Bold Storytelling Earns Top Honor at Prestigious European Showcase

A Major Win on the International Stage

January 25, 2026 — Fantasy, directed by Kukla, has claimed the Best Feature Film award at the Trieste Film Festival, marking a significant breakthrough for the filmmaker and solidifying the film’s growing international reputation. The win places Fantasy among the most celebrated titles to emerge from this year’s festival lineup.

Known for spotlighting daring, unconventional cinema, the Trieste Film Festival has long been a launchpad for films that challenge narrative and visual norms. Fantasy’s victory underscores its resonance with both critics and festival jurors, who praised the film for its originality and emotional depth.

Why Fantasy Stood Out

From its premiere screening, Fantasy distinguished itself through a striking blend of atmosphere, character-driven storytelling, and genre-bending ambition. The film explores inner worlds and psychological tension with a visual language that feels immersive rather than explanatory, trusting audiences to engage actively with its themes.

Festival jurors reportedly cited the film’s confident direction and cohesive vision as key factors behind the decision. Rather than leaning on spectacle alone, Fantasy builds its impact gradually, favoring mood, symbolism, and restraint—qualities that often resonate strongly within the festival circuit.

Kukla’s Vision Takes Center Stage

For Kukla, the Best Feature Film win represents a defining career moment. The director has been steadily gaining attention for a distinctive style that prioritizes emotional unease and narrative ambiguity, and Fantasy appears to crystallize that approach into a fully realized statement.

Observers at the festival noted Kukla’s assured command of tone, with each scene reinforcing the film’s thematic core. The result is a work that feels deliberate and personal, avoiding formula while remaining accessible enough to leave a lasting impression.

The Significance of the Trieste Film Festival

The Trieste Film Festival is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most respected platforms for genre, experimental, and boundary-pushing cinema. A Best Feature Film win here often signals broader festival momentum, opening doors to additional screenings, international distribution interest, and year-end critical recognition.

Past winners have gone on to secure wider acclaim, and Fantasy now joins that lineage. Industry insiders suggest the award will significantly raise the film’s profile, particularly among programmers and curators seeking fresh, visionary voices.

Audience and Critical Response

Beyond the jury’s decision, Fantasy was met with strong audience engagement throughout the festival. Post-screening discussions reflected curiosity and enthusiasm, with viewers praising the film’s willingness to sit with discomfort rather than resolve it neatly.

Critics attending Trieste highlighted the film’s cohesive aesthetic and its refusal to over-explain, describing it as a project that rewards patience and interpretation. That balance of challenge and craft appears to have been central to its success.

What Comes Next for Fantasy

With its Best Feature Film win secured, Fantasy is expected to continue its festival run, potentially appearing at additional international showcases in the coming months. The award also positions Kukla as a filmmaker to watch, particularly within the realm of ambitious, genre-adjacent storytelling.

As momentum builds, the Trieste victory stands as a clear signal: Fantasy is not just a festival standout, but a film poised to leave a lasting mark on the contemporary cinema landscape.