KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Local arthouse horror film Tiger Stripes has left its mark on the 62nd International Cannes’ Critics’ Week as it snatched the Grand Prize.

Amanda Nell Eu’s debut feature also marks the first time a Malaysian movie has won the top spot at the prestigious event, which saw Eu bringing home a total of €10,000 (RM49,602) in cash prize.

The Cannes’ Critics’ Week’s 2023 jury president Audrey Diwan told portal Screen Daily that Tiger Stripes was the first film that they saw through the selection and it has passed the test of time.

“Irreverent and uncompromising, Tiger Stripes does not try to please, it is content to fully assume its seductive singularity.

“It was the first film of the selection that we saw. It has passed the test of time,” Diwan said.

Meanwhile, Eu shared a post on Instagram regarding her historical win which included a snippet of a discourse note by jury Kim Yutani who described the film as pure animal energy.

“This is a film that expresses the internal becoming external — and vice versa — and how the transformation from girl to woman leads to fear and alienation, both within the individual and society.

“This film burst through the traditional coming of age story with exuberant creativity, playful homage and pure animal energy,” Yutani wrote in the discourse.

Tiger Stripes is also in the running for the Camera d’Or prize, an award for the best first feature film. It will be selected from three categories which are the Official Selection, Director’s Fortnight or the International Critics’ Week.

The jury will award the Camera d’Or prize for best first feature film at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony on May 27.

Produced by Eu’s Ghost Grrl Pictures, the film follows a 12-year-old girl who can't make sense of what is happening with her body as she goes through puberty.

The film boasts a lineup of local stars including Shaheizy Sam, Fatimah Abu Bakar, June Lojong as well as newcomers Zafreen Zairizal, Deena Ezral and Piqa.

It is worth noting that Tiger Stripes is only the fourth Malaysian film to have competed at the International Cannes' Critics’ Week since 2010.

The Cannes Critics’ Week is described as a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival and it was said that the section had ‘discovered’ acclaimed directors including Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro and Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai.