Fermin de la Serna’s Lovers in the Sky inhabit a quiet Peruvian town, they clean, pray, cook, work, and spend time conversing and enjoying themselves with their loved ones. What sets apart the people from these two films, both selected for the International Documentary Competition at the 65th Krakow Film Festival, is their sexuality.
‘Although reality still leaves much to be desired, we’ve selected documentaries that challenge the film stereotype of the victim often associated with sex work and transgender identity. Meanwhile, the story of Cristina and La Bonita radiates with their energy, allowing viewers to become completely immersed in their world – one that is sensual, sometimes brutal, yet spiritual at the same time,’ comments section curator Anita Piotrowska.
Document Lovers in the Sky (dir. Fermin de la Serna) caught attention in Berlin, securing support from the Berlinale World Cinema Fund.
Heavenly Dilemmas
Dozens of cargo ships navigate the Peruvian tributaries of the Amazon each and every day. Kitchen staff are indispensable among those working their decks. For decades, Cristina and La Bonita have been responsible for visiting local markets, hauling produce, and preparing meals for the crew. Two transgender individuals still searching for their identity.
Fermin de la Serna’s Lovers in the Sky is a vibrant portrait of Peruvian towns and a sensitive depiction of two mature persons grappling with societal pressure, economic hardship, and religious prejudice. Cristina, who has undergone hormone therapy, has a turbulent past behind her. Though confident and sexually liberated, she yet not completely fulfilled. Should she win the lottery, she dreams of using the help of a surrogate to become a parent. Meanwhile, the spiritually-minded La Bonita yearns for acceptance into the kingdom of heaven – a rather complicated prospect for transgender individuals.
Fifteen of the latest documentaries from around the world will compete for the Golden and Silver Horns in the International Documentary Competition. The selection committee, led by Festival Director Krzysztof Gierat and documentary section curator Anita Piotrowska, will make the final decisions. Who knows, perhaps a Polish production might be among the selected titles. We will find out soon enough.
Passes for the 65th Krakow Film Festival are now on sale!
The Krakow Film Festival is on the exclusive list of film events qualifying for the Academy Awards® in short film categories (fiction, animation, documentary) and feature-length documentary, the European Film Awards in the same categories, and serves as a qualifying event for the BAFTA Awards.
The Krakow Film Festival is organised with financial support from the City of Krakow, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Polish Film Institute, and the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme. The Polish Filmmakers Association serves as co-organiser.
The 65th Krakow Film Festival will be held from 25 May to 1 June 2025, and online on KFF VOD from 30 May to 15 June.