Having scooped a series of prizes for her animated short Granny's Sexual Life, Urška Djukić has now also made a mark with her debut feature, winning one of the awards at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.

Her sensual coming-of-age film Little Trouble Girls (Kaj Ti Je Deklica) opened the festival's new official competitive Perspectives section, winning the best film debut award of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).

The film centres on Lucija, a shy 16-year-old who joins a girls' choir, where she becomes friends with Ana-Marija. When the choir goes to a countryside convent to spend a weekend practising, Lucija's interest in a dark-eyed restoration specialist puts their friendship to a test.

In a new environment, Lucija explores her emerging sexuality and questions her beliefs and values, which affects the harmony of the choir.

Djukić says the film explores the impact of patriarchal upbringing on a sensitive girl and the process of finding one's own strength.

The three-member FIPRESCI jury, one of several giving out awards across a number of sections at the Berlinale, said that Djukić produces a wonderful portrayal of troubles of a teenager facing the allure of sex on the one side and societal limitation on the other.

Welcoming the award, Djukić thanked the jury for "assigning high value to our work". She also thanked the entire film crew and authors, as well as "all dedicated people who helped create this film".

She believes the award will give more exposure to the film. "There will be larger audience and more chances to participate in festivals. And I hope that we, the authors, will have it easier in collecting sufficient funds for new films."

Talking to the Slovenian Press Agency, Djukić said the film was well-received in Berlin. The audience welcomed it with enthusiasm, which she described as magical for the team.

An increasing number of women filmmakers are active in Slovenia and Djukić said she was excited to see their work, as women filmmakers "at long last now have the room and the voice to express their courage through film".

The film will have its Slovenian premiere at the Cankarjev Dom culture centre in Ljubljana on 3 March, after which it will go on general release.