Sister & Sister (Las hijas), the debut feature by Panamanian-Costa Rican writer-director Kattia G. Zúñiga, will have its world premiere in the Global section at the 2023 edition of the SXSW Film Festival, taking place March 10-19, in Austin, Texas.

An intimate and tender tale of sisterhood in the urban tropics, starring newcomers Ariana Chaves Gavilán and Cala Rossel Campos, the film narrates the story of Marina (17) and Luna (14), who travel from Costa Rica to Panama during summer vacation to look for their absent father.

As the pair deal with frictions that arise between them, they also find space to explore their desires, new friendships, lovers, and skateboarding, on a journey toward emancipation where they discover the joy in the simple act of hanging out.

The gentle semi-autobiographical story is written by Zúñiga, who previously produced and starred in Alejo Crisóstomo’s Nina and Laura and starred in Paz Fábrega’s Viaje. She has also written and directed the short films It’s Cecilia (2012) and Things That Don’t Break (2017).

A Panamanian-Chilean co-production, Sister & Sister is handsomely lensed by Crisóstomo and edited by Andrea Chignoli (No, The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future). A deep, colorful portrayal of teenage life, this confident and auspicious debut feature by Zúñiga marks a great addition to the exciting recent crop of Central American cinema that is making waves in the international film festival circuit.