Washington [US]: Left-Handed Girl, produced by Sean Baker, is set to premiere in competition at the 64th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week, a prominent sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival.
The film marks the solo directorial debut of Taiwanese filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou, best known for her long-standing collaboration with Sean Baker, director of Anora. Set in Taipei, the urban melodrama follows the emotional journey of a single mother and her two daughters as they struggle to survive on the fringes of the Taiwanese capital.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Baker also co-wrote and edited the film, adding his signature touch to Tsou’s intimate storytelling.
Joining Left-Handed Girl in the Critics’ Week competition are a number of notable European titles:
- Nino, directed by Pauline Loques, features rising Quebecois actor Théodore Pellerin (Lurker) as a young man wandering the city after misplacing his apartment keys.
- Sleepless City, from Spanish director Guillermo Galoe, follows the story of two close friends forced to part ways when one must relocate.
- Kika, directed by Belgian filmmaker Alexe Poukine, stars Manon Clavel as a social worker facing an unplanned pregnancy shortly after the tragic death of her partner.
Outside of competition, Belgian director Laura Wandel will open the Critics’ Week with a special screening of her child custody drama Adam’s Interest. The section will close with Dandelion’s Odyssey, the first animated feature from Japanese director Momoko Seto.
The Critics’ Week jury for the 64th edition will be led by acclaimed Spanish director Rodrigo Sorogoyen. He is joined by an impressive panel including Oscar-winning British actor Daniel Kaluuya, Moroccan journalist Jihane Bougrine, French-Canadian cinematographer Josee Deshaies, and Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara.
Running from May 14 to 22, Cannes Critics’ Week takes place alongside the main Cannes Film Festival, shining a spotlight on emerging talent in global cinema.