Lucky Lu

Last updated
Lucky Lu
Lucky Lu 2025.jpeg
Film poster
Directed by Lloyd Lee Choi
Written byLloyd Lee Choi
Based on Same Old
by Lloyd Lee Choi
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Norm Li
Edited byBrendan Mills
Music byCharles Humenry
Production
companies
  • Significant Productions
  • Cedar Road [1]
  • Hisako Films
  • Gold House
  • Big Buddha Pictures
Release date
  • May 19, 2025 (2025-05-19)(Cannes)
Running time
103 minutes [2]
Countries
  • Canada
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Lucky Lu is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Lloyd Lee Choi, in his feature film directorial debut. Adapted from Choi's 2022 short film Same Old , it stars Chang Chen, Fala Chen, and Carabelle Manna Wei.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, where it was eligible for the Caméra d'Or . [3] At the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, the film was nominated for five awards and won three, including Best Leading Actor for Chen, Best New Director for Choi, and Best Original Film Score for Charles Humenry. [4] It also received two nominations at the 41st Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Director for Choi and Best Lead Performance for Chen. [5]

Premise

A delivery driver's bike is stolen on the eve of his wife and his daughter's immigration from Taiwan to New York City.

Cast

Production

In September 2024, it was announced Chang Chen would star in the film, with Lloyd Lee Choi directing from a screenplay he wrote. Destin Daniel Cretton and Nina Yang Bongiovi were set to serve as producers. [6] Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Pritzker serve as an executive producers. [7] The film is a full-length expansion of Choi's 2022 short film Same Old . [6]

Principal photography began in December 2024, in New York City. [8]

Release and reception

It had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section on May 19, 2025. [9]

Awards and nominations
AwardYearCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Calgary International Film Festival 2025International Narrative CompetitionLucky LuNominated [10]
Cannes Film Festival 2025 Caméra d'Or Lucky LuNominated [3]
El Gouna Film Festival 2025El Gouna Silver Star for Narrative FilmLucky LuWon [11]
Filmfest Hamburg 2025NDR Young Talent Award Lloyd Lee Choi Won [12]
Film Independent Spirit Awards 2026 Best Director Lloyd Lee ChoiPending [13]
Best Lead Performance Chang Chen Pending
Golden Horse Awards 2025 Best Leading Actor Chang ChenWon [14]
[15]
Best New Director Lloyd Lee ChoiWon
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Best Cinematography Norm Li Nominated
Best Original Film Score Charles HumenryWon

References

  1. ↑ "SFFILM Announces Four Year Partnership with Cedar Road". SFFILM . March 4, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Lucky Lu". Directors' Fortnight . Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Lucky Lu". Quinzaine des cinéastes . Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  4. ↑ Shackleton, Liz (November 23, 2025). "'A Foggy Tale' Wins Best Film & Three Other Prizes At Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Here Are Your 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees!". Film Independent . 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  6. 1 2 Tangcay, Jazz (September 5, 2024). "Lloyd Lee Choi's Feature Adaptation 'Lucky Lu' to Begin Filming in New York City Later This Year". Variety . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  7. ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (May 17, 2025). "'Lucky Lu' First Look: Lloyd Lee Choi's Directorial Debut Confronts the Fallacy of the American Dream". IndieWire . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Lucky Lu Casting Lead Child Fluent in Mandarin". NY Castings. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (April 15, 2025). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Unveils 2025 Line-Up; 'Enzo' Opener & 'Sorry, Baby' Closer". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ "LUCKY LU » CIFF". Calgary International Film Festival . Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  11. ↑ "EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL CONCLUDES 8TH EDITION WITH STELLAR AWARDS CEREMONY". El Gouna Film Festival . October 25, 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  12. ↑ "Film Meets Heart". Filmfest Hamburg . 4 October 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  13. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 3, 2025). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Train Dreams', 'The Plague', 'Sorry, Baby', 'Twinless' & 'Peter Hujar's Day' In Best Feature Race". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  14. ↑ Wong, Silvia (1 October 2025). "'A Foggy Tale', 'Left-Handed Girl' lead Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards nominations". Screen Daily . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Wong, Silvia (23 November 2025). "'A Foggy Tale' wins multiple prizes including best film at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Screen Daily . Retrieved 23 November 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.