Valentina Maurel

• Name — Valentina Maurel • Birth Name — Valentina Maurel Soto • Born — 1988 • Birthplace — San José, Costa Rica • Education — Institut national supérieur des arts du spectacle et des techniques de diffusion • Occupation — * Director • screenwriter • Years Active — 2017–present • Mother — Ana Istarú

Maurel was born in San José, Costa Rica, the daughter of Costa Rican poet Ana Istarú and French actor César Maurel. She studied art history at the University of Costa Rica for a year before moving to France at the age of 19. She later studied film at the Institut national supérieur des arts du spectacle et des techniques de diffusion (INSAS) in Brussels.

Maurel's graduation film at INSAS, a short titled Paul Is Here, won the Cinéfondation First Jury Prize at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Her debut feature film, I Have Electric Dreams, opened the official competition of Film Fest Gent in 2022. The film went on to win the Best Direction Award at the Locarno Film Festival, the Horizontes Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. In September 2024, she served on the Horizontes jury of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival. Her second feature film, Forever Your Maternal Animal, competed in the Un Certain Regard competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

Maurel is based in Belgium.

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Notes • 2018 — Paul Is Here — Short film • 2019 — Lucia in Limbo — Short film • 2022 — I Have Electric Dreams • 2026 — Forever Your Maternal Animal