"Nina Wu (灼人秘密)," a 2019 Taiwanese feature directed by Midi Z (趙德胤), was screened in the "Un Certain Regard" official selection of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival that ran from May 14 through 25 in France.
"Nina Wu" has garnered funding twice from the Ministry of Culture after Midi Z captured the FEDEORA Award for Best Film with "The Road to Mandalay (再見瓦城)" at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival.
Shot completely in Taiwan, "Nina Wu" is Midi Z's fifth feature film starring Taiwanese actresses Wu Ke-xi (吳可熙), Kimi Hsia (夏于喬), and Vivian Sung (宋芸樺). It is the first Taiwan film to be selected by the "Un Certain Regard" section since 2008, when "Parking (停車)" by director Chung Mong-hong (鍾孟宏) received that distinction.
Midi Z noted that he was extremely surprised to hear of the inclusion of "Nina Wu," because it is not an art film but a thriller. "This is a movie about women, about Taiwan," he said of his latest work inspired by the #MeToo movement.
As the first film that she both wrote and starred in, “Nina Wu” can also be considered a personal achievement for lead actress-scriptwriter Wu, who captured an Excellent Screenplay Award earlier this year.