The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), celebrating its landmark 50th edition this year, opens on September 4th with a strong Taiwanese presence. This year’s lineup from Taiwan includes the narrative features Girl and Left-Handed Girl, the international co-production documentary Palimpsest: the Story of a Name, and the animated short Praying Mantis. Notably, Left-Handed Girl has been selected as Taiwan’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.
As part of the official Industry Conference Spotlight program, TAICCA will host the panel “SPOTLIGHT New HERizons: Asian Women Shaping Film”, featuring two directors Shih-Ching TSOU and Chie HAYAKAWA, who will share their cultural perspectives and creative journeys.
Additionally, two Taiwanese films vying for a nomination at the 2026 Academy Awards—, Taiwan’s official submission for Best International Feature Film Left-Handed Girl, and the live action short Side A: A Summer Day— will be presented in a market screening at TIFF Industry, officially kicking off their international awards campaigns.
After making waves at the Cannes Film Festival, Left-Handed Girl—the debut feature of director Shih-Ching TSOU, co-written with Oscar winner Sean BAKER—and Girl, the directorial debut of international star Shu Qi, have both been selected for TIFF’s Centrepiece programme and will make their North American premieres at the festival. Reflecting on her journey into directing, Shu Qi remarked:
“I have been an actress for nearly 30 years. Storytelling has always been something I am passionate about. I have also had the privilege of serving on the juries of international film festivals multiple times. The process of appreciating outstanding works has inspired my creative desire, leading me to begin writing the script for Girl.”
The France-Taiwan-Hong Kong co-production Palimpsest: the Story of a Name, directed by Mary STEPHEN, has also been selected for Centrepiece and will be making its world premiere at TIFF. Meanwhile, director Joe HSIEH’s new work, Praying Mantis, which made history as the first Taiwanese animated short selected for the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival, extends its European success to North America by earning a place in TIFF’s Short Cuts programme, showcasing the strength of Taiwanese animation.
To maximize opportunities for in-person engagement with key industry players such as leading media outlets, international professionals, and festival programmers, TAICCA will host the panel “SPOTLIGHT New HERizons: Asian Women Shaping Film” in the official TIFF Industry Conference Spotlight program,This panel will feature Shih-Ching TSOU, director of Left-Handed Girl, and Chie HAYAKAWA, director of Renoir. As two of the most anticipated films in TIFF’s Centrepiece lineup, and both premiered in Cannes this year, two directors' dialogue will shed light on the creative journeys of Asian women filmmakers, their cultural roots, and their perspectives on shaping contemporary world cinema.
Taiwanese works launching their North American campaigns for the 2026 Academy Awards at TIFF include Left-Handed Girl, Taiwan’s official submission for Best International Feature Film. Building on the momentum from its Cannes Critics’ Week premiere, the film portrays a single mother and her two daughters navigating life in Taipei’s bustling night markets. Also featured is Kin Fai WAN’s live action short Side A: A Summer Day, which follows young Fei on the final day of his summer vacation and has already qualified for the Oscars. TAICCA has arranged screenings and networking events for both films at TIFF Industry to generate early awards season buzz for Taiwan’s Oscar team in North America.
TAICCA Chairperson Sue WANG noted that TIFF’s 50th anniversary is a milestone event, bringing together filmmakers from around the world and especially North America. It not only provides visibility for the Taiwanese films selected and competing at TIFF, but also offers them the best opportunity for international promotion ahead of Oscar season, she said, adding that she hopes Taiwanese films will resonate with North America’s industry professionals and lead to major strides in both exposure and market traction.
Founded in 1976, the Toronto International Film Festival attracts nearly 700,000 industry professionals and film enthusiasts from around the globe each year, making it one of the world’s largest and most influential film events.
