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Chicas Tristes

Sad Girlz
Generation 14plus 2026
© Rosa Hadit Hernández, Colectivo Colmena
Paula and La Maestra are 16 and inseparable. The strongest swimmers on their team, they are training together over the summer to represent Mexico at the Junior Pan American Swimming Championships. One night at a party, Paula ends up alone with Daniel, a good friend and her long-time crush. Amid reggaeton, flirting and shots, Paula and Daniel slip into the bathroom together. Soon after, La Maestra senses that something has changed. Paula seems distant and deeply sad. At first, she insists nothing is wrong, but La Maestra keeps pushing until her friend begins to talk about what happened that night. Searching for answers, they try to name the experience, and what they find feels devastating. As the two girls respond in different ways, their bond is put to the test. Paula needs time, while La Maestra feels compelled to speak out. Fear, feelings of guilt and anger begin to fracture their friendship, pushing them towards a decision that will redefine who they are, together and apart.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by Fernanda Tovar (Director, Screenplay)
with Rocio Guzmán, Darana Álvarez, Tatsumi Milori, Tomás García-Agraz, Mónica del Carmen, Raúl Villegas, Lucio Lemus, Luisa Almaguer, Andrea Camacho, Áyax, Óscar Lever, Mario Flores, Héctor Kuri, Daniel Aranzubia Mexico / Spain / France 2026 Spanish 90' Colour World premiere | Debut film recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Rocio Guzmán (Maestra)
  • Darana Álvarez (Paula)
  • Tatsumi Milori (Raz)
  • Tomás García-Agraz (Mario)
  • Mónica del Carmen (Valeria)
  • Raúl Villegas (Esteban)
  • Lucio Lemus (Daniel)
  • Luisa Almaguer (Karaoke)
  • Andrea Camacho (Carmen)
  • Áyax (Laura)
  • Óscar Lever (Chanclas)
  • Mario Flores (Raúl)
  • Héctor Kuri (Pedro)
  • Daniel Aranzubia (Carlos)

Crew

Director Fernanda Tovar
Screenplay Fernanda Tovar
Cinematography Rosa Hadit Hernández
Editing José Pablo Escamilla
Music Wissam Hojeij
Sound Design Alejandro Castillo, Eva Valiño
Production Design Selva Tulián
Costumes Daniela Guardado
Make-Up Daniela Landa
Casting Michelle Betancourt, Paulina Álvarez Muñoz
Producers Daniel Loustaunau, Araceli Velázquez
Co-Producers Carlo D'Ursi, Samuel Chauvin

Produced by

Colectivo Colmena

Mexiko-Stadt, Mexico

Co-produced by

Potenza Producciones

Madrid, Spain

Promenades Films

Ventabren, France

Martini Shot Films

Mexico

CTT Exp & Rentals

Xochimilco, Mexico

World Sales

Alpha Violet

Paris, France

Photos

Fernanda Tovar

Born in Mexico City in 1991, the director and screenwriter is a member of Colectivo Colmena. She graduated from the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica and participated in Berlinale Talents Guadalajara and Berlinale Talents Latin America. Her short film Mi edad, la tuya y la edad del mundo screened in the Semaine de la Critique at Cannes and received a Special Mention at the Morelia International Film Festival. Her short film Quiero estrellarme en seco contra el parabrisas del amor premiered at the Tribeca Festival. Chicas Tristes is her debut feature film.

Filmography

2021 Mi edad, la tuya y la edad del mundo (My Age, Yours, and the Age of the World); short film 2023 El fuego que hemos construido (The Fire We’ve Built); short film 2024 Quiero estrellarme en seco contra el parabrisas del amor (I Want to Violently Crash Into the Windshield of Love); short film 2026 Chicas Tristes (Sad Girlz); Berlinale 2026

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026