'The Girl with a Left Hand', Co-written by Oscar Winner Sean Baker, Selected as Taiwan's International Feature Film Entry for the 98th Academy Awards

The film 'The Girl with a Left Hand', co-written, produced, and edited by five-time Academy Award winner Sean Baker, has been officially selected as Taiwan's representative for the International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026, marking its entry into the prestigious Oscar race.

Directed by Tseng Chuan-chien, the movie is a family drama that delves into a family's secrets spanning three generations, centered around a left-handed girl. The story begins when a single mother, Shu Fen, returns to Taipei with her daughters, Cheng Yi-An and Cheng Yi-Ching, to open a noodle stall in a night market. The narrative reaches its climax during the grandmother's 60th birthday celebration.

Premiering at the Critics' Week of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, 'The Girl with a Left Hand' quickly garnered attention. Variety praised it as "a work that portrays mother-daughter conflict with conviction and love," while The Hollywood Reporter noted, "Restrained humor and clear sincerity underpin every scene." The film achieved a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, won the 2025 Gan Foundation Award for Distribution, and recently secured the Best Film award at the Rome Film Festival.

The Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture stated, "Based on the unique Taiwanese setting of a night market, the film depicts the conflict between modern society and traditional patriarchal society through the eyes of a left-handed girl," adding that it boasts "rapid pacing and modern aesthetics."

'The Girl with a Left Hand' has been invited to numerous international film festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival, Haifa International Film Festival in Israel, Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain, Warsaw Film Festival, and Zurich Film Festival. It also received an official invitation to the 16th Governors Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, further enhancing its global recognition.

Film critic Lee Dong-jin commented, "It vividly captures the relationship between space and life." Actor Park Jung-min shared his thoughts, saying, "It was the most moving film I've seen recently." Film journalist Lee Eun-sun analyzed the work as "a struggle to live as oneself amidst the oppressions of daily life."

Starring Hsieh Yu-han, Janelle Tsai, Nina Ye, and Blair Chang, the film was imported by The Coup Distribution and distributed by Redice Entertainment, premiering in South Korea on November 12th.

Korean netizens have shown keen interest, with comments such as "Just the news of director Sean Baker's involvement makes me excited," "It's proud that it was selected as Taiwan's representative work," and "I hope it goes all the way to an Oscar win."