AN IMPERFECT WOMAN
a feature film project by Maya Kosa and Sérgio da Costa
Xiao Li is a Chinese albino who lives and works in her underground massage parlour in Lisbon. Recently separated from her husband, she is fighting for her independence at all costs. However, with the arrival of her daughter from China and constant intimidation from her landlady to give up her accommodation, Xiao Li finds her emancipation threatened.
Will a mysterious proposal from two rich Chinese men be her only way out?
FIDLab - Mectari award
With the support for the writing of Office Fédéral de la Culture, the participation of Cinéforom, and the support of Loterie Romande.
With the support for the development of l'Instituto do cinema e do Audiovisual Portugal (ICA), Mediadesk Suisse and Succès Cinéma.
IN DEVELOPMENT
Maya Kosa, of Polish origin, was born in Geneva in 1985. Sergio Da Costa, of Portuguese origin, was born in 1984 in Lausanne. In the summer of 2010, after various collaborations on their respective projects (some of which were selected and awarded prizes in international festivals), they obtained their diploma in production from the Geneva University of Art and Design, one with a mention, the other with the jury's congratulations.
After their studies, they directed and produced together "Aux bains de la reine", which won an award at the Doclisboa festival. In winter 2013, they are invited to present their films at the Higher School of Art and Design in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) during a cycle devoted to contemporary Portuguese cinema.
In 2014, they will shoot their first feature film "Rio Corgo" in northern Portugal. The project is supported by the SSA Grant for Documentary Writing (Switzerland), the European grant Brouillon d'un rêve de la Scam (France) and the Gulbenkian Foundation grant for innovative projects (Portugal).
Rio Corgo will have its international premiere at the Berlin Festival in the Forum section in 2016. It was released in Switzerland, France and Portugal in the same year. Their latest feature film "L’île aux oiseaux", winner of the "Migros Culture Percentage - Documentary" competition (Switzerland), premieres at the Locarno Festival in 2019 and has since been shown at various international festivals such as San Sebastian, Rotterdam, Viennale and Dok Leipzig.
To date, it has received six awards and has been nominated for the Swiss Film Prize in the best documentary category.
Production: Alina film (Switzerland), O Som e a Fúria (Portugal)
Script and direction: Maya Kosa et Sérgio da Costa
Producers:: Eugenia Mumenthaler, David Epiney
Co-producer: Luis Urbano