Fantasy is a 2025 Slovenian-Macedonian drama film written and directed by Kukla (a.k.a. Katarina Reà ¡ek) in her feature debut. The film starring Sarah Al Saleh, Alina Juhart and Mina Milovanoviàas three friends, explores the complexities of gender, desire, and self-discovery on meeting a transgender woman Fantasy. It is based on the same theme and characters as Kukla's 2020 short film Sisters.
The film had its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 8 August 2025, in the Filmmakers of the Present Competition section, where it competed for Golden Leopard â Filmmakers of the Present
Three tomboyish friends in their early twenties, Sina, Mihrije, and Jasna, navigate life in a Slovenian neighborhood where they clash with local boys who view them as disruptive. Their dynamic shifts with the arrival of Fantasy, a young transgender woman whose enigmatic presence gradually influences each of them. Although initially skeptical about romantic entanglements, Sina finds herself in an unexpected relationship. Jasna, seeking independence from her discontented mother, takes a job on a French cruise ship. Meanwhile, Mihrije flees to Macedonia with Fantasy to escape an arranged marriage, developing deeper feelings during their journey. Upon returning to Slovenia, the trio discovers how much they've changed, feeling emotionally distant from one another. Mihrije's final visit to Fantasy's apartment reveals she has vanished. Ultimately, each woman takes tentative steps into adulthood, forging paths that diverge from the futures they once imagined.
The project developed in 2022 at the 44th Cannesâ Résidence du Festival, held from 1 March to 15 July 2022, had production commitment from Ljubljana, Slovenia-based production company, December and co-production by North Macedonia-based Krug Film.
The film shot for 29âÂÂdays in Kruà ¡evo (North Macedonia), Trieste and Ljubljana was wrapped up on 9 December 2023.
Fantasy had its world premiere in the 'Filmmakers of the Present Competition' section of the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 8 August 2025, vying for the Golden Leopard â Filmmakers of the Present. It also competed for Heart of Sarajevo award in the Competition Programme - Feature Film at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival on 17 August 2025.
On 2 October 2025, it was presented in Panorama section of 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival.
It also competed in New Directors Competition at the São Paulo International Film Festival and had screening on 19 October 2025. It competed in Meet the Neighbors Competition section at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in November 2025.
In January 2026, it was presented in the Wild Roses section of the Trieste Film Festival, the section dedicated to the women directors of Central and Eastern Europe.
It also ran in the Focus section at the Solothurn Film Festival on 27 January 2026.
Marko StojiljkoviÃÂ reviewing the film for Cineuropa at Locarno Film Festival gave it positive review. StojiljkoviÃÂ praised Kukla's direction, screenwriting, Lazar BogdanoviÃÂ's "subtle camerawork", Lukas Miheljak's "rhythmic editing", Relja ÃÂupiÃÂ's "moody electronic score" and Julij Zornik's "perfectly calibrated sound design". StojiljkoviÃÂ commended Kukla for getting convincing performances from non-professional actors and building on her 2020 short film Sisters, and successfully expanding her vision into a distinctive feature. StojiljkoviÃÂ found Fantasy, a visually and sonically immersive film.