The Calgary Underground Film Festival
THE UGLY STEPSISTER
Norway, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, 2025: 110 minutes: Canadian Premiere
description
A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, THE UGLY STEPSISTER follows Elvira as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost.
In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will go to any lengths to catch the Prince’s eye, including battling with her insanely beautiful stepsister Agnes. A gory tale of the blood and sweat, grit and gold that goes into making Elvira the belle of the ball.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Sundance Film Festival 2025
Berlin International Film Festival 2025
Boston Underground Film Festival 2025
DIRECTOR'S BIO
Emilie Blichfeldt graduated from the Norwegian Film School with the short film SARA’S INTIMATE CONFESSIONS which was selected for festivals including Locarno and Clermont-Ferrand. THE UGLY STEPSISTER (DEN STYGGE STESØSTEREN) is her feature-length directorial debut.
press for The Ugly Stepsister
"Like if [Coralie Fargeat’s THE SUBSTANCE] got smashed together with Cinderella, a bit of Yorgos Lanthimos’ THE FAVOURITE and the gone-too-soon series THE GREAT to create one of the most macabre, mean-spirited fairy tales you’ll ever see."- The Wrap
details
First Feature / Narrative / Horror / Comedy / Women Director
Norwegian | English Subtitles110 minutes
credits
Director
Emilie Blichfeldt
Executive Producers
Axel Helgeland
Jesper Morthorst
Ada Solomon
Christian Torpe
Producer
Maria Ekerhovd
Screenwriter
Emilie Blichfeldt
Cinematographer
Marcel Zyskind
Cast
Lea Myren
Thea Sofie Loch Næss
Ane Dahl Torp
Flo Fagerli
awards
Winner, Director’s Choice: Best Feature, Boston Underground Film Festival 2025
Winner, Audience Award, Feature Film, Overlook Film Festival 2025