Little Trouble Girls

Little Trouble Girls
International promotional poster
SloveneKaj ti je deklica
LiterallyWhat's wrong, girl?
Directed byUrška Djukić
Written by
  • Urška Djukić
  • Maria Bohr
Produced by
  • Jožko Rutar
  • Miha Černec
Starring
  • Jara Sofija Ostan
  • Mina Švajger
  • Saša Tabaković
  • Nataša Burger
  • Staša Popović
  • Mateja Strle
CinematographyLev Predan Kowarski
Edited byVlado Gojun
Production
companies
  • SPOK Films
  • Staragara
  • 365 Films
  • Non-Aligned Films
  • Nosorogi
  • OINK
Release date
Running time
90 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Slovenia
  • Italy
  • Croatia
  • Serbia
LanguageSlovenian
Box office$61,476[2]

Little Trouble Girls (Slovene: Kaj ti je deklica, lit. 'What's up, girl') is a 2025 drama film directed by Urška Djukić, who co-wrote it with Maria Bohr. It follows introverted 16-year-old Lucija and her relationship with fellow student Ana-Marija.[3][4]

The film had its world premiere at the Perspectives section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2025,[5][6] where it was nominated for the Teddy Award and competed for the Best Feature Film Award.[7] It was also selected as the Slovenian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[8]

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Lucija, a shy student at a Catholic school, joins the all-girls choir and befriends the charismatic Ana-Marija. During a retreat at a countryside convent, Lucija's attraction to a restoration worker creates tension with Ana-Marija and the choir. As she navigates her emerging sexuality, she begins to question her beliefs, causing conflict within the group.

Cast

  • Jara Sofija Ostan as Lucija
  • Mina Švajger as Ana Maria
  • Saša Tabaković as Conductor
  • Nataša Burger as Mother
  • Staša Popović as Klara
  • Mateja Strle as Uršula

Production

The Slovenia-Italy-Croatia-Serbia co-production is directed by Urška Djukić, co-written with Maria Bohr. It is produced by Jožko Rutar for SPOK Films, Miha Černec and David Cej for Staragara, and Katarina Prpić for Izazov 365. Co-producers include Radiotelevizija Slovenija, as well as Marina Gumzi for Nosorogi. The production is supported by the Slovenian Film Centre, Radiotelevizija Slovenija, the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Film Directorate, the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia Film Commission, Eurimages and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Principal photography commenced on 20 June 2023 in Cividale del Friuli in Italy with additional shooting in Ljubljana in Slovenia.[9][10]

French company Sister Productions was associate producer on the film.[11]

Release

Little Trouble Girls had its world premiere on 14 February 2025, as part of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, in Perspectives.[12][13] The film competed in the International Narrative Competition section of the 24th Tribeca Film Festival and was screened on 5 June 2025.[14] It was also part of Horizons section of the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened from 5 July to 11 July 2025.[15] In August it was showcased at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival in 'In Focus' section.[16] On 2 October 2025, it was presented in Vanguard section of 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival.[17] It also made it to the 'Meeting Point' slate of the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival.[18]

The film was screened in the International Panorama for its Quebec Premiere at the 2025 Festival du nouveau cinéma on 11 October 2025.[19]

It was screened in the Open Horizons at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival on 31 October 2025.[20]

It was also screened in Discovery section of the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on 7 November 2025.[21]

On 8 November 2025, it was presented in Visions of the East section of Arras Film Festival.[22][23]

It competed in the International competition section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in November 2025.[24]

The film will compete in the Awards Buzz – Best International Feature Film section of the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival on 4 January 2026.[25]

In January 2026, it will be presented in the Wild Roses section of the Trieste Film Festival, the section dedicated to the women directors of Central and Eastern Europe.[26]

Athens-based sales agent Heretic has acquired the international sales rights of the film in January 2025.[27]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 41 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Harmonizing themes of sexual awakening and spirituality into a wholly authentic and revelatory coming-of-age drama, Little Trouble Girls is an arresting feature debut from writer-director Urška Djukić."[28]

Writing in The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw gave Little Trouble Girls five stars out of five, calling it "an utterly absorbing and outstandingly acted film."[29]

