Phuong Mai Nguyen is opening Cannes Critics’ Week with the animated film “ In Waves ,” about shy teenager AJ who falls in love with Kristen. She loves to surf, and slowly, AJ starts to appreciate it as well. But “In Waves” isn’t just about surfing.  “Before making this film, I didn’t have much of a connection with surfing or skating. When I heard about the story, I went: ‘OK, this is about surfing, and I’m not really into it,’” she tells  Variety . Later, she discovered the philosophy behind the sport she wanted to express.  “When you’re gliding into the water, you’re connecting to something greater than yourself. It reminds us of our humility as humans in relation to nature.”  Popular on Variety Produced by Silex Films, distributed by Diaphana and sold by Charades , “In Waves” is based on AJ Dungo’s graphic novel — and his own painful experiences after discovering that his first love was gravely ill. Nguyen decided to dedicate the film to Kristen. “It’s a very intimate story,” she says.…