Karla

Karla

66th TIFF: International Premiere
Munich, 1962. In a society bound by silence and shame, 12-year-old Karla makes a remarkable yet unusual decision: she brings her abusive father to court. Refusing to be silenced, she insists on telling her story in her own way, choosing what to reveal and what to leave unsaid. Based on a true story, the film lays bare both the courage of a child seeking justice and the societal taboos that conspire to keep her quiet. Christina Tournatzès' film portrays this landmark court case with restraint and emotional precision, transforming it into a deeply human exploration of trauma, truth, and agency. In the leading role, Elise Krieps, daughter of international star Vicky Krieps, leaves a lasting impression, embodying Karla's quiet defiance with extraordinary depth.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Available at the Agora Market TIFF66.

Direction: Christina Tournatzès
Script: Yvonne Görlach
Cinematography: Florian Emmerich
Editing: Isabel Meier
Sound: Alex Rubin, Paul Bickhoff, Keanu Kachel, Darius Shahidifar
Actors: Elise Krieps, Rainer Bock, Imogen Kogge, Torben Liebrecht, Katharina Schüttler
Production: Achtung Panda! Media GmbH
Producers: Jamila Wenske, Melanie Blocksdorf
Costumes: Tatjana Brecht-Bergen, Julia Kneusels
Make Up: Lydia Geißler, Maja Mogg
Format: DCP
Color: Colour
Production Country: Germany
Production Year: 2025
Duration: 105'
Contact: The Playmaker Munich
Awards/Distinctions: German Cinema New Talent Award for Best Director & German Cinema New Talent Award for Best Screenwriter – Munich International Film Festival (2025)

Christina Tournatzès

Born in 1992, Christina Tournatzẽs is a German-Greek director based in Munich. In 2019, she completed her directing studies at the Macromedia Academy for Media and Design. Her award-winning graduation film Cargo was shown at 53 film festivals in more than 20 countries. Her debut feature film Karla premiered at the 42nd Munich Film Festival. With her work, she aims to give voice to people who are often unheard in our society. She is particularly drawn to complex, ambivalent characters and to detailed observations of the human and interpersonal, as well as the atmospheric and unspoken.

Filmography

2020 Cargo (short)
2025 Karla