Athens-based sales agent Heretic has secured Slovenian filmmaker Urška Djukić’s debut feature, Little Trouble Girls, which is set to have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in the Perspectives section, showcasing fiction feature debuts. A trailer for the film has also been released.
The narrative follows Lucia, a shy 16-year-old girl who joins the all-girls choir at her Catholic school. She soon becomes close with Ana-Maria, a popular third-year student. The tension escalates when the choir travels to a remote convent for an intensive weekend of rehearsals. Lucia’s growing attraction to a mysterious restoration worker begins to strain her friendship with Ana-Maria and the other girls, leading her to question her beliefs, her sexual awakening, and her place in the world.
In a statement, Djukić explained that the inspiration for the film came from a desire to explore the often-silenced female voice. She reflected on her own experiences growing up with traditional Catholic ideas about femininity, sin, and sexuality, which she describes as rigid and full of guilt. Through Lucia’s journey, Djukić sought to examine how young people discover their own power in the face of societal pressures.
Djukić shared, “I wanted to explore the mysteries of the senses as tools for understanding ourselves, especially in relation to our bodies and sexuality. The long-standing taboo surrounding sexuality has left us unable to harness its potential power. The body’s instinctive intelligence is a tool we often ignore, but if we listen closely, it can guide us.”
Djukić developed Little Trouble Girls during the 39th Cannes Cinéfondation Residency in 2019, and the film was awarded the best work-in-progress project at the Les Arcs Film Festival in December 2023.
The director’s previous short film, Granny’s Sexual Life, has earned over 50 accolades, including the European Film Award for Best Short Film in 2022 and the 2023 César Award for Best Animated Short Film. Djukić’s earlier short, The Right One, was part of the omnibus SEE Factory Sarajevo Mon Amour, which premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2019.
Ioanna Stais, Heretic’s head of sales and acquisitions, praised Little Trouble Girls, calling it “an intimate and striking exploration of desire, friendship, and faith, told with rare sensitivity and boldness.” Stais highlighted the film’s unique perspective and emotional depth, forecasting it as an important debut that will draw attention from both audiences and industry buyers.
Produced by Jozko Rutar and Miha Černec for Spok Films, Little Trouble Girls is a co-production involving Staragara IT (Italy), 365 Films (Croatia), Non Aligned Films (Serbia), Nosorogi, and OINK (Slovenia), with France’s Sister serving as associate producer.
The film has received support from the Slovenian Film Centre, Eurimages, RTV Slovenija, Viba Film, the Italian Ministry of Culture, FVG Film Fund, and other regional cultural institutions. It also benefits from sponsorship by Arri’s International Support Program and the GO Nova Gorica/Gorizia European Capital of Culture 2025.
In addition to Little Trouble Girls, Heretic is managing international sales for the Berlinale competition entry Hot Milk and the IFFR Tiger Competition title Wind, Talk to Me.
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