For me, the highlight of this year’s festival was the touching French drama Tomboy, a fascinating coming-of-age story from director Céline Sciamma. Set in a suburban Paris, Tomboy centres around an 11 year old girl, Laure, and her struggle dealing with her sexual identity. On arrival in a new neighbourhood, Laure radically reinvents herself, introducing herself as Michaël to the local children.

The film beautifully handles the difficulty and uncertainty of puberty and sexual maturity; though the subject matter of gender confusion may be unfamiliar to many, Tomboy resonates with anyone who remembers the awkwardness of growing up. The performances from the predominantly child cast are astounding – most memorable is the poignant relationship between Laure (Zoé Héran) and her younger sister Jeanne (Malonn Lévana).

Sciamma’s emphasis seems to be upon the innate intelligence and sensitivity of children, especially highlighting the strength of sibling relationships. Despite her confusion, and the reaction of her parents, Jeanne’s devotion to Laure throughout is unfaltering. The film is beautiful in its simplicity; the “plot” is practically non-existent, with the focus fixed instead upon the emotions of the characters and how they deal with them.