diff --git a/croppa/main.py b/croppa/main.py
index 2a96d4a..8279840 100644
--- a/croppa/main.py
+++ b/croppa/main.py
@@ -12,6 +12,18 @@ import json
 import subprocess
 import queue
 import ctypes
+from PIL import Image
+
+def load_image_utf8(image_path):
+    """Load image with UTF-8 path support using PIL, then convert to OpenCV format"""
+    try:
+        # Use PIL to load image with UTF-8 support
+        pil_image = Image.open(image_path)
+        # Convert PIL image to OpenCV format (BGR)
+        cv_image = cv2.cvtColor(np.array(pil_image), cv2.COLOR_RGB2BGR)
+        return cv_image
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise ValueError(f"Could not load image file: {image_path} - {e}")
 
 class Cv2BufferedCap:
     """Buffered wrapper around cv2.VideoCapture that handles frame loading, seeking, and caching correctly"""
@@ -849,10 +861,8 @@ class VideoEditor:
         self.is_image_mode = self._is_image_file(media_path)
 
         if self.is_image_mode:
-            # Load static image
-            self.static_image = cv2.imread(str(media_path))
-            if self.static_image is None:
-                raise ValueError(f"Could not load image file: {media_path}")
+            # Load static image with UTF-8 support
+            self.static_image = load_image_utf8(media_path)
 
             # Set up image properties to mimic video interface
             self.frame_height, self.frame_width = self.static_image.shape[:2]
diff --git a/croppa/pyproject.toml b/croppa/pyproject.toml
index e2ee53c..e63c721 100644
--- a/croppa/pyproject.toml
+++ b/croppa/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.13"
 dependencies = [
     "opencv-python>=4.8.0",
-    "numpy>=1.24.0"
+    "numpy>=1.24.0",
+    "Pillow>=10.0.0"
 ]
 
 [project.scripts]