After screening his films at Karlovy Vary, Raindance, and Visions du Réel, Viesturs Kairišs now arrives at Cannes with his daring portrait of an iconic figure, both of his Latvian home country and the history of sport. Ulya tells of the youth and professional ascent of basketball player Uljana Semjonova, whose records remain unmatched. At the Palais des Festivals, where his feature just premiered in the Un Certain Regard section, the Latvian director talks with Lidanoir about meeting Semjonova, his controversial casting choice, and the themes of gender and trans identity mirrored in the mise-en-scène.