Vile & Miserable
We have the opportunity to showcase a few films that have shine in the past few months in Quebec. While we await the winner of the Prix collégial du cinéma québécois, let's discover - or rediscover the nominated films of Jean-François Leblanc, Anne Émond, Steve Patry, Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr and Matthew Rankin. A program of short films will also offer a glimpse at the best offerings of the year.
This screening will be presented with French subtitles adapted for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Jean-François Leblanc. A LSQ-French interpreter will be there for the Q&A.
Winner of three awards at the 2025 Gala Québec Cinéma, including Best First Film
Lucien is a morose and misanthropic demon who descended to Earth more than 350 years ago. Cloistered in his bookstore, he finds his peace disturbed by the arrival of Daniel, an enthusiastic human assistant. Together, they find themselves on an unlikely mission to save their bookstore. Through contact with his new colleague, Lucien will gradually open up to the world and even find an unusual ally in Daniel.
Jean-François Leblanc
Born in Lac-Saint-Charles in 1984, Jean-François Leblanc has written several short films and series, all of which have had tremendous success. In 2015, he wrote and directed Le gars d’la shop, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2018 and 2021, he directed both seasons of the web series L'arène, which earned him nominations for the Gémeaux Awards (Best Series, Best Director). After The Prince of Val-Bé in 2019 (Best Director at Fantasia), he directed Landgraves in 2020 . The film was a dazzling success at festivals where it won 20 awards, including Best Film at Fantasia and Cinémania. It also received the prestigious Vimeo's Staff Pick badge upon its online release. In 2023, Jean-François presents his eighth short film with Virga which earns him the Best Film award at Fantasia and Horrorfest. In 2024, he finally directed his first feature film, Vile & Miserable, an adaptation of the graphic novel by Samuel Cantin, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside him. Jean-François is an extremely versatile screenwriter and director: from autobiographical personal drama to thriller, from absurd fantasy comedy to anxiety-provoking horror film, he is capable of anything.
Bio: Entract Films
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