In May 2025, actress and filmmaker Inessa Kraft participated in the Cannes Film Festival, marking a notable presence in an event aligned with the celebration of women’s contributions to global cinema. Among the various events held during the festival period was the Fugitive Sister Festival, a short film showcase dedicated to women filmmakers and led by Festival Director Maura Campbell. This independent platform drew attention for its focused curation of impactful narratives by female voices in the industry.
One of the featured projects at the Festival was Wings, a Greek short film directed by Petra Terzi, which ultimately received the top honor of the event. Written by Maria Fragkia and Petra Terzi, Wings tells the story of a woman undergoing personal transformation. The central character, portrayed by Olga Thoma, begins the film as a disillusioned housewife. Over the course of the narrative, she begins a journey that shifts her from a state of quiet desperation to becoming a celebrated poet. Her metamorphosis is sparked by a meeting with symbolic figures—Cosmic People whose eternal love, acceptance, and encouragement ignite her transformation—and the Cosmic Lady, a role undertaken by Inessa Kraft.
With thematic undertones of liberation, identity, and poetic emergence, the film offers a narrative that is both metaphysical and grounded in emotional realism. The Cosmic Lady, played by Inessa Kraft, appears not only as a character but as a representation of internal potential—bridging fantasy and reality, a motif that resonates with Kraft’s wider artistic practice.
The Fugitive Sister Festival stood out with its international selection and focus on transformation, autonomy, and resilience. Filmmakers from diverse backgrounds shared powerful stories, and female voices—including the team behind Wings—were highlighted in a curated space during the wider cultural backdrop of Cannes.
The film Wings originated from a workshop organized by Petra Terzi and hosted by Inessa Kraft, as part of the Cinema Lab Pegasus at the Bridges International Film Festival in Corinth, Greece, and the Women in Film and Television Cyprus initiative. Drawing on her experience in producing, writing, and directing, Inessa Kraft guided the team through development and supported the production of the short film.
For Inessa Kraft, the opportunity to perform in Wings aligned with her ongoing work as an actress focused on uplifting, imaginative, and inspiring narratives. A world traveler who calls Cyprus home, Inessa Kraft is often cast as a traveler through space, time, and otherworldly landscapes—bringing an ethos of lightness and curiosity to her roles. Through her involvement in this film, Kraft continues her exploration of storytelling that blends the real with the miraculous.
The collaboration between Kraft, director Petra Terzi, and fellow actress Olga Thoma highlights a cross-border exchange between artists sharing a commitment to female-centered narratives. Terzi’s direction in Wings is marked by symbolic imagery and poetic realism, further supported by Thoma’s emotive performance and Kraft’s ethereal screen presence. The combined talents result in a film that, while compact in duration, has garnered attention for its depth and layered messaging.
Olga Thoma, Maura Campbell, Inessa Kraft
The recognition received by Wings at the Fugitive Sister Festival places it among a growing set of works spotlighting women’s evolving roles in both storytelling and cinematic authorship. While the film is grounded in a specific cultural and narrative context, its themes—self-reinvention, recognition, and liberation—extend universally. Kraft’s involvement reflects her alignment with projects that carry messages of hope and possibility through artistic storytelling.
This moment at the Fugitive Sister Festival offers a continuation of Kraft’s work in cinematic narratives that prioritize transformation and inner strength. Her performance as the Cosmic Lady, though abstract in nature, complements the tangible evolution of the protagonist and contributes to the film’s wider resonance. As Wings continues to circulate in international film circles, the performance contributions by Kraft and her co-stars stand as integral to the film’s reception and thematic clarity.
Maura Campbell, Petra Terzi, Inessa Kraft
The Fugitive Sister Festival, curated by Maura Campbell, remains a testament to focused, purpose-driven curation in the arts. Events such as this offer space for emerging and established artists to contribute stories that reflect diverse female experiences. For Inessa Kraft, participation in such a platform reinforces her trajectory as a performer drawn to independent, imaginative works with emotional and cultural nuance.
The film Wings, directed by Petra Terzi and co-written with Maria Fragkia, is continuing to attract attention following its recognition in Cannes. With contributions from international talent and a storyline rooted in internal liberation, it stands as an example of the collaborative and global nature of independent filmmaking in 2025. Inessa Kraft’s role in the project, reflective of her broader artistic themes, affirms her place within a constellation of performers invested in meaningful, character-driven storytelling.
Relevant online resources can be found through Inessa Kraft’s Instagram, Petra Terzi’s Instagram, Olga Thoma’s Instagram, the film’s IMDb page, and the Fugitive Sister Festival website.
