TAIPEI (TVBS News) — On Wednesday (Aug. 6), Shih-Ching Tsou (鄒時擎), a Taiwanese director based in the United States, announced that her film "Left-Handed Girl" (左撇子女孩), was selected for the Centrepiece section of the Toronto International Film Festival, which will take place on September 4-14 this year. The milestone follows the positive international reception of the film at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in the year.
The film tells the story of a mother and her two daughters navigating life and inter-generational family drama while running a stall in a Taipei night market. It stars Janel Tsai (蔡淑臻), Shih-Yuan Ma (馬士媛), Nina Ye (葉子綺), and Brando Huang (黃鐙輝). The film will premiere in Taiwan on Oct. 31.
Tsou has dedicated over 25 years to perfecting "Left-Handed Girl," a joint production involving Taiwan, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The entire film was shot in Taiwan, and features vibrant scenes of Taipei shot on an iPhone. At this year's Cannes Film Festival (坎城影展), the film premiered and won the Prix du Rail d’Or award.
International media, including "Variety," praised the film for its immersive scenes, particularly those following a young girl's perspective through the night market. They also commended the captivating visuals of Taipei's street life from a motorcycle's viewpoint. Tsou expressed confidence in the film's universal appeal, describing her work as one holding the sincerity and power to touch audiences worldwide.