Slovenian Filmmaker Domna Kukla Announces New Project Exploring Gender, Conflict, and Social Media – Following the world premiere of her debut feature, Fantasy, at the Locarno Film Festival, director Domna Kukla is developing a new film centered around a provocative premise: a global sex strike in response to the threat of a third World War.
Kukla revealed the concept to The Hollywood Reporter, describing a scenario where a TikTok influencer’s joke – urging women to withhold sex from men as a protest against male-dominated world leadership – unexpectedly gains traction. “My next film is about a potential threat of a third World War,” Kukla stated. “Of course, 99 percent of the world leaders are male, and then a TikToker, as a joke, says that we should just stop giving birth to their children, and we should stop having sex. And then, women all around the world stop having sex with men, and the shit hits the fan.”
Details regarding the film’s title, cast, and specific locations remain undisclosed. Kukla did note that the project will represent a significant departure from the tone and style of Fantasy.
Fantasy,a coming-of-age story set in Slovenia and North macedonia,premiered in the Filmmakers of the Present lineup at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on Friday,August 9,2024.The film follows three young women navigating adolescence and self-discovery after encountering a trans woman named Fantasy. Kukla has described Fantasy as an effort to empower women to define themselves independently of societal expectations. The film is a co-production between Slovenia and North Macedonia, with Totem films handling international sales.
Prior to Fantasy, Kukla established herself as a music video director. Her 2020 short film, Sisters, garnered critical acclaim, winning the Grand Prix International at the Clermont-Ferrand film Festival and the Audience Award at Premiers Plans d’Angers. She subsequently expanded Sisters into the feature-length Fantasy.
Kukla admitted the challenges of completing Fantasy initially led her to question continuing her filmmaking career. However, following the birth of her child, and after five years of developing the concept, she felt compelled to begin writing the new project.She is currently in the writing phase.
