Hot on the heels of news that Boo Junfeng will return to the Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of Apprentice, it’s been announced that another celebrated Singaporean director will be making the trip as well. K Rajagopal’s debut feature film, A Yellow Bird, will screen in competition at International Critics’ Week.
A Yellow Bird tells the story of Siva, a man released from prison after an eight-year sentence for contraband smuggling. Seeking forgiveness from his mother, ex-wife and daughter, Siva’s path to redemption is obstructed by a revelation about his family. A Singapore-France joint production, the international cast of A Yellow Bird includes local actor Siva Palakrishnan, Chinese actress Huang Lu and Indian actress Seema Biswas. The long-awaited feature marks a new chapter for Rajagopal who has already earned numerous accolades for his short films.
Showcasing first and second features by directors from around the world, International Critics’ Week sees the presentation of three key awards. Films in the selection will compete for the Nespresso Grand Prize and the France 4 Visionary Award, while debut features (A Yellow Bird included) are also eligible for the Camera d’Or. The Camera d’Or was famously won by Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo in 2013.