Accolades

The film was selected in the newly formed Perspectives competition and competed for GWFF Best First Feature Award.[30][31]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
Les Arcs Film Festival 18 December 2023 TitraFilm award Little Trouble Girls Won [32][33]
Berlin International Film Festival 23 February 2025 GWFF Best First Feature Award Nominated [34]
Teddy Award for Best Short Films Nominated [35]
FIPRESCI Prize Won [36]
Tribeca Film Festival 12 June 2025 Best Cinematography Lev Predan Kowarski Won [37]
CinEast Film Festival 26 October 2025 Critics’ Prize Little Trouble Girls Won [38][39]
Festival of Slovenian Film 26 October 2025 Best Feature Film Won [40]
Best Actress Jara Sofija Ostan Won
Best Supporting Actress Mina Švajger Won
Best Sound Design Julij Zornik Won
Best Supporting Actor Saša Tabaković Won
FIPRESCI Award Urška Djukić Won
Euro-Balkan Film Festival 6 November 2025 Youth Jury Prizes - Feature Films: Best Director Urška Djukić Won [41]
International Film Festival of India 28 November 2025 Golden Peacock Little Trouble Girls Nominated [42]
Les Arcs Film Festival 20 December 2025 Jury Grand Prize Won [43]
European Film Awards 17 January 2026 European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI Pending [44][45]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Little Trouble Girls (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  3. ^ Djukic, Urska (21 January 2025). "Little Trouble Girls". Cineuropa. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Little Trouble Girls" (PDF). Berlinale. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  5. ^ Davide Abbatescianni (21 January 2025). "The Berlinale unveils the titles playing in its Competition and its Perspectives and Berlinale Special strands". Cineuropa. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  6. ^ Rosser, Michael (21 January 2025). "Berlin film festival reveals 2025 competition line-up 2025". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  7. ^ "39th Teddy Award: Little Trouble Girls (Kaj ti je deklica)". Teddy Award. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Film Kaj ti je deklica Urške Djukić slovenski kandidat za oskarja" [Urška Djukić's film What's Your Girl? is a Slovenian Oscar candidate]. Delo (in Slovenian). 9 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  9. ^ Stojiljković, Marko (26 June 2023). "Urška Djukić shooting her debut feature, Little Trouble Girls". Cineuropa. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. ^ González, David (4 July 2023). "Eurimages supports 33 co-productions". Cineuropa. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. ^ Barraclough, Leo (22 January 2025). "Berlinale's 'Little Trouble Girls,' Which Explores 'Awkward Relationship With Sexuality, Sin and Feelings of Guilt,' Picked Up by Heretic, Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  12. ^ Ntim, Zac (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Richard Linklater, Jessica Chastain, A$AP Rocky & Marion Cotillard Movies Among Vibrant Selection". Deadline. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Berlinale. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  14. ^ Popp, Olivia (18 April 2025). "European productions set to make a great first impression at Tribeca". Cineuropa. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Catalogue of Films". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Introducing the In Focus programme of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival". Sarajevo Film Festival. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Vanguard". Vancouver International Film Festival. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Avance de la 70 Seminci: Hermanos Dardenne, Sergei Loznitsa, Bi Gan, Lav Díaz y Mascaro, a por la Espiga de Oro". Europa Press. 24 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Thessaloniki International Film Festival. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Stockholm International Film Festival. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Arras Film Festival. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  23. ^ Lemercier, Fabien (4 November 2025). "European cinema in all its diversity to be unleashed at the Arras Film Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  24. ^ Naman Ramachandran (8 November 2025). "Miike Takashi's 'Sham,' Rajkumar Periasamy's 'Amaran' to Compete for Golden Peacock at India's IFFI". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Palm Springs International Film Festival. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  26. ^ "The Trieste Film Festival focuses on Slovenian women filmmakers". Cineuropa. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  27. ^ Leo Barraclough (22 January 2025). "Berlinale's 'Little Trouble Girls,' Which Explores 'Awkward Relationship With Sexuality, Sin and Feelings of Guilt,' Picked Up by Heretic, Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  28. ^ "Little Trouble Girls". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  29. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (15 August 2025). "Little Trouble Girls review – monstrous choirmaster spikes a sublime Catholic coming-of-age tale". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  30. ^ "The Programme of Perspectives". Berlinale. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  31. ^ "Berlinale Launches Perspectives, a New International Competition for Feature-Length Fiction Debuts, Strengthening the Profile of New Talent Within the Festival". 2 July 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  32. ^ Fabien Lemercier (19 December 2023). "The Work in Progress of Les Arcs awards Little Trouble Girls". Cineuropa. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  33. ^ Dalton, Ben (19 December 2023). "Urska Djukic's five-country European co-production 'Little Trouble Girls' leads Les Arcs industry winners". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  34. ^ Scott Roxborough (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Movies From Richard Linklater, Michel Franco, Hang Song-Soo in Competition (Full List)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  35. ^ "39th Teddy Award: Filmtitles". Teddy Award. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  36. ^ Scott Roxborough (22 February 2025). "Berlin: Fipresci International Film Critic Award Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  37. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (13 June 2025). "Cuerpo Celeste, Little Trouble Girls and An Eye for an Eye are the big European winners at Tribeca". Cineuropa. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  38. ^ "CinEast 2025 Awards". CinEast Film Festival. 18th edition of the Central and Eastern European Film Festival in Luxembourg. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  39. ^ Popp, Olivia (27 October 2025). "Balkan films come out on top at the 18th edition of Luxembourg's CinÉast". Cineuropa. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  40. ^ Stojiljković, Marko (28 October 2025). "Little Trouble Girls crowned at the Festival of Slovenian Film". Cineuropa. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  41. ^ Scarpa, Vittoria (7 November 2025). "Afterwar crowned Best Film at the Euro Balkan Film Festival in Rome". Cineuropa. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  42. ^ "International Competition - 2025". International Film Festival of India. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  43. ^ Fabien Lemercier (22 December 2025). "Mr. Nobody Against Putin triumphs at Les Arcs". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  44. ^ Roxborough, Scott (18 November 2025). "Nominations for the 2026 European Film Awards Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  45. ^ Ntim, Zac (14 October 2025). "'Bugonia', 'On Falling' & 'Sound Of Falling' Among Titles On The European Film Awards Nominations Shortlist". Deadline. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
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