Forever Your Maternal Animal
2026 film by Valentina Maurel
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Forever Your Maternal Animal (Spanish: Siempre soy tu animal materno) is a 2026 drama film written and directed by Valentina Maurel. It stars Daniela Marín Navarro, Mariangel Villegas, Marina de Tavira, and Reinaldo Amién Gutiérrez.
- Benoît Roland
- Grégoire Debailly
| Forever Your Maternal Animal | |
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International promotional poster | |
| Spanish | Siempre soy tu animal materno |
| Directed by | Valentina Maurel |
| Screenplay by | Valentina Maurel |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Nicolás Wong |
| Edited by | Bertrand Conard |
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Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
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| Language | Spanish |
The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2026, where its female ensemble won the section's Best Actress prize.
Premise
After years of living abroad in Europe, Elsa returns to her hometown of San José, Costa Rica, to reconnect with her dysfunctional family.
Cast
- Daniela Marín Navarro as Elsa
- Mariangel Villegas as Amalia
- Marina de Tavira as Isabel
- Reinaldo Amién Gutiérrez as Nahuel
Production
Writer-director Valentina Maurel had previously worked with actors Daniela Marín Navarro and Reinaldo Amien Gutiérrez on her debut feature film, I Have Electric Dreams (2022). Wanting an "experienced actress" to play Elsa's mother, Maurel cast Mexican actress Marina de Tavira.[1]
The film was shot in the Zapote district of San José, Costa Rica, the neighborhood in which Maurel herself was raised.[1] The film received funding from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Film and Audiovisual Centre.[2]
Release
Heretic owns the worldwide sales rights to the film, which was presented at the Marché du Film in May 2026.[3] Cinéart will release the film in the Benelux, while JHR Films will release the film in France.[4]
The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2026.[5][6] It was the first film by a Costa Rican filmmaker to make the Cannes Official Selection.[7] Ahead of the film's premiere, a trailer was released on 14 May.[8]
The Centro Costarricense de Cine y Audiovisual chose the film as the Costa Rican submission for Best Ibero-American Film at the 41st Goya Awards.[9]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 22 May 2026 | Prix Un Certain Regard | Valentina Maurel | Nominated | [10] |
| Un Certain Regard – Best Actress | Marina de Tavira, Daniela Marín Navarro, and Mariangel Villegas | Won |
