Valentina Maurel (b. 1988) is a Costa Rican filmmaker and screenwriter who studied at INSAS in Brussels. Her work has gained international recognition for its distinctive approach to characterisation and the portrayal of intimate experiences. In 2017, her graduation film, Paul est là, won first prize in the Cinéfondation section of the Cannes Film Festival. Two years later, Lucía en el limbo was selected for Cannes Critics’ Week. Her debut feature, I Have Electric Dreams (2022), won three awards at the Locarno Film Festival (Best Director, Best Actress and Best Actor) as well as the award for Best Latin American Film at the San Sebastián Film Festival. In 2026, Maurel returns with Forever Your Maternal Animal, her second feature, starring Marina de Tavira and selected for the Discoveries section of the 20th edition of LEFFEST.
