To promote Left-Handed Girl, Side A: A Summer Day, and From Island to Island in the North American film market—all three of which are competing for the 98th Academy Awards—the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) collaborated with the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) and the American Cinematheque to host screenings in Los Angeles from November 11 to 20. A series of events brought together film critics, Academy members, industry professionals, and filmmakers to exchange insights. Additionally, actress Nina Ye won the Snow Leopard Rising Star Award at AWFF, highlighting her talent and promising career ahead.
“Following the Toronto International Film Festival, Taiwanese films continue to showcase their remarkable creativity to professionals across North America through the AWFF,”said TAICCA Chairperson Sue Wang.“To further highlight the unique qualities and award-winning potential of Taiwanese cinema, we also partnered with the American Cinematheque—an experienced organization well-acquainted with the local industry landscape—to co-present special screenings.”
During the festival, TAICCA and AWFF jointly presented a Focus on Taiwan event, featuring screenings of the feature film Left-Handed Girl, the short film Side A: A Summer Day, and the documentary feature film From Island to Island. In collaboration with the American Cinematheque, TAICCA also organized additional screenings of Side A: A Summer Day and From Island to Island, boosting exposure for Taiwanese works among North American industrial professionals.
Left-Handed Girl has been selected as Taiwan’s official submission in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards , while Side A: A Summer Day and From Island to Island are both eligible for Oscar in Live Action Short Film and Documentary Feature Film, respectively.
The themes of Left-Handed Girl and Side A: A Summer Day both center on family, creating a deep resonance with audiences around the world. Kin-Fai Wan, of Side A: A Summer Day, shared emotionally that home is built on deeply connected relationships: “In my family, we argue all the time—not out of resentment, but because of a love that cannot be spoken, a love that can only be expressed through our actions.”Shih-Ching Tsou, Director of Left-Handed Girl also shared that she believes the most everyday themes—such as family—are “the more local, the more universal, allowing audiences everywhere to connect.”
Sean Baker, the Oscar-winning director who edited Left-Handed Girl, praised the film, saying, “This movie is our love letter to Taiwan, and I’m grateful that Shih-Ching Tsou introduced me to the uniquely charming Taiwanese night markets.”The actress Nina Ye won the Snow Leopard Rising Star Award at AWFF, and Shih-Yuan Ma’s outstanding performance also impressed audiences. Both actors received significant recognition for their debut roles in a feature film.
Kek-huat Lau, Director of From Island to Island noted that the film presents the painful historical memories of the Japanese army and the Chinese communities in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Australia during World War II. “I want to show everyone the harsh realities, and also invite them to reflect together on what more we can do,” he said. He sincerely hopes that the film will spark social dialogue in Taiwan and allow the international community to witness Taiwan’s resilience.
