Heretic has boarded international sales on “Forever Your Maternal Animal,” the new film from Valentina Maurel, set to premiere in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Benelux distribution is set with Cinéart, while JHR Films will release the film in France.
The film reunites Heretic with the director after the company represented her debut feature, Locarno competition title “I Have Electric Dreams.”
“Forever Your Maternal Animal” follows Elsa, who returns to Costa Rica after years of studying in Europe and reconnects with her younger sister, who has drifted into an increasingly elusive and introspective world, as their parents retreat into their own private preoccupations.
“The film lingers in the shifting space between closeness and estrangement, where reality dissolves into memory, desire and the quiet pull of what remains unspoken,” according to a statement.
Maurel, of Franco-Costa Rican origin and based in Costa Rica, holds a degree in filmmaking from INSAS in Brussels. Her graduation film “Paul Is Here” won first prize at the Cinéfondation selection of the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Her short “Lucía en el limbo,” shot in Costa Rica, was selected for Critics’ Week at Cannes in 2019, screened at the Toronto Film Festival, and won first prize at the Guanajuato Film Festival. Her debut feature “I Have Electric Dreams” premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2022.
Ioanna Stais, Heretic’s head of sales and acquisitions, commented: “Valentina (Maurel) is a unique voice in contemporary cinema, and we are proud to continue our journey with her on ‘Forever Your Maternal Animal.’ Having been with her since ‘I Have Electric Dreams,’ we deeply value her artistic vision and the emotional precision she brings to every frame. This new film further confirms her as a filmmaker of exceptional sensitivity and strength, and we are thrilled to bring it to international audiences.”
Stephan Depotter, co-CEO of Cinéart, commented: “Valentina Maurel demonstrates her exceptional talent once again with ‘Forever Your Maternal Animal.’ I greatly admire the way her direction brings out such authentic and nuanced performances from the cast. I was particularly impressed by Maurel’s ability to communicate complex emotions and themes with remarkable subtlety — often conveying so much with just one look or a single frame.”
Jane Roger, co-founder of Paris-based arthouse distributor JHR Films, added: “Together with my partner Arnaud Dommerc, we were immediately struck by how ‘Forever Your Maternal Animal’ confirms Valentina Maurel as a singular voice on family and desire – at once clear-eyed and deeply sensitive. We are delighted to bring this new film to French audiences.”
“Forever Your Maternal Animal” is produced by Wrong Men and Geko Films in co-production with Pimienta. The film is produced by Benoît Roland and Grégoire Debailly with co-producer Nicolás Celis. The production is a collaboration between Belgium, France and Mexico.
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