Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture has revealed that it was selected for the country’s submission to the highest international functional category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Written by Sean Baker and Tsou, the film is set against the bustling background of Taipei’s night market and depicts a multi-generational story that spans three generations of women. The story follows a single mother relocating to Taipei with her two daughters, establishing a Night Market Stall to achieve her goal. As families navigate unfamiliar cities and new challenges of living, the three women suffer real-world pressures, finding belongings and family ties through interdependence.
The cast includes Janel Tsai, Ma Shih-Yuan, Nina Ye, Brando Huang, Akio Chen, and Chao Xin-Yan.
This selection was made by Taiwan’s Audiovisual and Music Industry Development Bureau under the Ministry of Culture, and conducted a screening process on behalf of the Republic of China Film Association. This year, 11 Taiwanese films have been submitted for consideration.
The Select Committee selected “Left-handed Girl” by majority vote. The province cited the film’s “unique Taiwanese night market setting, which presents the theme of adult conflict with traditional patriarchy through the perspective of a left-handed girl, featuring a bright rhythm and contemporary aesthetic style.”
“Left-handed Girl” has already won international awards and has won the Gan Foundation Award in the Critics Week Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival. The film was subsequently invited to the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival, and was selected to compete at the Busan International Film Festival.
The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in several French cities starting September 17th, followed by Taiwan’s release on October 31st. An international rollout for the US, Canada and the UK was planned on November 28th, with a global Netflix debut set on November 28th.
The production companies include left-handed girls filmmakers, LHG Films Ltd, Good Chaos and Le Pacte, who handles international sales.
The Oscar International feature summary will be announced on December 16th, with the last five candidates announced on January 22nd.
