Sad Girlz

Sad Girlz
French theatrical release poster
SpanishChicas tristes
Directed byFernanda Tovar
Screenplay byFernanda Tovar
Produced by
  • Daniel Loustaunau
  • Araceli Velázquez
Starring
  • Rocio Guzmán
  • Darana Álvarez
CinematographyRosa Hadit Hernández
Edited byJosé Pablo Escamilla
Music byWissam Hojeij
Production
companies
  • Colectivo Colmena
  • Potenza Producciones
  • Promenades Films
  • Martini Shot Films
  • CTT Exp & Rentals
Distributed byWild Bunch Distribution (fr)
Release dates
  • 14 February 2026 (2026-02-14) (Berlinale)
  • 12 August 2026 (2026-08-12) (France)
Countries
  • Mexico
  • Spain
  • France
LanguageSpanish

Sad Girlz (Spanish: Chicas tristes) is a 2026 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Fernanda Tovar [de] in her debut feature. It is a Mexican-Spanish-French co-production.

The film had its world premiere in the Generation 14plus section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2026, where it won the Crystal Bear.

Plot

The plot follows the relationship between two 16-year-old female swimmers. One of them suffers from sexual violence at a party.

Cast

Production

The film is a Colectivo Colmena co-production with Potenza Producciones, Promenades Films, Martini Shot Films, and CTT Exp & Rentals.

Release

Sad Girlz premiered in the Generation 14plus section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026. It was also programmed at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, in the Latin American competition of the 30th Lima Film Festival, in the 'Horizontes Latinos' slate of the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival, and at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival.

For its Mexican premiere, it was presented at the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) on 17 October 2026.

Distributed by Wild Bunch Distribution, it was released theatrically in France on 12 August 2026.

Critical reception

Cédric Succivalli of International Cinephile Society rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, declaring it an "extraordinary" directorial debut feature, standing "as a quiet but devastating exploration of a friendship under pressure".

Marta Balaga of Cineuropa deemed the film to be a "bittersweet stunner", in which the director "bets everything on female friendship, and wins".

Nikki Baughan of ScreenDaily considered the film "sensitive and knowing study of female teenage friendship, powered by strong performances from its young leads".

Accolades

Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
2026
76th Berlin International Film FestivalCrystal Bear for the Best Film in Generation 14plusWon
Grand Prix of the International Jury for the Best Film in Generation 14PlusWon
30th Lima Film FestivalJury Prize for Best ScreenplayFernanda TovarWon
Jury Prize for Best ActressRocío Guzmán and Darana ÁlvarezWon
24th Morelia International Film FestivalCasa Wabi-Escine Award to the Director of a Debut FilmFernanda TovarWon

See also

References

  1. ↑ Huerta Ortiz, César (14 January 2026). ""Chicas tristes" pone el foco en la violencia sexual; competirá en la Berlinale 2026". El Universal.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Chicas Triste". Berlinale. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 Balaga, Marta (14 February 2026). "Review: Sad Girlz". Cineuropa.
  4. ↑ "Toda la programación del 30° Festival Internacional de Cine de Lima PUCP 2026". Escribiendo Cine. 25 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "El festival de Tribeca estrena lo nuevo de Wagner Moura, Yalitza Aparicio y Edgar Ramírez". Infobae. 16 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Rivera, Alfonso (17 July 2026). "The San Sebastián International Film Festival announces another major Spanish presence". Cineuropa. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Alpasan, Eunice (September 2026). "Chicago International Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Plans to Launch Physical Media Fair". wttw.
  8. ↑ Lira, Alan (17 October 2026). "Chicas Tristes: Las cosas que te pasan no te define como persona". Cinencuadre (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2026.
  9. ↑ De La Fuente, Anna Marie (15 August 2026). "Diego Luna, Nicolas Pereda and Rodrigo Plá Set for Competition at Mexico's Morelia Film Festival". Variety.
  10. ↑ Houot, Laurence (9 August 2026). ""Chicas tristes" : la réalisatrice mexicaine Fernanda Tovar signe un premier film sensible et éclairant sur le viol et le consentement". France Info (in French). Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Succivalli, Cédric (14 February 2026). "Berlinale 2026 review: Sad Girlz (Fernanda Tovar)". International Cinephile Society.
  12. ↑ Baughan, Nikki (27 February 2026). "'Sad Girlz' review: Two Mexico City teens cope with the fallout from sexual violence in sensitive, authentic debut". ScreenDaily.
  13. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (21 February 2026). "'Sad Girlz' Wins Berlin Generation Crystal Bear". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. ↑ "Festival de Lima 2026: Todos los ganadores". Otros Cines (in Spanish). 17 August 2026. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  15. ↑ Sánchez, Jorge Emilio (24 October 2026). "'Seis meses en el edificio rosa con azul' gana en el FICM Mejor Película y Premio del Público". Excélsior (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 24 October 2026.