Slovenian filmmaker Kukla, known for her Locarno-premiered debut Fantasy, is now channeling her creative drive into a provocative new project. The upcoming film will explore a world where women collectively decide to stop having sex with men, set against the backdrop of potential global conflict, shifting gender power dynamics, and the influence of TikTok. While the title and full details remain under wraps, Kukla says this work will be a distinct departure from her first feature.
Key Highlights
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Kukla’s debut film Fantasy premiered at Locarno in 2021 in the Filmmakers of the Present lineup
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Her new project centers on women refusing sex with men amid a looming third World War
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Inspiration stems from a TikTok post joking about halting reproduction to shift power away from male leaders
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Kukla says the upcoming film will differ greatly from Fantasy
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She began writing the script after giving birth, despite once thinking she might not make another movie
From Fantasy to Provocative New Territory
Kukla’s Fantasy was a coming-of-age story full of humor, drama, and unexpected turns, following three outsider girls whose paths change after meeting a trans woman named Fantasy. The film’s message invited women to “see themselves through their own lens rather than through external expectations,” offering a layered take on identity and belonging.
Her new project, however, will steer into uncharted narrative space.
“My next film is about a potential threat of a third World War. 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.” – Kukla
Kukla is keeping plot specifics under wraps, but her comments suggest the film will combine satire, social commentary, and geopolitical tension into a sharply focused piece.
The Journey From Music Videos to Feature Filmmaking
Before her feature debut, Kukla was widely known as a musician and music video director. Her 2020 short Sisters won the Grand Prix International at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival and the Audience Award at Premiers Plans d’Angers. She later expanded it into Fantasy, a Slovenia–North Macedonia co-production handled internationally by Totem Films.
Making Fantasy was a challenge that tested her endurance.
“The process was so difficult that I was like, ‘I’m never going to do another film anymore.’” – Kukla
After giving birth, she believed she might need an extended break from filmmaking. Yet, her creative drive proved too strong to ignore.
A Story Years in the Making
Kukla revealed that her upcoming film has been brewing in her mind for years.
“I had this idea for my next film five years ago, and I’m already writing it.” – Kukla
The timing of its development, coinciding with her transition into motherhood, may give the project a layered perspective on gender politics and social change. Though its concept is bold, Kukla’s track record shows she thrives when pushing boundaries and sparking conversation.
In Fantasy, she gave audiences a narrative grounded in empathy and inclusivity. With her new project, she appears ready to step into an even riskier creative arena—one that challenges cultural norms and examines the volatile intersection of personal choice, political structures, and mass media influence.
News in Brief: Filmmaker Kukla’s New Untitled Project
Slovenian director Kukla, celebrated for her debut Fantasy, is working on a new film exploring a global scenario where women collectively stop having sex with men in response to male-dominated political power and the threat of a third World War. The concept was sparked by a TikTok post and has been in her mind for five years. After initially swearing off filmmaking due to the difficulties of Fantasy, and after giving birth, she is now writing the script. Stay tuned for further updates on this bold, untitled project.
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