper at least belonged to Orlando – as soon as possible. Marina is a transgender woman. The deceased’s family feels threatened by her sexual identity. With the same energy she once used to fight for her right to live as a woman Marina, with head held high, now insists on her right to grieve. Even if her environment conspires against her, the film at least is entirely on her side, showing us a protagonist who, although increasingly side-lined, is nonetheless strong and worldly-wise – a truly fantastic woman.
by Sebastián Lelio (Director, Screenplay), Gonzalo Maza (Screenplay)
with Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Kuppenheim, Nicolas Saavedra, Amparo Noguera, Nestor Cantillana, Alejandro Goic, Antonia Zegers, Sergio Hernandez Chile / USA / Germany / Spain 2017 Spanish 104' Colour

With

  • Daniela Vega (Marina)
  • Francisco Reyes (Orlando)
  • Luis Gnecco (Gabo)
  • Aline Kuppenheim (Sonia)
  • Nicolas Saavedra (Bruno)
  • Amparo Noguera (Adriana)
  • Nestor Cantillana (Gaston)
  • Alejandro Goic (Doctor)
  • Antonia Zegers (Alessandra)
  • Sergio Hernandez (Singing Teacher)

Crew

Director Sebastián Lelio
Screenplay Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Cinematography Benjamín Echazarreta
Editing Soledad Salfate
Music Matthew Herbert
Sound Design Tina Laschke
Sound Alberto Alén
Production Design Estefanía Larraín
Costumes Muriel Parra
Make-Up Valeria Goffreri
Assistant Director Maria José Droguett
Casting Moira Miller, Alejandra Alaff
Production Manager Eduardo Castro
Producers Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín
Executive Producers Rocío Jadue, Mariane Hartard, Ben von Dobeneck
Co-Producers Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King, Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza, Janine Jackowski, Jonas Dornbach, Maren Ade, Fernanda del Nido
Co-Production Participant Media Los Angeles
Komplizen Film Berlin
Muchas Gracias Santiago
Setembro Cine Barcelona

World Sales

Funny Balloons

Paris, France

Produced by

Fabula

Santiago, Chile

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Seemab Gul

©Hermione Hodgson

The British-Pakistani filmmaker has a BA in fine art and an MA from the London Film School. Her short film Sandstorm premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at over 100 international festivals, including Sundance, and won 20 awards. It was also nominated for a British Independent Film Award in 2022. Her second feature film, Haven of Hope, participated in La Fabrique Cinéma at Cannes. She is also an alumna of the Locarno Open Doors Producers Lab and Berlinale Talents.

Filmography (Filmography)

2018 Zahida; short documentary 2021 Sandstorm; short film 2025 Climate of Consequences; short documentary · Ghost School; Berlinale 2026 2026 Haven of Hope

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026