The Ugly Stepsister
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:11:33 PM Wikipedia source
The Ugly Stepsister (Norwegian: Den Stygge Stesøsteren) is a 2025 satirical black comedy body horror film written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, in her directorial debut. It stars Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp and Flo Fagerli, using the motif of the fairy tale "Cinderella", it retells a twisted story of Elvira, who competes against her beautiful stepsister in a bloody battle for beauty. The film had its world premiere as the opening film of the Midnight section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on 23 January. It was also screened at the Panorama section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February. It was theatrically released in Norway on 7 March by Scanbox Entertainment, in Denmark on 28 May, and in Sweden on 13 June.
Infobox
Norwegian
Den Stygge Stesøsteren
Directed by
Emilie Blichfeldt [no]
Screenplay by
Emilie Blichfeldt
Based on
"Aschenputtel"by the Brothers Grimm[a]
Produced by
Maria Ekerhovd [no]
Starring
mw- Lea Myren Thea Sofie Loch Næss Ane Dahl Torp Flo Fagerli Isac Calmroth [sv] Malte Gårdinger
Cinematography
Marcel Zyskind [de]
Edited by
Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Music by
Kaada Vilde Tuv [no]
Productioncompanies
Mer Film [no] Lava Films Motor Zentropa
Distributed by
Scanbox Entertainment [sv]
Release dates
23 January 2025 (2025-01-23) (Sundance) 7 March 2025 (2025-03-07) (Norway) 28 May 2025 (2025-05-28) (Denmark) 13 June 2025 (2025-06-13) (Sweden)
Running time
109 minutes
Countries
Norway Poland Sweden Denmark
Languages
NorwegianPolishDanishSwedish
Budget
$4.2 million
Box office
$5.6 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
Award
Berlin International Film Festival
Date
23 February 2025
Category
Panorama Audience Award for Best Feature Film
Recipient
Emilie Blichfeldt
Result
Nominated
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Award
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Date
11 July 2025
Category
Best Picture
Recipient
The Ugly Stepsister
Result
Won
Amanda Award
Amanda Award
Award
Amanda Award
Date
16 August 2025
Category
Best Screenplay
Recipient
Emilie Blichfeldt
Result
Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Date
Ane Dahl Torp
Category
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Date
Manon Rasmussen
Category
Nominated
Best Visual Effects
Best Visual Effects
Award
Best Visual Effects
Date
Maciej Rynkiewicz (XANF)
Category
Nominated
Best Debut Performance
Best Debut Performance
Award
Best Debut Performance
Date
Lea Myren
Category
Won
Best Make-Up Design
Best Make-Up Design
Award
Best Make-Up Design
Date
Thomas Foldberg og Anne Cathrine Sauerberg
Category
Won
Sitges Film Festival
Sitges Film Festival
Award
Sitges Film Festival
Date
18 October 2025
Category
Best Feature Film
Recipient
The Ugly Stepsister
Result
Won
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
| Berlin International Film Festival | 23 February 2025 | Panorama Audience Award for Best Feature Film | Emilie Blichfeldt | Nominated | |
| Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | 11 July 2025 | Best Picture | The Ugly Stepsister | Won | |
| Amanda Award | 16 August 2025 | Best Screenplay | Emilie Blichfeldt | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Ane Dahl Torp | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | Manon Rasmussen | Nominated | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Maciej Rynkiewicz (XANF) | Nominated | |||
| Best Debut Performance | Lea Myren | Won | |||
| Best Make-Up Design | Thomas Foldberg og Anne Cathrine Sauerberg | Won | |||
| Sitges Film Festival | 18 October 2025 | Best Feature Film | The Ugly Stepsister | Won |
References
- Although the Grimms are not the original authors of "Cinderella", their version of the tale, "Aschenputtel" (German for
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ugly-stepsister-director-interview-cinderella-body-horror-1236113574/
- CinePOPhttps://cinepop.com.br/a-meia-irma-feia-690075/
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl137854977/?ref_=bo_we_table_17
- Mashablehttps://mashable.com/article/the-ugly-stepsister-review
- AV Clubhttps://www.avclub.com/the-ugly-stepsister-review
- Salonhttps://www.salon.com/2025/04/18/the-ugly-stepsister-rewrites-cinderella-as-a-grotesque-and-darkly-funny-feminist-fable/
- "Cinderella Was Always a Body-Horror Story"https://www.vulture.com/article/review-the-ugly-stepsister-is-fairy-tale-body-horror.html
- "The Ugly Stepsister review: A Cinderella horror story"https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ugly-stepsister-cinderella-body-horror-cruel-fairytale
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2024/12/sundance-film-festival-lineup-2025-movies-1236200107/
- Sundance Film Festivalhttps://festival.sundance.org/program/film/67532dd9707ccd17c608a2b4
- Cineuropahttps://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/471529
- Norwegian Film Institutehttps://www.nfi.no/en/news/den-stygge-stesoesteren-er-invitert-til-berlin
- Filmmagasinet Ekko [da]https://www.ekkofilm.dk/anmeldelser/the-ugly-stepsister/
- MovieZinehttps://www.moviezine.se/nyheter/en-av-arets-mest-omtalade-skrackfilmer-klar-for-svenska-biodukar-i-sommar
- The Ugly Stepsisterhttps://www.inverse.com/emilie-blichfeldt-the-ugly-stepsister-interview-shudder-horror
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/global/sundance-horror-the-ugly-stepsister-sells-wide-memento-1236302322/
- The Ugly Stepsisterhttps://www.avclub.com/the-ugly-stepsister-interview-emilie-blichfeldt
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/film/global/shudder-sundance-the-ugly-stepsister-north-america-1236245787/
- RogerEbert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/the-dream-within-the-fairy-tale-emilie-blichfeldt-on-the-ugly-stepsister
- Film Västhttps://filmivast.se/portfolio-items/the-ugly-stepsister/
- Crew Unitedhttps://www.crew-united.com/en/The-Ugly-Stepsister__329851.html
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2024/12/berlin-film-festival-michel-gondry-ira-sachs-competition-panorama-vasilis-kekatos-1236205467/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/film/global/berlin-film-festival-berlinale-special-1236251382/
- Berlinalehttps://www.berlinale.de/en/2025/programme/202504310.html
- Norwegian International Film Festivalhttps://www.filmfestivalen.no/f/den-stygge-stesosteren/1117
- Cineuropahttps://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/483614
- Sitges Film Festivalhttps://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/noticies/we-complete-2025-line-guillermo-toro-yorgos-lanthimos-park-chan-wook-carmen-maura-and
- The Ugly Stepsisterhttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ugly_stepsister
- The Ugly Stepsisterhttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-ugly-stepsister
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/apr/22/the-ugly-stepsister-review-body-horror-take-on-cinderella-is-ingenious-reworking-of-fairy-tale
- The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-ugly-stepsister-review-movie-b0v6mz2qh
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-ugly-stepsister-review-den-stygge-stesosteren-1236279722/
- ScreenDailyhttps://www.screendaily.com/news/berlinale-first-wave-includes-denis-cote-ira-sachs-titles/5200208.article
- Daily Sportshttps://m.entertain.naver.com/movie/article/241/0003451776
- Norwegian International Film Festivalhttps://www.filmfestivalen.no/article/disse-er-nominert-til-amanda-2025
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/awards/awards/amanda-awards-loveable-lilja-ingolfsdottir-armand-1236491188/
- Cinemaníahttps://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/palmares-sitges-2025-body-horror-hermanastra-fea-gana-premio-mejor-pelicula_6530119_0.html