Princess
An indigenous child finds warmth among urban trans women to live on her own terms.
Twelve-year-old Kallpa has one big dream: to be chosen as Ñusta, the sacred princess in her Andean community’s Winter Solstice Festival. However, she is barred from taking part because she was born in the body of a boy. As rigid traditions and growing rejection push her out, Kallpa finds a new home and family among a group of local trans women.
Even while facing harsh prejudice, this close-knit group wraps Kallpa in real warmth and tenderness, giving her the room to figure out who she is and learn to love herself. Her journey becomes a quiet, resilient fight to live life on her own terms.
Shot in a snug 4:3 frame, every single shot feels incredibly intimate and gorgeous. Plus, young lead Camilo Borneo gives such a charming, magnetic performance that completely steals your heart. It is much more than a standard coming-of-age story – it is a beautiful, deeply h
uman film about finding your people and owning who you are.
Malaika Bova
Biography
Christian Rojas is an Ecuadorian film director, producer and founder of Oso Rojo Films, a production company focused on gender and sexual diversity. For more than a decade, Rojas has researched and worked with Indigenous communities around questions of gender identity and the concept of the third gender. As a director, he made his short film “Chigualo”, which was pre-selected for the 2021 Academy Awards and screened at more than 56 international festivals, earning multiple recognitions. In 2023, he was selected as a director for Talents Buenos Aires, where he took part in specialised labs and workshops.
Filmography
Princess (2026)
Award for the best film, grant of 5000€ by
Screenings
